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ANNALS
OF THE
FIRST AFRICAN CHURCH,
IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
NOW STYLED
Ete      Ifriin    <9pisrapl t (Qrt    Df     - t.  %^n  a,
PHILADELPHIA,
IN ITS CONNECTION WITH THE EARLY STRUGGLES OF THE COLORED
PEOPLE TO IMPROVE THEIR CONDITION, WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE
FRIENDS, AND OTHER PHILANTHROPISTS; PARTLY DERIVED FROM THE MINUTES
OF A BENEFICIAL SOCIETY, ESTABLISHED BY ABSALOM JONES, RICHARD
ALLEN AND OTHERS, IN 1787, AND PARTLY FROM THE MINUTES OF
THE AFORESAID CHURCH,
By the REV. WM. DOUGLASS,
RECTOR.
PHILADELPHIA:
KING & BAIRD, PRINTERS, No. 607 SANSOM           STREET.
18 62.




Entered according to Act of Congress. i,. the year 1861, oy
THE REV. WILLIAM D)OU'MLASS,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania.




CONTENTS.
PAGE
Preface,.........................................................  3
Introduction....................................................  9
Preamble of Free African Society.........................,   15
Articles of Free African Society............................... 15
Remarks.............................................................  18
Committee Appointed..............................................  19
Report of Committee..............................................  19
Case of Discipline.....................................................  20
Proposal of 15 minutes silence on opening Meetings.........    21
Remarks..................................................................  22
Report of Committee concerning R. Allen.......................   23
Testification against R. Allen....................................24
Appointment of Overseers......................................  25
Epistolary Correspondence.....................................,,  25
Balance in Treasurer's hand..............................32
Release of J. Clark from Clerkship................ 33
Petition to Mayor, &c.............................................. 34
Endorsement on back of Petition......................   35
Report concerning Marriage........................................  36
Committee Report a Form of Marriage..........................  37
Proposition from Old Abolition Society........................... 39
Committee's   Report.......................................  39
Religious Meeting Proposed.......................................... 40
Religious Meeting agreed upon.........................., 41
Room Procured of J. Sharpless...................................... 42
Religious Meeting Held.....................................,  42
Lots Purchased for Church Edifice................................. 43
Rule of Order. Statement of Accounts. School House
Rented............................................................  443




4                             CONTENTS.
PAGE
Society makes an Appropriation for.Church Lots..............         44
Society Approves of Appropriation..............................      45
Minutes of a Previous Meeting Corrected........................      45
Plan of Church Government agreed upon........................        46
Closing Remarks in relation to Free African Society.........          46
New Organization, Distribution of Society's Funds...........         47
Money Drawn from       Bank.............................................  48
Report of A. Jones................................................ 48
Claimants Satisfied.....................................................49
Estimate for Church Edifice..........................................  50
Report of Committee on Ways and Means.......................         51
Trustees' Report and Recommendation...........................       53
Report and Resolutions showing Progress......................        54
Church    Opened for the First Time................................  57
Title of a Discourse..............................................  58
Dedicatory Address to Trustees, &c..............................      59
Note to the Public...................................         60
Opening Service in the Desk........................................  60
Prayer.........................................................61
Morning Prayer continued............................................  63
A  Discourse, &c........................................................  64
Act of Incorporation...................................................  85
The Causes, Motives, &c..............................................  93
The Constitution.............................................      96
Council of Advice at Bishop White's House.....................       99
Recommendation of A. Jones as a Candidate for Orders.... 100
Action of the Council of Advice, &c..........................        104
Appropriation for the Support of a School for Colored
Children................................................................104
Acceptance of the Call by Mr. Jones............................... 104
Trustees' Meeting by Request of Bishop White............. 105
Extract from   Journal................................................... 106
First Election for Vestrymen......................................   107
Register of the Members up to 1794............................... 107
Increase of Members in 1795......................................... 110
School Established...................................................... 110
Facts Concerning the Charity of Rev. Dr. Bray................ 111
Society for Suppressing Vice and Immorality.................         113




CONTENTS.                           5
PAGE
Petition........1...1.......................................... 113
Commendations................................................. 114
Parsonage................................................................  115
Temporary Division in the Church........................... 115
S. Clarkson Proposed as an Assistant........................... 117
Sketch of Rev. Absalom Jones....................................... 118
Baptisms, Interments.................................................. 123
Prince Saunders......................................................  123
Russel Parrot................................... 124
Reverends J. Wiltbank, J. Gloucester....................... 125
Rev. P. Van Pelt, D. D..........,..............          126
Rev. J. M. Douglass............................,......  128
Address.................................................................  129
Outline Sketch of the Building.................................  135
List of Vestrymen for 1834 and 1835............................  137
Certificate  of  Consecration..........................................  137
Seasons of Special Interest in Spiritual Matters............138
Petition to Episcopal Convention in 1849....................... 139
Petition Referred to Committee.................................. 141
Majority Report on Petition......................................... 142
Minority Report on Petition..........t i......,.............151
Resolution Reported by Majority Committee Adopted........ 167
Expression of Sentiments by the Vestry of St. Thomas...... 167
Petition of St. Thomas' Church, in 1854.........................170
List of Present Vestry, Cost of Wall, Organ, Present Debt. 171
Confirmations, Baptisms, &c......................................172








PREF ACE.
THAT separate and distinct churches for
colored people are now established here, and
in different. parts of the country, is a fact,
the propriety of which the subscriber has considered useless to discuss. It is much more in
accordance with his natural promptings, to
identify himself with the praiseworthy deeds
of his predecessors-to travel back to those
events with which they were intimately connected, and which transpired before he was
born, simply addressing himself to the whole
train of those past occurrences, which, under a
wise and inscrutable Providence have led to
results of incalculable good,-than to be hypercritical, in regard to what may now appear to
have been a mistaken policy on their part.
Some time ago, he had the privilege of conversing with many of the old members-all
now gone to their final account-who had a




4                PREFACE.
vivid recollection of the laying of the corner
stone of St. Thomas' Church. He has often
listened with intense interest to their recital
of the toils and labors, trials and difficulties
which they encountered, both previous and
subsequent to the erection of the building.
He often indulged the wish, that he possessed
in some regular form, the facts which they
related to him with so much gusto. Looking
over the old records of the Church a few years
ago, the facts aforesaid, unexpectedly presented themselves; and as the said wish is
participated in? by many of the present members of the Church, he now offers them to
public view, shaped, he hopes, in an acceptable, if not in the best possible form. And
should the interest in reading the following
pages, be equal to the pleasure had in arranging the matter therein contained, the undersigned will be truly happy.
W. D.




INTRODUCTION.
SEVENTY-FIVE years ago, no church edifice could
be found throughout the whole country, owned and
controlled exclusively by persons of color. The
religiously disposed among them were then under
the necessity of worshipping in churches belonging
to their white brethren. As Methodism addressed
itself chiefly to the feelings and affections,-which
are always strongest among undisciplined minds, —
the great majority gave their adherence to that
system. Another cause of the success of this denomination in gathering to their folds more of the
colored population than any other, may be ascribed
to their Itinerancy. This class of ministers, at the
time referred to, made no pretensions to literary
qualifications, and being despised and persecuted
as religious enthusiasts, their sympathies naturally
turned towards the lowly, who, like themselves,
were of small estimate in the sight of worldly
greatness. In those days that denomination of
Christians could lay claim to but one house of worship in Philadelphia. This is situated in Fourth
Street below Vine, and is known by the title of St.
George's Church. Here it was that the larger portion of the colored population of the city assembled
from time to time on occasions of public worship.
2




10             INTRODUCTION.
Iere, they, in common with others, gave vent to
their devotional feelings without let or hindrance.
They had comfortable seats on the lower floor of
that building to which there were no objections
made, until. the increasing numbers of the congregation, afforded a plea on the part of those invested
with power, for desiring their removal to the
gallery. But as they had contributed their mites
towards paying for the building in which all the
seats were free, they did not readily yield to the
unfair proposal. Their protest against the measure
was given by subsequently taking a position near
about where they usually occupied. But at length
an expressed desire rose to an imperious order, and
the pressure was so great, that they considered it
useless to contend any longer against the odds that
opposed them. The stern command was followed
by a forcible act resorted to by one of the officials;
and to the lasting shame of those who sanctioned
the measure, it was enforced at a time when the
assembly were invoking the blessings of the common Father of all, who "Is NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS, AND WILLETH ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND TO
COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH."
This shameful transaction took place on Sunday
morning. To use the words of a venerated man"Meeting had begun, and they were nearly done
singing, and just as we took our seats, the Elder
said,-LET US PRAY. We had not been long on
our knees before I heard considerable scuffling and
low talking. I raised my head up and saw one of
the trustees having hold of Rev. Absalom Jones,




INTRODUCTION.             11
pulling him up off his knees, and saying, "you
must get up-you must not kneel here."    MIr.
Jones replied, " wait until prayer is over." Mr. H.
M —     said, "no, you must get up now, or I will
call for aid and force you away." Mr. Jones said,
" wait until prayer is over, and I will get up and
trouble you no more."*
This assurance of Mr. Jones was made good.
They all walked out in a body together, and before
the close of that eventful Lord's day, the solemn
and deliberate purpose, the noble determination,
was formed to worship the Lord henceforth under
their "own vine and fig tree," without molestation
from any. That these humble men, just emerged
from the house of bondage, should be able to rise
above those servile feelings which all their antecedents were calculated to cherish, and to assume, as
they did, an attitude becoming men conscious of
invaded rights, is not to be greatly wondered at,
when the history of those times is considered.
This was the age of a general and searching inquiry into the equity of old and- established customs.  A  moral earthquake had awakened the
slumber of ages.  The spirit-stirring notes that
pealed out from Independence Hall, proclaiming
"LIBERTY THROUGHOUT THE -LAND TO ALL THE
INHABITANTS THEREOF," and causing the most
humble to lift up his head with higher hopes and
nobler aspirations, were yet echoing through every
nook and corner of the land. The revolutionary
* Life of Rev. Richard Allen, written by himself, 1833, page 13.




12             INTRODUCTION.
struggle, in which was involved the great principles of human rights, was still fresh in the minds of
all from the least unto the greatest. The magnanimous spirit that then prevailed to a very great
extent throughout the country, is very beautifully
expressed by the Legislature of Pennsylvania in
its Act for the gradual abolition of slavery, passed
in 1780,-" It is not for us to enquire why, in the
creation of mankind, the inhabitants of the several
parts of the earth were distinguished by a difference
in feature or complexion. It is sufficient to know,
that all are the work of an Almighty hand. We
esteem it a peculiar blessing granted to us, that
we are enabled this day to add one more step to
universal civilization, by removing, as much as
possible, the sorrows of those, who have lived in
undeserved bondage, and from which, by the assumed authority of the kings of Great Britain, no
effectual, legal relief could be obtained. Weaned,
by a long course of experience, from those narrow
prejudices and partialities we had imbibed, we find
our hearts enlarged with kindness and benevolence
towards men of all conditions and nations; and we
conceive ourselves at this particular period extraordinarily called upon, by the blessings which we
have received, to manifest the sincerity of our profession, and to give a substantial proof of our gratitude."
Those obscure but worthy men, who, animated
with some of the spirit of those days, resolved to
introduce a new order of things among themselves,
had one great difficulty to surmount, before they




INTRODUCTION.              13
could proceed a step towards the accomplishment
of the object desired. The great question for solution in the first place, was, how to effect a union
among themselves.  Unaccustomed to organizations of any kind, few in number, without pecuniary means, the most favored among them without the advantages of a liberal education; to have
immediately proposed, under these circumstances,
the establishing of a church, would have been considered impracticable and visionary. But a successful plan of union at length presented itself,
which was to form an organization having the
two-fold objects of a beneficial and moral reform
society. It was styled, " The Free African Society,"
and was founded the 12th of April, in the year of
our Lord 1787.
2*








PREAMBLE OF THE FREE AFRICAN SOCIETY
The following is a copy of the Preamble and
Articles of the Association, with the names of the
First Signers.
"Philadelphia."
"[12th, 4th mo., 1778.]-WHEREAS, Absalom
Jones and Richard Allen, two men of the African
race, who, for their religious life and conversation
have obtained a good report among men, these
persons, from a love to the people of their complexion whom they beheld with sorrow, because of
their irreligious and uncivilized state, often communed together upon this painful and important
subject in order to form some kind of religious
society, but there being too few to be found under
the like concern, and those who were, differed in
their religious sentiments; with these circumstances
they labored for some time, till it was proposed,
after a serious communication of sentiments, that a
society should be formed, without regard to religious tenets, provided, the persons lived an orderly
and sober life, in order to support one another in
sickness, and for the benefit of their widows and
fatherless children."
ARTICLES.
"[17th, 5th mo., 1787.]-We, the free Africans
and their descendants, of the City of Philadelphia,
in the State of Pennsylvania, or elsewhere, do




16 ARTICLES OF THE FREE AFRICAN SOCIETY.
unanimously agree, for the benefit of each other, to
advance one shilling in silver Pennsylvania currency
a month; and after one year's subscription from
the date hereof, then to hand forth to the needy of
this Society, if any should require, the sum of three
shillings and nine pence per week of the said
money: provided, this necessity is not brought on
them by their own imprudence.
And it is further agreed, that no drunkard nor
disorderly person be admitted as a member, and if
any should prove disorderly after having been received, the said disorderly person shall be disjointed
from us if there is not an amendment, by being
informed by two of the members, without having
any of his subscription money returned.
And if any should neglect paying his monthly
subscription for three months, and after having been
informed of the same by two of the members, and no
sufficient reason appearing for such neglect, if he
do not pay the whole the next ensuing meeting, he
shall be disjointed from us, by being informed by
two of the members as an offender, without having
any of his subscription money returned.
Also, if any person neglect meeting every month,
for every omission he shall pay three pence, except
in case of sickness or any other complaint that
should require the assistance of the Society, then,
and in such a case, he shall be exempt from the
fines and subscription during the said sickness.
Also, we apprehend it to be just and reasonable,
that the surviving widow of a deceased member
should enjoy the benefit of this Society so long as




ARTICLES OF THE FREE AFRICAN SOCIETY. 17
she remains his widow, complying with the rules
thereof, excepting the subscriptions.
And we apprehend it to be necessary, that the
children of our deceased members be under the
care of the Society, so far as to pay for the education of their children, if they cannot attend the free
school; also to put them out apprentices to suitable
trades or places, if required.
Also, that no member shall convene the Society
together; but, it shall be the sole business of the
committee, and that only on special occasions, and
to dispose of the money in hand to the best advantage for the use of the Society, after they are granted
the liberty at a monthly meeting, and to transact
all other business whatsoever, except that of Clerk
and Treasurer.
And we unanimously agree to choose Joseph
Clarke to be our Clerk and Treasurer; and whenever another should succeed him, it is always understood, that one of the people called Quakers,
belonging to one of the three monthly meetings in
Philadelphia, is to be chosen to act as Clerk and
Treasurer of this useful Institution.
The following persons met, viz., Absalom Jones,
Richard Allen, Samuel Baston, Joseph Johnson,
Cato Freeman, Csesar Cranchell, and James Potter,
also William White, whose early assistance and
useful remarks we found truly profitable. This
evening the articles were read, and after some
beneficial remarks were made, they were agreed
unto."




18                REMARKS.
REMARKS.
This Society, as appears from the minutes, met
at the house of Richard Allen, monthly, up to May,
1788. His room at this period being too small for
the accommodation of the increased number of
members, a more commodious room was rented in
the house of Sarah Dougherdy. Here the Society
continued its regular meetings up to Dec. 28th,
1788. From this time up to 1791, the monthly
meetings were held in "Friends' Free African
School House."*  At this period, a proposal was
made by the Standing Committee of the Society,
to establish a religious meeting. This proposition
was generally approved of by the members, and the
Committee, accordingly, was instructed to procure
a room for the purpose. They succeeded in obtaining one of Joseph Sharpless. In this room they
met for the first time together for religious worship,
January 1st, 1791, at 3 o'clock, P. M.
It will not be uninteresting to observe how
gradually they advanced, step by step, to the accomplishment of their ultimate design-the formation of "the African Church."
A very important movement in that direction,
was the appointing of a committee, whose business,
besides that of calling special meetings, and "disposing of the money in hand to the best advantage," was to inspect the conduct of the members
in the interim, and to report the same at one of the
* Situated then in Willing's alley, removed since to Raspberry
street.




COMMITTEE APPOINTED.          19
monthly meetings of the Society. The following
minute is a record of the first proceedings of said
Committee.
" The 17th, 7th mo., 1787.-At a monthly meeting of free Africans, Cesar Thomas, William White,
and Caesar Cranchell, were appointed to have the
oversight of the members this month."
No report appears from this Committee for five
successive months, at the expiration of which time
it was enlarged, as the. following minute shows.
"15th, 12th mo., 1787.-At a monthly meeting
of free Africans, held at Philadelphia, Mark Stevenson, Caesar Thomas, William White, Moses Johnson,
Absalom Jones, and Richard Allen, are appointed
to visit the members, and give such advice as may
appear necessary."
The Report of this Committee appears among
the minutes of the subsequent monthly meeting.
It reads as follows:
"15th, 1st mo., 1788.
DEAR FRIENDS AND BRETHREN:Your Committee are thankful that we are favored
with another opportunity of assembling together
after this manner, and are pleased with the prospect
of an increase in number, as there are daily applications to join the institution. It is the ardent desire
of your Committee also, that as we increase in
numbers, we may increase in grace and knowledge
and every Christian virtue. Although we have not




20          REPORT OF COMMITFEE.
been as diligent in visiting the members this last
month as we have formerly, yet, it is not for want
of good will: indeed, it hath been of great concern
to us that we have not had it in our power, but are
in hope, that this duty will be better attended to
for the future. We are desirous of laying before
you the necessity of handing forth to the sick for
another twelve months; our stock is small considering the number of members that are to draw from
it. Our stock at present, is but twelve pounds,
and if a few sick members should now be supported
from it, it would not last us six months. We would
have you seriously to think of it, and we doubt
not but you will agree to the same.
ABSALOM JONES,
Clerk of the Committee."
To the above report the following resolution is
appended, "which was read and approved."
" That no man shall live with any woman as
man and wife without she is lawfully his wife, and
his certificate must be delivered to the clerk to be
put on record."
The first case appearing on the record of disciplinary action against one of the members for
immoral conduct, is thus presented by the Committee:
" Whereas, Samuel S., one of the members of the
Free African Society, held in Philadelphia, for the
benefit of the sick, has so shamefully deviated from
our known rules, hath often unnecessarily left his




PROPOSAL OF FIFTEEN MINUTES      21
tender wife and child, and kept company with a
common woman, sometimes quarreling, fighting
and swearing, for which he hath been long and
tenderly treated with, but he not forsaking his
shameful practices, we therefore disown the said
Samuel S. from being a member of our Society,
till he condemns the same in life and conversation,
which is our desire for him.
Signed this 20th of the 9th mo., 1788, on behalf
of this Society, by the Committee, viz.:
ABSALOM JONES,
RICHARD ALLEN,
WILLIAM WHITE,
MARK STEVENSON,
W\ILLIAM GRAY,
C2ESAR CRANCHER,
CAESAR THOMAS."
The above was read and approved, and the Committtee requested to furnish the said S. S. with a
copy.
From all that appears from the minutes, no devotional exercises had hitherto been used at the
opening of the meetings of the Society. The first
recommendation of any thing of the kind was made
by the Committee on the 15th 11th mo., 1788.
They having been previously appointed by the
Society, reported the following:
"The Committee appointed in the 9th month
report, that having taken into their serious consideration, the manner in which this Institution
3




22      SILENCE ON OPENING MEETINGS.
comes together, they have agreed to propose that
each member should take his seat at 7 o'clock,-and
then all be silent till fifteen minutes, after which
time the meeting should proceed to business. The
meeting, after some time in considering the proposal, unites with and recommends it to all our
members."
Considering the previous predilections of a large
number of the members composing this Society in
favor of an unconstrained outburst of the feelings
in religious worship, it is not to be wondered at,
that "SOME TIME WAS SPENT IN CONSIDERING THE
PROPOSAL;" the only matter of surprise is, that it
was adopted at all. That the first meeting held
after the adoption of the proposal, was marked with
solemn silence during the fifteen minutes agreed
upon, is very questionable indeed.
The minutes of this meeting, which agreed upon
the form of silent devotion before proceeding to
business, show, that the following named persons
were present, and severally paid the sum affixed to
their names.
"R. Allen, 1; R. Boice, 1; C. Coffee, 1; J.
Caton, 3.9; W. Gardiner, 3.9; W. Gray, 1; C.
Freeman, 1; A. Jones, 1; J. London, 1; M. Jackson, 1; F. Lewis, 2; M. Read, 1; P. Sharpless, 1;
C. Thomas, 1; W. White, 1; Jas. Williams, 6; W.
Wilcher, 1; C. Worthington, 1; HI. Stewart, 1.Amount, 31.72."
It is worthy of notice, that at no succeeding
monthly meeting of the Society, does the name of
R. Alien appear as an active member among them.




REPORT OF COMMITTEE CONCERNING B. ALLEN. 23
The first record of his name after the meeting last
mentioned, is made six months afterwards. It is
contained in a report of the Committee to the Society, "held in Philadelphia, at Friends' Free African
School House, the 16th of the 5th mo., 1789." The
following is a copy of said report:
"The Committee brought in a report concerning
Richard Allen* so abruptly leaving the Society, and
rashly calling, or convening the members together,
contrary to the rules of the Society, but as some
tenderness appeared towards him, it was concluded
to pay him   another visit in brotherly love, and
report their sense thereof at the next meeting."
Appended to this, is the following record. " Having
had the satisfactory company of some Friends, and
the business gone through with love and condescension, it is agreed to adjourn to the usual time
next month."
"At a monthly meeting of the Free African Society for the benefit of the sick, held in Philadelphia,
at Friends' Free African School House, the 20th
of the 6th month, 1789, the Committee brought in
* The name of Richard Allen is justly held in high veneration
by his people. He evidently saw that the current of religious
sentiment in this Society, was not flowing in the direction he
desired; hence, he sepaiated, and was eminently successful,
finally, in establishing the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
He was their first Bishop. The opinion, widely-spread among
his people, that he was ordained by the late Bishop White, is
erroneous. His Episcopacy stands with Methodism among the
whites, upon the same basis. The tie of warm friendship between Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, continued unbroken
until they were separated bj; death.




24     TESTIFICATION AGAINST R. ALLEN.
a testification against Richard Allen, which, being
twice deliberately read, was approved, and is as
follows, viz.:
We, the Society of Free Africans in the City of
Philadelphia, having, according to discipline established among us, lung treated with Richard Allen,
one of our members, for attempting to sow division
among us, and endeavoring to convince him. of his
error in so doing, and of the breach of good order
which he has thereby committed, but finding him
refractory, and declaring that he no longer considers himself a member of our Society, do find it
our duty to declare that he has disunited himself
from membership with us by refusing to submit
himself to the rules of the Society, and to attend
our meeting, and he is accordingly disunited until
he shall come to a sense of his conduct, and request
to be admitted a member according to our disci-,
pline. Signed by the Committee, viz.:
WM. WHITE,
CJESAR WORTHINGTON,
CAESAR THOMAS,
HENRY STEWAhT,
PETER MILLER,
NATHAN GRAY,
MARK STEVENSON."
The Committee made a proposal to choose
Absalom Jones and Moses Johnson, overseers,
which is as follows: " Philadelphia, 27th of 5th mo.,
1789.-We, the Committee, unanimously agree,
after calmly and deliberately weighing the state of




EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE.        25
the Society, that as much business is likely to arise
among us, therefore, for the health of the Society,
and the better preservation of her members, do
propose Absalom Jones and Moses Johnson, overseers; and the business of the said overseers is to
inspect into the necessities of the poor, and to admonish the disorderly; also to inform the Committee
of those who are obstinate. And it is' proposed,
that the Committee shall choose the overseers, and
lay the same before the monthly meeting for their
approbation; and it is always to be understood,
that the overseers are to be sober and exemplary
members, and men of good report. No limited
time is set for the overseers to remain in that
station."
"At a monthly meeting of the Free African
Society held in Philadelphia, at Friends' Free
African School-house, the 17th, 10th mo., 1789.
an epistle was read from the Union Society of
Africans in Newport, and another from Boston,
together with a certificate of Henry Stewart, all of
which are as follows:
DEAR FRIENDS AND BRETHREN:
We the members of the Union Society, being
forty in number, in the town of Newport, consisting of free Africans, have lately had the pleasure
of being informed of the formation of your Society
in Philadelphia, for the good purposes therein
mentioned, by one of your members, Mr. Henry
Stewart, who comes recommended by your committee. We taking into consideration the calami23*




26       EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE.
tous state into which we are brought by the righteous hand of God, being strangers and outcasts in
a strange land, attended with many disadvantages
and evils which are likely to continue on us and
our children, while we and they live in this country, and yet more wretched state of thousands of
our brethren who are in the most abject state of
slavery in the West Indies and in the American
States, many of whom are treated in the most
inhuman and cruel manner, and are sunk down in
ignorance, stupidity and vice. And considering
the unhappy state and circumstances of our brethren, the nations in Africa from whom we sprung
being in heathenish darkness and barbarity, and
that it hath pleased God of late to raise up many
to compassionate and befriend the Africans, not
only in promoting their freedom and using means
for their instruction, but by proposing and endeavoring to effect their return to their own country,
and their settlement there, where they may be
more happy than they can be here, and promote
the best good of our brethren in that country.
We, taking all this into view, think there is a
special and loud call to us, and all the blacks in
America, to seek God by extraordinary fasting and
prayer, and do therefore request all who are disposed, to join in fasting and prayer to Almighty
God, by meeting together for that purpose, privately
or in public, as shall be most convenient, on the
first Tuesday in July, and on the first day of every
year, humbly to confess the sins of our fathers, and
our own sins, and to acknowledge the righteous.




EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE.       27
ness of God in bringing all these evils on us and
on our children and brethren; and earnestly to cry
to God for the pardon of our sins, and that he
would of his great mercy deliver us and our brethren, and the nations in Africa, from the sins and
miseries in which we and they are now involved,
and pour down his Holy Spirit upon us, and cause
us and them to become a wise, virtuous, and Christian people. And that he would in his wise and
good Providence prosper the way for our returning
to Africa, and direct, assist, and prosper all our
friends who are engaged in this cause, that he
would give us favor in the eyes of our brethren in
Africa, and raise up friends and benefactors in this
land who shall be willing and able to promote this
important affair, and that God would in his great
mercy succeed them and us in all endeavors for
this end; that the Father of mercies would bless
all the nations who enjoy the gospel, and cause
them to conduct themselves agreeable to it, by
doing to all men as they would others should do
unto them, that the light of it may spread over all
the world.
ANTHONY TAYLOR, President,
KINGSTON PEASE, Vice,
PRINCE AMY,
ZINGO STEVENS,
SALMAR NUBIA,
THOMAS FERGUSON.
These black gentlemen are at present Freeholders
and members of the Union Society, chosen at our




28       EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE.
annual meeting the 13th Aug., 1789, in Newport,
Rhode Island.
JAMES DYRE,
BACCUS OVERING,
WILLIAM HENSHIAW,
BACCUS COGGESHALL,
BESS BROWNING,
REBECCA FOLGER,
Freeholders, and not belonging to the Union Society, Newport, Sep. 1st, 1789.
P. S.-.
GENTLEMEN:
The above and foregoing persons are all the
Freeholders of blacks belonging to the town of
Newport. Mr. Henry Stewart having paid us a
visit, on his way for Boston, with your certificate,
it appears to us that he is well deserving.
REPLY TO THE FOREGOING BY THE COMMITTEE.
RESPECTED FRIENDS:
We read your epistle dated the 1st of the 9th
mo., (called September,) 1789, which claimed our
serious attention, and we are apprehensive that a
lively and religious correspondence would be conducive to our religious improvement. With regard
to the emigration to Africa you mention, we have
at present but little to communicate on that head,
apprehending every pious man is a good citizen of
the whole world. Therefore, let us, as with the
heart of one man, continue daily in fasting and




EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE.       29
prayer,-fasting from sin and iniquity and the
corrupt conversation of the world, that the Lord
thereby may be pleased to break every yoke, and
let the oppressed go free. And it is a certain
prophecy that swords shall be beat into ploughshares, and spears into pruning hooks, that nation
shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more. A happy day that will
prove to us of the African race, and mankind in
general; then captivity shall cease, and buying and
selling mankind have an end; we have a well
grounded hope that the'knowledge of the Lord
will cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea.
Now we have to behold with hunble admiration,
that this prophecy is fulfilling daily for us, (0, that
we may be sensible of so great a favor,) seeing the
Lord is raising up many to promote this peaceable
kingdom with no other weapons than that of giving
glory to God, and breathing peace and good will
towards men, persons who are sacrificing their own
time, ease and property for us, the stranger and the
fatherless, in this wilderness, these persons declare
in the expressive language of conduct, that they
are followers of Him who taught his disciples to do
unto all men as we would they should do unto us.
Howbeit, if any apprehend a divine injunction is
laid upon them to undertake such a long and perilous journey in order to promote piety and virtue,
that such may meet with encouragement is the sincere desire of a remnant, and that the arm of divine
protection may continually hover over them."




80       EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE.
CERTIFICATE TO H. STEWART.
NEWPORT, Aug. 22nd, 1789.
These are to certify, that the bearer, Mr. Henry
Stewart, one of the members of the Freeholders,
African Society, established in the City of Philadelphia for the benefit of the sick of said society,
and other commendable purposes, has been with us
as a traveler, and has behaved himself as a truly
worthy member, and as such we recommend him to
all our friends, more particularly to the African
Company now in the town of Boston.
ANTHONY TAYLOR, President,
KINGSTON PEASE, Vice,
Of the Union Society in Newport.
BOSTON LETTER.
BOSTON, Sep. 16th, 1789.
DEAR BRETHREN OF THE AFRICAN SOCIETY:
These lines come to acquaint you, that we have
your recommended brother, Mr. Henry Stewart,
and am happy to hear that you have such a society
built on so laudable a foundation. May God prosper you in this and all your undertakings for the
good of your African brethren. I hope you will
go on and prosper. I shall be always happy in
hearing of your welfare. We here, are not idle,
but are doing what we can to promote the interest
and good of our dear brethren that stand in so
much need at such a time as this. We shall be
glad therefore, to hear of your proceedings, by
letters of correspondence with us.




EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE.        31
Your brother Stewart will inform you by word
of mouth of some proposals we made to him, which
I do not care to write at this time. No more at
present, but remain,
Your loving brother,
Farewell,
PRINCE HALL.*
REPLY.
"DEAR BRETHREN,We read your epistle by the hand of Henry
Stewart, one of our members, who visited you. It
afforded us matter of satisfaction, to find that you
are united with us in laboring in the same vineyard, we seriously hope to the honor of God and
the benefit of mankind.
May you steadily continue in this labor, for the
harvest is truly great, but the sincere and disinterested laborers are few. Notwithstanding, let
none be discouraged, however low their station
among men may be,-for we find in holy writ, that
the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the
strong; but that one who has on the shield of faith,
shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand
to flight.  Here is encouragement for us of the
African race. The scriptures declare, that, God is
no respecter of persons. We beseech you, therefore, in much brotherly love, to lay asideall superfluity of naughtiness, especially gaming and feast* Distinguished as the first colored Grand Master Mason in
the United States.




32      BALANCE IN TREASURER'S HAND.
ing; a shameful practice, that we as a people are
particularly guilty of. While we are feasting and
dancing, many of our complexion are starving
under cruel bondage; and it is this practice of ours
that enables our enemies to declare that we are not
fit for freedom,-and at the same time, this imprudent conduct stops the mouths of our real friends,
who would ardently plead our cause. Let us therefore, dear brethren, learn to be wise by fearing the
Lord, and shew that we have a good understanding
by forsaking our foolish practices.
Now unto Him   who is able to keep us from
falling, and present us faultless before the presence
of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise
God our Saviour be glory and majesty, dominion
and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Read and approved at our monthly meeting, and
signed by the committee and clerk, on behalf of
the same.
BALANCE IN TREASURER'S HANDS.
At a monthly meeting of the Free African
Society, held in Philadelphia, for the benefit of the
sick, at Friends' Free School-house, the 15th of the
1st mo., 1790.
The Treasurer producing the money in his
possession, and it being at this time examined,
there appeared a balance in favor of the Society of
forty-two pounds, nine shilling, and one penny, and
as divers members think a propriety would attend
a deposite of this balance in the Bank of North




BALANCE IN TREASURER'S HANDS.       33
America, he is desired to lodge it there on behalf
of the Society as soon as convenient, and report his
performance of the business at next meeting."
"At a monthly meeting of the Free African Society, 20th of 2nd mo., 1790, our worthy friend
and kind assistant Joseph Clark, whose remarkable
attention to the welfare of this institution demands
our most grateful acknowledgments, requesting a
release from the clerkship of this Society, the meeting considering the request as reasonable, agreed
to it, and said Joseph Clark and our committee
having united in mentioning the name of George
Williams as a proper person to be clerk, and a
concurring sentiment prevailing with divers members, the society after deliberate and weighty consideration, concluded to request him to act in that
capacity, and said George Williams being now present, and submitting to the wishes of the Society, it
is expected he will assist us in that way. Notwithstanding, this meeting has agreed to release our
friend Joseph Clark from the clerkship, yet, he being
willing to concur with our wishes in remaining as
treasurer to the institution, he is continued in that
station.
The treasurer reports his having lodged the
Society's money at the Bank of N. America, which
has opened an account with him as treasurer to
this institution."
"At a monthly meeting of the Free African Society, 20th of 3rd mo., 1790.
The stranger's burial ground in this City,
4




34         PETITION TO MAYOR, ETC.
usually called the Potter's Field, being offered to
be let by the corporation of the City, our overseers
and committee have apprehended that a great propriety would attend this Society's having the care
of said ground, and therefore called a special meeting the 13th inst., when, after the subject was attentively considered, a petition to the Mayor, Aldermen,
and Common Councilmen was agreed to, and is as
follows:
To the worshipful, the Mayor, Aldermen and Common
Councilmen, of the City of Philadelphia, in Common Council.
The petition of the Free African Society for the
benefit of the sick, in the City of Philadelphia,
RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH:
That the burial-ground called the Potter's field,
being in part appropriated for the burial of black
persons, and chiefly made use of for that purpose,
and your petitioners being informed that the Common Council are about to let the same, are desirous
to have the said burial-ground under the care of
the said Society, and are willing to pay the same
rent that hath been offered by any other person,
and a year's advance as soon as the said ground is
enclosed, and they are put in possession thereof.
They therefore pray that the said ground may
be rented to them for one or more years, on the




ENDORSEMENT ON BACK OF PETITION.    35
terms they propose, and under such regulations as
the Common Council shall think proper to make.
And your petitioners shall pray.
Signed on behalf of the same, by
MOSES JOHNSON,    Overseers.
ABSALOM JONES,
CYRUS BUSTILL, 1
WILLIAM WHITE,
HENRY STEWART,       mee
TOD FINCH,        Committee.
ABRAHAM INGLIS,
JAMES CATON.    J
ENDORSEMENT ON THE BACK OF THE PETITION.
We, the subscribers, having for some time past
been acquainted with several of the members of the'FREE AFRICAN SOCIETY, ESTABLISHED IN THE
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, FOR THE BENEFIT OF SUCH
AMONG THEM WHO MAY BECOME INFIRM,' do certify, that we have informed ourselves of the rules
and order established by the said Society, and approve of their Institution, and can therefore recommend the members thereof, as well their humane
design, to the notice and attention of their fellow
citizens, they being worthy of a degree of confidence
and encouragement.
(Signed) GEO. WILLIAMS, BENJ. RUSH,
WM. ASHBY,      NICHOLAS WALN,
JOSEPH CLARK,   WILLIAM WHITE,
SAM'L MAGAW,    CHARLES WILIAMS,
TENCH COXE,     JOSEPH JAMES,
WILLIAM SAVERY."




36      REPORT CONCERNING MARRIAGE.
REPORT CONCERNING MARRIAGE.
"Our Committee, at a meeting of them, the 15th
of the present month, having taken into view a
concern which has attended the minds of divers
members for several years, and at the time of their
last meeting weightily renewed, that a way might
be opened for such of our members and others as
were inclined to accomplish their intentions of marriage at one of our meetings in a sober and reputable
way, taking care that parents and others concerned
be consulted and consent obtained, and everything
else connected with such a proceeding made as conformable to propriety as might be; the Society
now entered into a serious and deliberate consideration of the subject, and being united in sentiment
with the Committee, are concerned that every
necessary caution may be taken in order to establish a regular mode of procedure with respect to
such marriages as may be accomplished before us,
as well as a proper form of the necessary certificate
and book of records thereof.
Cyrus Bustill, Absalom Jones, William White,
Caesar Cranchell, Henry Steward, Moses Johnson,
and Cato Freeman, are appointed to take these
matters into their special consideration, and report
to the next meeting what may appear to them
necessary."
"At a monthly meeting of the Free African Society, the 17th day of 4th mo., 1790.
Cyrus Bustill and others, appointed a committee




COMMITTEE REPORT A FORM OF MARRIAGE. 37
for the consideration of regulations with respect to
the mode of marriage as proposed by our former
committee, brought in the following report:
Your committee, after several sittings, and
weightily considering the subject referred to them,
have freedom to offer for your deliberation the
following mode of procedure proposed to be
adopted and continued in, until experience shall
point out amendments therein.
1st. When any persons are desirous of marrying amongst us, the man is to inform one of the
committee or overseers of such intentions; it shall
then be the business of the committee and overseers to inquire whether the parents and friends of
the parties are consenting, and if no objection
appears, they may give information to the monthly
meeting, and there produce such consent as they
may have obtained.
2nd. After the society are informed of any intended marriage, the committee shall make enquiry
what time will be most suitable to the parties concerned, and call a meeting for the purpose, informing the members generally thereof, who are enjoined to attend and support a solemnity suited to
the occasion. Men and women of sober deportment to be invited by the committee to come and
sit with us in the meeting.
3rd. The form of the certificate to be nearly as
the following:
4*




88 COMMITTEE REPORT A FORM OF MARRIAGE.
"Whereas, A. B., son of A. B., of the City of P.,
and State of P., and S. T., daughter of S. T., of
same City and State, having declared their intentions of marriage with each other before several
members of the' African Society for the Benefit of
the Sick,' and also obtained the consent of parents
and relations concerned, their said proposals were
allowed of by the society.
Now these are to certify all whom it may concern, that for the full accomplishing their said intentions this  day of the   month,      they
the said A. B. and S. T., appeared before several
members of the above said Society, at their meeting-house in Philadelphia, and the said A. B. taking
the said S. T. by the hand, did in a solemn manner
openly declare that he took the said S. T. to be his
wife, promising through divine assistance to be
unto her a loving and faithful husband until death
should separate them,-and then and there in the
same assembly the said S. T. did in like manner
openly declare that she took the said A. B. to be
her husband, promising through divine assistance
to be unto him a loving and faithful wife until
death should separate them.
Moreover, they the said A. B. and S. T., (she
according to the custom of marriage assuming the
name of her husband,) as a further confirmation
thereof did then and there to these presents set
their hands.
A.B.
S. T.




PROPOSITION FROM OLD ABOLITION SOCIETY. 39
And we whose names are hereunto also subscribed being present at the solemnization of said
marriage and subscription, have as witnesses thereunto set our hands, the day and year above written.
4th. A book for the record of certificates to be
procured, and our clerk desired to enter such
certificates."
"The following persons, members of the'Society
for the gradual abolition of Slavery,' having attended
this meeting, viz., Thomas Harrison, Amos Gregg,
Nathan Boys, John Todd, and John Evans, who
informing us of the plan of their society for the
improving the condition of the free blacks, and
that the abolition society, in order to promote our
happiness, had gone into the appointment of the
following committees. 1st. A committee of inspection. 2nd. A committee of guardians. 3rd. A
committee of education, and 4th. A committee of
employ: and in order to facilitate an enquiry into
the condition of the free blacks, it was proposed
that a committee be appointed by this Society to
accompany them in the business.
Wm. Wiltshire, Cyrus Bustill, Caesar Cranshell,
Moses Johnson, Absalom Jones, Abraham Inglis,
William White, and Ceasar Thomas, are desired to
give attention to this business and report thereon."
"At a monthly meeting of the Free African Society, held the 15th of 5th mo., 1790.
The committee named last month to assist the
deputation from the Society for the gradual aboli



40       RELIGIOUS MEETINGS PROPOSED.
tion of'Slavery,' in endeavoring to ascertain the
number of free blacks in this city, having paid a
close attention to their appointment, and procured
lists of families, &c., in the districts, of the city and
liberties, they furnished the deputation* with them,
and believing the service sufficiently completed, it
is now concluded to release them."
The next thing worthy of special notice is the
proposal of the committee for a religious meeting,
offered for the consideration of the Society, the 18th
of Sep., 1790. It is as follows:
"The committee having been thoughtful respecting a religious meeting being established by this
Society, propose, that, as the Society are bound in
gratitude to the Divine Being by many obligations,
a religious meeting for the performance of divine
worship and grateful acknowledgement, be opened
on the third 1st day in every month, at 3 o'clock
in the afternoon, at such place as may be procured;
and that no approved minister be prohibited from attending, or speaking at it.
Although this proposal met with general approbation, yet the measure being important, the
subject is agreed to remain under consideration till
next meeting."
* The committee of inspection reported "about 250 families
in the City, Northern Liberties and Southwark, making nearly
1,000 persons of both sexes, almost 400 of whom were minors."
For this important item, we are indebted to the kindness of Mr.
Truman, Secretary of the old Abolition Society.




RELIGIOUS MEETING AGREED UPON.    41
At a monthly meeting of the Free African Society, held the 16th day of the 10th mo., 1790,
the overseers report that a visit has been paid to
the members generally, and that'no breach of good
order was observed. This account is satisfactory to
the meeting, and they are desired to continue their
care in visiting and strengthening the members in
a virtuous life. The proposal of holding a religious
meeting being again resumed, it is now united
with, and is agreed that the committee be requested
to procure a suitable place for the purpose, and
notify the meeting next month, that our members
may be informed and desired to attend."
"20th of 11th mo. Wm. White, on behalf of
the committee, informs us that a room for holding
a religious meeting is not yet procured; this subject is continued under their care."
"18th of 12th mo., 1790. It appears that the
committee have been further attentive to procuring
a room for holding a religious meeting, in which
however, they have not as yet succeeded, although
there is a probability that by next month they will
receive an answer respecting one in particular, for
which they have applied.
"They are requested to attend further to the
business."
"15th of 1st mo., 1791. The committee now
report that they have not yet been able to procure
a room in which a. religious meeting may be constantly held, although they have had permission to
hold a meeting to-morrow afternoon, in a room of




42        RELIGIOUS MEETING HELD.
Joseph Sharpless, which they have concluded to
open at 3 o'clock. Their proceedings are agreeable
to the meeting, and they are expected to continue attentive to procuring a permanent place of meeting."
"19th of 2nd mo., 1791. By a minute of the
committee, it appears that a religious meeting was
held at the time mentioned last month, and was
attended with much satisfaction; they likewise
mention, that although they have not succeeded in
obtaining a place to meet in, which promises a long
continuance, yet, there is a great probability that
the present place may be made use of for a considerable time hence. It is now agreed that the said
meeting be held on the first day of the week, immediately following the meeting of this Society,
until otherwise directed."
" 19th of 3rd mo. Absalom Jones informed the
meeting that another satisfactory religious meeting
had been held. This information affords the members present particular pleasure. The overseers
report that in a late visit to the members in their
families, generally, every thing appeared to be conducted in a reputable manner."
"16th 4th mo., 1791. A religious meeting has
been held in course since last month, and was satisfactory. The overseers since last month, have been
with divers members in their families; nothing new
or unusual occurred."
"21st 5th mo., 1791. Two religious meetings
are reported to have been held since last month.
The overseers have seen divers members in their




LOTS PURCHASED FOR CHURCH EDIFICE.   43
families since last month, to satisfaction, and expect
to visit all, previous to next meeting."
"17th 2nd mo., 1792. It appears from the title
deed, that the lots on which St. Thomas' Church
edifice now stands, were purchased " by Wm. Gray,
Absalom Jones, Wm. White, Wm. Wiltshire, Wm.
Gardiner and Henry Stewart, of Joseph B. McKean
and Hannah his wife," on the day and date above
written, "for the sum of four hundred and fifty
pounds, lawful money of the State of Pennsylvania,
each lot containing in breadth, north and south,
twenty-six feet, and in length and depth, east and
west, one hundred and ninety-eight feet and six
inches." The bona fide title to these lots was vested
in the above-named individuals; but, that they acted
for, and were regarded by the congregation as their
trustees only, will hereafter be seen."
" 18th 2nd mo., 1792. The committee delivered
the following report: that no member should interrupt another in speaking, but, to speak mildly, one
at a time, and that the overseers should sit at the
desk with the clerk, and command order if necessary; also, a further report in regard to examining
the accounts, which was satisfactory, and a clear
report in regard to the cash book belonging to the
treasurer; likewise the bank book, in hands, which
is plain and satisfactory."
"28th 2nd mo., 1792. These are to certify, that
on the aforegoing day and date, Wm. White and
Absalom Jones called on Joseph Sharpless, and
entered into an agreement with him for his school



44       STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, ETC.
house, for the use of the African Church, at the
rate of five pounds per year, from the first of January, 1792; and to make him up eight dollars for
the first year we had the school-house for that purpose, and to pay the usher three dollars for the
trouble he has had for the first year."
"23rd 3rd mo. 1792. The representatives of
the African Church met together, and after communication of sentiments, agreed to take the cash
in hand, and get some subscription papers drawn
up, and to collect as fast as possible."
"5th mo. 16th, 1792. At a special meeting of
the Free African Society, held at the school-house
on Friiends' Alms-house lot, a conference was had
respecting the appropriation of one hundred dollars
out of the monthly meeting stock belonging to the
said Free African Society, towards the purchase of
a lot for the use of the Society, it was agreed that
the same be applied accordingly; for although it
appears by the minutes that the stock was intended
for the relief of the poor among them, yet, under
all the circumstances, it was thought advisable for
the sake of peace and harmony, to agree to the said
appropriation.
NICHOLAS WALN,
WILLIAM ROGERS,
MIERS FISHER,
-- FITZGERALD.
"NOTE. The persons whose names are here inserted, were present at said meeting."




SOCIETY APPROVES OF APPROPRIATION.   45
"19th 5th mo., 1792. At a monthly meeting of
the Free African Society, held in Philadelphia, for
the benefit of the sick, the committee appointed in
a difficult case, brought in a report, which being
read, signifying that they had agreed that one hundred dollars should be handed out of the treasury
for the use of the African Church, was approved by
the meeting, and Absalom Jones was appointed to
call on the treasurer for the same."
"21st 7th mo., 1792. At a monthly meeting of
the Free African Society, one of the overseers reported the following, which was adopted.
Whereas, some difference of opinion has subsisted between some of the members respecting the
powers of this Society to appropriate a sum of
mone.y towards' purchasing a lot for the purpose of
erecting'a place of worship for the use of this Society, which difference having arisen from the omission of entering the minute of the 28th of the 7th
month, 1791; and as the subject has obtained the
deliberate consideration of this Society for some
meetings past, as well as several well wishers to our
Society, it is now agreed that the said minute of the
28th of the 7th month, 1791, be annexed to the
minutes in its proper place, and that our future
transactions be conducted conformable thereto.
The minute being as follows:
At a special meeting of the Free African Society, convened by direction of the standing committee, a plan of church government, and articles
of faith and practice, suited to the establishment of
a religious society being read, the Society concluded
5




46 PLAN OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT AGREED UPON.
to unite therewith, and also with an address to the
friends of liberty and religion in Philadelphia, and
to appoint Absalom Jones to prepare said address."
At this place we turn over a new leaf. The
sayings and doings of the old "Free African Society," as such, now come to a close, and that Association might be left to stand by itself as a solitary
but pleasing reminiscence of the past, were itnotso
intimately connectedwith what still remains in active
operation, and into which it so beautifully merges.
Watching the progressive movements of this Society, has been exceedingly gratifying to our feelings.
Its noble aim in the first place, was to call out in
active operation the humane and tender sympathies
of the heart towards the sick and needy. It soon
afterward became alive to the importance of the
intellectual and moral improvement of the race;
and finally, it reorganizes for the purpose of promoting the interests of that divine scheme, which is
the only true elevator of mankind-the gospel of
Christ. At this incipient stage of St. Thomas'
Church, we now enter upon the task of recording
its annals.
The officers of this new organization are styled
"elders and deacons of the African Church;" and
the first business attended to, subsequent to the last
meeting held, was to satisfy all such members who
preferred to withdraw the money they had invested
in the old Society, to having it transferred to the
funds of the new enterprise. This, the following
minute shows.




DISTRIBUTION OF SOCIETY'S FUNDS.   47
"Nov. 3rd, 1792. At a meeting of the Elders
and Deacons of the African Church, the members
of the Free African Society being convened together, the question was asked the members, separately, whether they design to continue in the
Church, or whether they prefer to withdraw the
money they placed in the Society.
11th mo., 3rd, 1792. I do hereby certify, that
the money I subscribed to the African Society, I
freely give to the church.
CYRUS BUSTILL.
his
Ditto,....   JOHN   1 MORRIS.
mark.
his
Ditto,....   SAM'L P BOSTON.
mark.
After the above members had made a deed of
gift of the money they had in stock, the following
named members claimed what they had invested.
JAMES MINTESS,
MOSES JOHNSON,
WILLIAM BURROWS,
WILLIAM WILTSHIRE,
ISRAEL DE SILVER,
MARK STEPHENSON,
FRANCIS LEWIS,
CAESAR CRANCHELL,
THOMAS HENDERSON."




48           REPORT OF A. JONES.
"Dec. 12th, 1792. At a meeting of the Elders
and Deacons of the African Church, held at the
house of James Dexter, members present,Wm. White, Absalom     Jones, John Emory,
Doras Jennings, James Dexter, Alexander Cicero,
William Gray, and Caesar Worthington.
It was on motion,
Resolved, That Absalom Jones and Wm. Gray
be appointed to go with Joseph Clark on Friday
the 14th inst., to the Bank, and there receive from
him his authority for their receiving out of the
Bank the balance dueto the African Society."
"Dec. 18th, 1792. At a meeting of the Elders
and Deacons, &c., held at the house of John Emory,
Absalom Jones reported that he and Wm. Gray, in
accordance with the resolution at our last meeting,
waited on Joseph Clark, went with him to the Bank,
and received the balance due to the African Society.
It was then on motion,
Resolved, That our next meeting be at the house
of Coesar Worthington, at 7 o'clock to-morrow
evening, for the purpose of paying the balances
due to such members of the African Society as demand the same; and that James Mintess, Israel De
Silver, Moses Johnson, Mark Stephenson, William
Wiltshire, Francis Wiltshire, Francis Lewis, and
William Burris, be notified of said meeting, in
order that they may attend and receive their respective claims.
Resolved, That Csesar Worthington and Cyrus
Porter be appointed to notify them of the same."




CLAIMANTS SATISFIED.           49
"Dec. 19th, 1792. At a meeting of the Elders
and Deacons, &c., held at the house of Caesar
Worthington,
Present,
Elders.               Deacons.
Absalom Jones,       William Gray,
William White,       William Gardiner,
John Emory,          Cyrus Porter,
Doras Jenings,       Caesar Worthington.
James Dexter,
Alexander Cicero.
The business of the evening commenced by
paying the balances claimed by the following
named persons belonging to the African Society:
James Mintess, Israel De Silver, Moses Johnson,
Mark Stephenson, Francis Lewis, William Wiltshire, and Peter Sharpless. Peter Sharpless, after
giving his receipt of the balance due him, generously returned it for the use of the African
Church."
"Jan. 17th, 1793. At a meeting of the Elders
and Deacons, &c., held at the house of James
Dexter,
Present,
Elders.               Deacons.
Absalom Jones,       William Gray,
Wm. White,           Cyrus Porter,
John Emory,          Wm. Gardiner,
Doras Jennings,      Caesar Worthington.
James Dexter,
Alexander Cicero.
5*




50    ESTIMATE FOR THE CHURCH EDIFICE.
Mr. Robins the bricklayer, and Cyrus Bustill,
appeared and produced an estimate for the building, as follows:
Bricklayer's estimate for materials, &c., ~483 1 4
I'" "    <     workmanship,   215 0 0
~698 1 4
Carpenter's estimate, including all workmanship and all other expenses incident to the same,...    ~637 6 0
~1,335 7 4
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed, namely, Absalom Jones, Wm. Gray and
Caesar Worthington, to consider the above estimates, and set forth the ways and means by which
such sums can be raised, in order to meet the expenses to be incurred. The said committee are
hereby authorized to call in any person or persons
to assist them with their advice."
"Jan. 18th, 1793. At a meeting of the Elders
and Deacons, &c., held at the house of Absalom
Jones,
Present,
Elders.               Deacons.
Absalom Jones,      Wm. Gray,
Wm. White,          Wm. Gardner,
John Emory,          Cyrus Porter,
Doras Jennings,      Caesar Worthington.
Alex. Cicero.




REPORT ON WAYS AND MEANS.        51
Agreeably to the resolution of last meeting,
Absalom Jones, William Gray, and Caesar Worthington, appointed to consider and make a report on
the ways and means for raising the sum or sums of
money sufficient to defray the expenses to be incurred in building the African Church, brought in
their report, which is as follows:-That they have
applied to Jno. Nicholson, Esq., who proposes to
lend them the sum of two thousand dollars, which
sum, the committee states may be laid out in the
following manner.
1st. To purchase the bricks, lime, sand and
stone.
2nd. To purchase scantling, boards, shingles,
nails, &c.
Bricklayer's estimate for materials,. ~483 1 4
Carpenter's   do.     do..   287 6 0
~770 7 4
Amount furnished by Mr. Nicholson,   750 0 0
Deficient on this account,. ~20 7 4
Bricklayer's charge for himself,
and those he employs,      ~215
Carpenter's do.   do..    350
-565 0 0
Deficiency on the whole,.. ~585 7 4
This deficiency it appears to us cannot at present be made up; and without some further plan
be adopted in order to obtain it, the attempt to
commence the work of building will be vain. As




52        REPORT ON WAYS AND MEANS.
the money to be advanced by Mr. Nicholson is
appropriated to the purchasing of the materials, we
must by all means provide for the immediate paymert of those employed to carry on the work: for
which purpose, we propose that an additional sum
of one thousand dollars be borrowed for the above
mentioned purpose. This we judge, with the subscriptions that may be collected, will be sufficient for the present. After we shall have negotiated for the loan of three thousand dollars, the
deficiency still to be met will be ~210 7 4, which
sum we must exert ourselves to collect from the
gentlemen who have already subscribed, and from
such others as are disposed to encourage our undertaking.
Signed, ABSALOM JONES,           )
WM. GRAY,                 Committee.
CAESAR WORTHINGTON.
CYRUS BUSTILL* was called in by the committee
for his advice, &c.
Resolved, That the above report of the committee be, and is hereby unanimously agreed to by
the members present, and that the said loans be
perfected as soon as possible, in order that the work
may be forwarded with all reasonable despatch.
* Cyrus Bustill was generally respected for his uprightness,
and much relied upon by his brethren for his sound judgment.
He was the first to relinquish his claim on the old Society in
behalf of the church. This noble act appears to good advantage, in view of his religious sentiments, which accorded with
those of the Friends. He was the father of David Bustill,
widely known in this city as a mal of high moral worth, and
who clings with tenacity to the religious tenets of his father.




TRUSTEES' REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION. 53
Resolved, That Absalom Jones, William Gray,
and Caesar Worthington, be, and they are hereby
appointed a committee to negotiate for the above
sum of three thousand dollars, so that the work intended may be brought to perfection as soon as
possible."
"Feb. 10th, 1793. The trustees of the African
Church think it a duty incumbent upon them to
make known to the congregation the result of their
proceedings in regard to what they have done
towards building the church.
1st. They take this mode of informing the congregation at large, that they have borrowed a sum
of money for the purpose of erecting the building,
for which there is an annual interest to be paid,
quarterly, and for which there is no fund, as yet
provided.
2nd. They therefore make the following proposals; that (if agreeable to the congregation) a
monthly collection be made for the above mentioned purpose of paying said interest.
3rd. That should there be an overplus after
paying said interest, the sum shall go towards
paying the principal debt, and the other exigencies
of the church.
4th. There shall be a fair and regular account
kept of all the expenses attending the erecting of
the building; likewise of all the moneys received
for the support and use of the church.
5th. There shall be a fair statement of the same
made out when the building is finished, for the




54      REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS, ETC.
satisfaction and inspection of the congregation, or
sooner, if it be found necessary.
6th. They therefore appoint Sunday the 17th
inst., to make the first collection, and on every first
Sunday in each succeeding month.
The Elders and Deacons also desire, that a
decent decorum may be observed at the time of
public worship, for which reason they recommend
the following rules, viz.:
1st. That at the time of singing, praise, &c., to
our Maker, the congregation shall stand or keep
seated, as they may find freedom.
2nd. They recommend the congregation to
supply themselves with such books as are necessary, so that they may read, sing, and praise the
Lord in harmony, with universal heart and voice."
"Feb. 11th. 1793. At a meeting of the Trustees,
Elders and Deacons, held at the house of William
White, the Committee appointed to report ways
and means for erecting the African church, report,
that they have negotiated a loan of TWO THOUSAND
dollars for said purpose.
Resolved, That James Dexter be appointed to
purchase 150 perches of stone, to be delivered on
the premises, on as reasonable terms as possible,
taking the person's obligation for the punctual
delivery of the same in a specified time.
Resolved, That Wm. White be appointed to
purchase or procure a lime-house, to be removed
on the premises as soon as possible.




REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS, ETC.     55
Resolved, That Wm. Gray be appointed to purchase the lime.
Resolved, That Absalom Jones, Wm. Gray and
Wm. Wiltshire be appointed to treat with the
carpenter in regard to the materials.
Resolved, That Absalom Jones and James Dexter
do apply to Mr. Cripps, and ascertain upon what
terms he will furnish 160,000 bricks, for the purpose of building the church."
"Feb. 26th, 1793. At a meeting of the Trustees,
Elders and Deacons of the African church-Wm.
White reports that he has attended to the business
for which he was appointed at the last meeting,
respecting a lime-house, and says, that Col. Francis
Johnson has kindly made a present of a lime-house
for the use of the church.
James Dexter reports that he has purchased 150
perches of stone, to be delivered on the spot, at 6.9
per perch.
Absalom Jones reports, that he has agreed with
Peter Bobb for 150,000 bricks, at 32.6 per thousand,
and that Mr. B. says he will make a present
to the Church of 3,000 bricks, on condition that
we advance him the sum of two hundred dollars
when the kiln is burning. He gives satisfactory
security for the punctual delivery of the same
when required.
Resolved, That Absalom Jones be authorized to
perfect the agreement with Mr. Bobb.
Wm. Gray reports, that he has delivered the




56      REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS, ETC.
draft of the building, and bill of scantling to Messrs.
Summers & Worrell, and that they are gone to the
Mill to procure the timber."
"March 5th, 1793. At a meeting of the Trustees,
Elders and Deacons, held at the house of Wm.
White-Cyrus Porter reports, that he has waited
on Messrs. Summers & Worrell, and also on Mr.
Robins, and that they have agreed to meet the
officers of the church on the lot to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock, to mark out the ground where
the foundation is to be digged.
Absalom Jones reports, that he and Wm. Gray
had engaged bricks sufficient for the building, at
32.6 per thousand, of Mr. Bobb and Mr. Hansman."
"March 12th, 1793. At a meeting of the Trustees, &c., held at the house of Jno. Emory, Cyrus
Porter reports, that agreeable to his appointment
to procure poles for the church, he has obtained
the number of thirty, at 6 per piece.
James Dexter reports that Magnus Miller, who
has the disposal of certain materials, such as sashes,
doors, window-shutters, glass, &c., &c., belonging to
the Presbyterian meeting-house in Market street, is
willing to treat with us and sell the same, for the
use of the African church. We therefore appoint
Wm. Gray and Caesar Worthington to treat with
Mr. Miller for the said materials, with the assistance
of Messrs. Summers & Worrell."
"March 19th, 1793. At a meeting of the Trustees, &c., held at the house of Wm. White, Cyrus




CIURCH OPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME.   57
Porter reports that he has purchased twelve scaffold
poles, in addition to the thirty he reported at the
last meeting, for the use of the church.
The members present taking into consideration
the propriety of building the church further back
on the lot, resolved to build it where the cellar is
now being dug.
Wm. Gray reports that lime is now one-quarter
of a dollar per bushel, but expects it will be cheaper
when the roads get better, at which time he will,
agreeable to his appointment, make the purchase."
"May 21st, 1793. At a meeting of the Elders,
&c., held at the house of Wm. White, Absalom
Jones reports that he and Wm. Gray have received
the additional sum of one thousand dollars from
Mr. Nicholson, and placed it in the hands of Mr.
Ralston. He also reports that he has paid Mr.
Nicholson one quarter's interest.
Any further details of reports, &c., respecting
the progress of the work, we conceive to be
unnecessary; sufficient have been given to evince
the great prudence, energy, zeal, faithfulness and
perseverance those humble, but noble, pioneers
displayed in entering upon and carrying on to its
completion the great and good work they had in
hand. It will be a more interesting picture to
behold the Building prepared and opened for the
first time for public worship, July 17th, 1794.i
6




A
DISCOURSE
Delivered July 17th, 1794, in the
AFRICAN CHURCH
Of the City of Philadelphia,
on the occasion of opening the said Church, and holding public
worship in it the first time,
By SAMUEL MAGAW, D.D.,
Rector of St. Paul's,
DIVINE SERVICE,
introduced with select scripture passages, and a special prayer,
and then, proceeding in its usual offices,
having been performed by
THE REV. JAMES ABERCROMBIE, A. M.,
Second Assistant Minister of Christ Church and St. Peter's.
"Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God."




DEDICATORY ADDRESS TO TRUSTEES, ETC. 59
TO THE
tRUSTEES* AND CONGREGATION
OF THE
AFRICAN CHURCH,
PHILADELPHIA.
BRETHREN,"Grace be to you, and peace from     God our
Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
We could not, ourselves, have devised any words
equally expressive, with the above, of a sincere
Pastoral affection for you: and in the Spirit which
they breathe, we make this
DEDICATI ON.
You will recollect those Holy Offices which you
joined in, upon an important day; and the instruction
which you listened to, before many witnesses.t
SAMUEL MAGAW,
JAMES ABERCROMBIE.
* The Trustees are, William Gray, Absalom Jones, William
White, William Gardner, William Welcher, and Henry Stewart.
f The venerable Clergy of almost every denomination, and a
number of other very respectable citizens were present.




60           NOTE TO THE PUBLIC.
TO THE PUBLIC.
The occasion on which the following Discourse
was delivered, ought not to be deemed too inconsiderable for any farther notice. The opening of
an African Church in America; and perhaps, the
first, is a remarkable event in the progress of
christian knowledge. At the request, therefore, of
the people expressly concerned, and with the countenance of several most respectable characters, who
wish well to them, the Author of this Discourse,
assents now to its proceeding from the press. It
was prepared in unavoidable haste, and under such
peculiar circumstances of failure of health at the
time, that it could not have been undertaken at all,
or even tolerably executed, when undertaken, had
it not been for Dr. Rush's distinguished attentions,
and his most valuable hints, of which the Preacher
was fortunate in availing himself.
The familiarity of the style, and plainness in the
manner of address, it is to be presumed, require no
apology.
ORDER
OF THE
SERVICE IN THE DESK.
1. INTRODUCTORY SENTENCES.
"The Lord is in His holy Temple; let all the
earth keep silence before Him." Hab. ii., 20.
"Thus saith the Lord; the Heaven is my Throne,
and the Earth is my footstool: where is the house




OPENING SERVICE IN TIlE DESK.    61
that ye build unto me; and where is the place of
my rest?" Isaiah cxvi., 1.
"From the rising of the sun, even unto the going
down of the same, my name shall be great among
the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be
offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my
name shall be great among the Heathen, saith the
Lord of Hosts." MaL. i., 11.
2. EXHORTATION.
3. THE GENERAL CONFESSION.
4. THE FOLLOWING PRAYER.
0 Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God; Creator, Preserver, and Governor of
the Universe; regard, we beseech thee, the prayers
and praise we this day offer unto thy divine Majesty, in the place which we are now assembled in,
to dedicate unto thee. Dwell in this house, we pray
thee; accept and sanctify it, as an holy Temple,
devoted to thy service, and to the maintenance of
thy true religion and virtue. We know, 0 Lord,
that thou dwellest not in Temples made with
hands, so as to be circumscribed by them, as thou
hast created the boundless expanse of Heaven for
thy Throne, and the Earth outstretched, immense,
for thy footstool; but whose Glory neither the
boundless expanse of Heaven, which is thy
Throne, nor the Earth outstretched, immense,
which is thy footstool, nor even the Heaven of
Heavens, are able to contain. Yet, though thy
divine nature be thus unlimited, vouchsafe, we




62          PRAYER IN THE DESK.
beseech thee, to be more especially present in this
Sanctuary, by thy grace and heavenly benediction;
that, as often as two or three are gathered together
here in thy name, thou mayest be in the midst of
them, to hear and to fulfil their petitions: so that
this house may be forever sacred to the worship of
thee, the only true God; where the Gospel of thy
blessed Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, may be
faithfully preached, and the sacraments of his institution rightly and duly administered-that Gospel
which is "the power of God unto salvation to as
many as believe"-those holy Sacraments, which,
being worthily received, are able to "nourish us
unto eternal life."
And do thou, O merciful God, who before all
Temples preferest a pure and upright heart, enlighten, preserve, convert us. "May thy Priests,"
here ministering before thee, "be clothed with
righteousness, and may thy Saints, uttering their
responses, sing with joyfulness."  Pour out upon
the whole Congregation a spirit of Piety and universal Charity; of that Piety which is fervent, yet
humble-of that " Charity, which is the very bond
of perfectness, the end of the commandment, and
which proceedeth out of a pure heart, a good conscience, and faith unfeigned." May they ever possess a lively remembrance of the mercy thou hast
vouchsafed unto them, in being graciously pleased
to call them out of the darkness of Paganism, and
the bondage of ignorance and error, into the clear
light of Gospel Revelation, and "the glorious
liberty of the children of God." May their under6*




PRAYER.                63
standings be evermore illuminated by that heavenly
light, and may they ever " stand fast in that liberty
wherewith Christ hath made them free."
May they so diligently learn the precepts of thy
blessed Son, and so constantly follow his good
example, that, having faithfully worshipped Thee
in thy Church upon earth, they may, when the
present period of their probation shall be accomplished, be admitted to the general assembly and
Church of the first born in thy kingdom, where
with Angels and Archangels, and all the innumerable Hosts of Heaven, they may laud and magnify
thy glorious name, through the endless ages of
eternity.
Hear us, O Lord, we humbly beseech thee, for
the sake of thine only Son Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer, to whom, with the Father and
the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world
without end. Amen.
5. THE MORNING PRAYER CONTINUED.
6. PROPER PSALMS, 15, 84, 85, 122.
7. L ESSONS.  1. Zachariah, 8th chap.
LESSONS.  2. Colossians, 3rd chap.
8. REMAINDER OF THE MORNING SERVICE.
9. PART OF THE COMMUNION SERVICE.
10. THE COLLECT.-A fOr the first Sunday in Advent.
EPISTLE.-Rom. xiii., 8. For the GOSPEL, Acts,
11 to 27 v.




64               A DISCOURSE.
DISCOURSE.
" THE PEOPLE THAT WALKED IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT
LIGHT."-Isaiahi ix., 2.
As Ipassed by, soon after the walls of this building were carried up, and beheld the marble on the
eastern front, inscribed with these words, my attention was exceedingly attracted by them; for I was
struck with the propriety of such a choice. And, I
know of none more suitable to direct our thoughts
on the present interesting occasion. They relate to
the Gentiles; and, this day, they have their accomplishment here.
Blessed God! who are these, that gather themselves together? They come to thee I They come to thy
light, and to the brightness of its rising. The sons of
strangers do build up thy walls. Their children's
children shall minister unto thee. In thy wrath didst
thou smite them: but in thy favour hast thou had
mercy on them.
The style of holy Scripture is often figurative;
and notices are taken from familiar objects, and
circumstances generally known, in common life, in
order to convey spiritual conceptions with all the
greater clearness, and to render their impression
the stronger and more abiding. This is remarkably seen in the writings of the sublime Isaiah.
We have an instance of it before us, in the text,where the words Darkness, and Light, which, literally, denote qualities universally understood, as
they respect worldly things, are applied to certain




A DISCOURSE.              65
qualities and conditions relative to spiritual things.
"The people that walked in Darkness," is the
Prophet's expression;-" The people" who lived in
blindness and error, have seen a great light,-the
light of the truth —the light of the glorious Gospel
of Jesus Christ.
With some variation, how strongly is the same
thought represented in the close of the verse"they that dwell in the land of the shadow of
death, upon them hath the light shined." Yes; of
all darkness, that of the Soul is most dark: and of
all who wander, the wanderers from the path of
life, are most forlorn, and to be pitied. Of course,
Divine illumination, the light from God, is, of all
things, the most precious. You are a people who
have "walked in Darkness."  You who walked in
darkness, have been favored with a change of that
condition; you have been brought to see Light:
And,
That Light is a glorious one-a great Light.
From these considerations, do clearly flow certain
duties, which eminently claim your observance.
I. You are a people who "have walked in darkness."
1. In being brought up as Pagans, or Heathen,
unacquainted with Divine revelations, and the covenant of grace, in your own country.*
Your fathers, and some, perhaps, of you now
present, did, near the shores of Senegal and Gambia,
* This is meant of the general state of the b'ack people, or
Africans.




66               A DISCOURSE.
on this or the other ill-fated range, or coast of
Africa,-may be in Benin, Congo, or Angola,-ignorant of "God that made the world, and all things
therein," bow down in adoration before stocks,
stones, beasts, and the vilest creeping things,pray to the hollow winds; or, dancing in wild
circles, mutter to Devils;-or, in affrighted gaze,
yell to the pale moon, to save you!-And it is
known, that proportioned to the degrees of darkness, in the aforementioned respects,-especially
the "gross darkness" covering the people, —must,
of course, be the corrupt state of their manners.
2. You have "walked in darkness," as being
slaves in this country-for slavery, and darkness, or
ignorance, go hand in hand.
Can a poor African, dragged in fetters from his
native land,-and here, driven and tormented under
the lashes of cruelty, be any thing else than dark,
-dark! Can a people, kept back from knowledge,
expressly for this reason-lest it should unfit them
for being beasts of burden, —can they be any other
than dark?
To the credit of humanity, in this part of America,
and several other parts, such treatment hath been
held in abhorrence. It is unknown, except in
narratives from abroad.
Still, at the very best, slavery is a hard allotment. It sinks the mind, no less than the body;
weakens its capacity; destroys all principle; corrupts the feelings; prevents man from either discerning, or choosing aright in any thing. Yes,




A DISCOURSE.              67
and in, the proportion that it exists any where, it
has its effect in vitiating the general manners.
PENNSYLVANIA! thou hast considered this. Thou
hast mitigated its ills, in the first instance; and, in
the most proper manner which the evil would
admit of, art pursuing the plans for its entire
abolition.
3. You "have walked in darkness" as sinners.
In this respect, all mankind are upon a footingthey all walk in darkness. The term is fitly chosen,
indeed, to express the state of man. He has lost
sight of his chief end, and of the means to attain it.
He mistakes his supreme good. He wanders in
crooked paths. He exposes himself continually to
dangers.  He falls into innumerable vices and
corruptions-and no wonder-for he walketh in
darkness.
This darkness may be considered in a two-fold
view,-as external and internal. The external darkness includes that state of things in the world,
which is opposed to the knowledge of God, and
true religion; those circumstances severally, or
taken together, which the Evil One makes use of, as
a medium, through which to carry on his own foul
business.  It comprehends all those erroneous
systems of religion which prevailed among the
different nations, before the appearing of the
Messiah, Jesus Christ; and all the schemes or systems, whatever may be their names, that have been
substituted for his religion since.
The internal darkness is seated in man's mind.
It is an immoral disposition of the heart; a corrupt




68               A DISCOURSE.
state of the affections. It is THE ENMITY AGAINST
GOD, spoken of by St. Paul. It is that aching,
wrathful abyss, (if I may so express it,) void and
without form-till the Spirit of God " moveth upon
the face of it," and saith, " Let there be light."
The depraved condition of the soul, being the
dreadful effect of man's fall, you find set forth in
holy Scripture, by no expression so frequent, as
that of " Darkness."  And, what is very observable
-this internal darkness always implies that extreme
evil, Unbelief-a distrust in the Almighty, and his
declaration; and, in relation to the redemption
offered to the world-it is a refusal to accept
thereof, or to comply with its gracious terms.
II. In the next place, let us observe, agreeably to
our text, that a " People that walked in darkness,"
external and internal, "have seen a great light."
They have perceived by the eye of their understanding-they have discovered —they have become
acquainted with that which will guide them to
liberty and happiness.
By this "great light," is meant the knowledge
of true religion-the instruction contained in the
gospel of Jesus Christ; "the light of the glory of
God in the face" of his beloved Son,-who is
himself called " the light of men;" " the true light
which lighteth every man that cometh into the
world." Verily, under the circumstances in which
this world lay by reason of sin, and, in the expectations of deliverance through the grace and virtue
of a messenger sent from GOD, who is the eternal
essential light, there could not be a more proper




A DISCOURSE.               69
word summarily to characterize that divine messenger than LIGHT.   Well, therefore, may the
beautiful metaphor be used, as it often is, to
designate or express his influence. This is called
light, as opposed to darkness. It dispels darkness.
It irradiates the external and internal hemispheres
of the mind. It is that spiritual medium of sight, by
which we see spiritually. It shows God to be what
he is.  Our altars need no more to have this
inscription, To THE UNKINOWN GOD.
It reveals his name, his nature, his perfections.
It shows man, as a creature, and a sinner. It
shows him in a very different view from what he is
disposed to consider himself, by the light of his
reason. It discovers to him his littleness, his dependance on a superior, his depravity,-and withal,
his utter inability to save himself. Particularly
does it open the way of salvation; setting forth, in
a manner most comfortable, most easy to be understood by people of all capacities-high or low,that "God may be just, and yet thejustifier of him
who believeth in Jesus." It shows, that grace is
the true spring of holiness: that divine pardon
produces divine peace; and this peace to be inseparable from purity and virtue. It shows, moreover,
all the social and relative duties; and points out the
connection of each of them with the glory of God,
and with general and individual happiness. Yes,
my brethern,-and to complete the whole, it opens
the divine abodes of existence in the world to come.
It carries your hopes steadfast and sure, to the
morning ofthatbrightday, in the which, the redeemed
7




70               A DISCOURSE.
ones shall put on immortality,-shall all meet one
another, and meet the Lord;-when dignity and
excellence that cannot now be uttered, shall be
theirs forever.
III. It is called a great light. Let us enquire
into the reasons of this epithet. It is great, both
with respect to its object, its origin, and its circumstances.
1. Its object: Here indeed, there is not one only,
but many; and, in the like multiplied view, may
the origin be contemplated, together with the other
particulars.
In regard to the first,-I shall try a moment to
direct your attention to the principal of all. It is
a great light, because it manifests to the world, the
Great Being. The knowledge of God, or the religious impression of an intelligent, almighty Cause
of all things,-"the rewarder of them  that diligently seek him", is as essential to human happiness, as the breath we draw, is now to the human
life. Man may exist without knowing God: but,
existence merely, is not happiness. A sensibility
on our part, of the relation we stand in to the
infinitely great and good Creator, and of the duty
flowing from  that relation,-it is this that gives
man his dignified place in the arrangement of the
universe. Yet, it is too certain, to be disputed, that
such knowledge or sensibility might, through human
degeneracy and weakness, in a great measure, or
altogether, become lost. It actually did so. What
was the state of the world, in this respect, before
the revelation of Gospel light? What hath been




A DISCOURSE.             71
its state ever since, in places where that light has
not reached? or in minds which refuse its friendly
aid, under all the circumstances that appreciate
and recommend it?   One cannot give a more
express, and at the same time, a more full answer
to the above, than in these few scriptural words,
"Having no hope and without God."
The great light I am speaking of, immediately
tends to the removing from human minds, that
obscurity which covered them, with regard to that
infinite Being. It is light that doth make manifest.
And it is this great light that hath revealed or manifested God-not in the mysteries of his nature, but, as
far, as by us, he may be known; a Being great and
good; in whom the most entire confidence may be
reposed; a Being who ordereth and governeth universally, and in the most perfect manner; a Being
who is the standard of excellence; and who is still
the compassionate benefactor of man though fallen;
a Being who is reconciling the world unto himself;
who is establishing an intercourse between earth
and heaven; bestowing forgiveness through a Mediator; and opening all the springs of righteousness
and consolation. Here there arises in view:
Another object of this light, enhancing its exalted
nature and qualities; I mean the great salvation by
the Gospel of Jesus Christ; a salvation from sin
and death, into holiness and life eternal: for whereever its gracious influence is experienced, there
peace is established; the dominion of Satan is overturned, and a new dominion fixed in the soul-the
reign of God; new principles are implanted-the




72              A DISCOURSE.
principles of light and love; a new life communicated-the life of heaven.
This sketch must suffice at present.
Other particulars, numerous and important, might
here be brought forward, as objects of the great light
before us; but, as the principal ones contemplated
just now, do virtually include or refer to all the
rest; I forthwith pass on,
2. To the greatness of this light, in respect to its
origin or sources.
It is great,
(1.) Because it comes from the Great Being, " the
Father of Lights," the Author and Creator of all
things. He' who commanded light to shine out
of darkness" in the beginning, hath now "shined
into our hearts, to give us" this light.
(2.) Because it was conveyed to the world, by the
great Immanuel, the son of God, "the brightness
of the Father's glory, and the express delineation
of his person;" of whom it was predicted, that " he
should be great." It was conveyed by Him whose
immense dignity, and divine attributes, attested and
announced in the clearest manner, must give it
value. It was conveyed by Him who was THE WORD
and in the beginning " with God;" —'" who hath a
name above every name;" of whom it is said, as
"the first begotten," " and let all the angels of God
worship him;" and " thy throne, 0 God, is for ever
and ever"-upon whose shoulder is "the government," as Mediator-the WONDERFUL,-the Coun..*




A DISCOURSE.              73
sellor, the Mighty God,* the Everlasting Father,t
the Prince of Peace-" able and willing to save
unto the uttermost." I repeat it. This light, this
"Wisdom which is from above," conveyed by Him
must be great.
(3.) It is great, because it is communicated by the
agency of the Holy Spirit, whose power is great to
overcome all resistances from earth and hell; whose
office it is to ". reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment;" the Spirit who led the
disciple Peter, to make the memorable confession
which his Lord entitles THIS RocK, "on which he
will build his church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it;" the Spirit through whose divine
irradiations, the ancient prophets, and all the men
of God from the beginning, saw, and foretold the
several periods of the Messiah's Kingdom; its
dawn, its commencement, its gradual unfolding, and
the unutterable glory in which it is to issue; the
Spirit, whose guidance and inspiration were given
in a manner still more extraordinary, unto the
Apostles, leading them unto all truth; bringing to
their remembrance all that their Master had taught
them; endowing them with miraculous powers;
accompanying their preaching with irresistible
energy and demonstration; instructing them how
to answer and refute their adversaries; supporting
them and their pious followers against the spirit
and malice of the world; qualifying them severally
* The mighty Lord, or Heir of all things-Lord over all.
t The Father of the perpetual age to come, the age of the
Gospel,




74               A DISCOURSE.
to fulfil the great purposes of the ministry; and
abiding with all the faithful servants of Christ,
ministers and people to the end of the world: the
Spirit who is the author at first, and the promoter
ever afterwards, of all saving impressions, gracious
influences, and heavenly virtues in the human
mind; the inspirer of the gifts of faith, of purity,
of love, of consolation. Through his agency and
operation, is this light communicated.
3. I said it is great in relation to the circumstances
appertaining to it: and this is the third head, with
which the consideration of the greatness of this
light, supplies me.
(1.) It is great, because it hath endured a great
while-from the fall of man to the present day. It
is as old as the creation. With its early rays it
comforted and refreshed the patriarchs. Increasing
gradually, it was a guide to the prophets. From
one age to another, down to the "fulness of the
time," it taught the good and just to "live by faith."
It was reflected back in hope and consolation, from
every type and ordinance of the law. It encircled
every altar.  It interpreted every sacrifice.  It
enabled the members of the church of God, to look
through each emblem and shadow, to the substance.
In a word-it may be traced in a distinguishable
stream, up to the beginning of time: it will extend
down to the end of time; and it will shine more
and more " unto the perfect day."
(2.) It is great, because it shall illuminate the
whole world. Yes, " from  the rising of the sun,
unto the going down of the same," it will cause




A DISCOURSE.              75
the name of the Messiah to be "great among the
heathen." In a more eminent degree than we can
have any just conception of, at present.
" One tide of glory, one unclouded blaze"shall cover the earth.
Innumerable passages of Scripture prove the
future universal prevalence of this light: meanwhile, the happiest comparisons, and most expressive charming prospects are made use of often, to
represent its excellency and increasing brightness.
I refer you, particularly to the Book of Psalms;.to the Prophets, Isaiah, Zachariah, and Malachi;to the books of the holy Gospel, expressly so
named; to the Epistles of St. Paul, and the Revelation of St John: the substance of their report is,
that by the prevailing and expanding of this light,
the "Dominion" of Christ, shall be from sea, even
to sea; and from the rivers, even to the ends of the
earth; that every where, the walls of his church
shall be called "salvation, and its gates praise;"t
that "in every place, incense shall be offered to his
name, and a pure offering;"4 that the wilderness
and solitary places shall be universally made glad,
and the desert blossom as the rose;~ that the moun.
tains shall exult, the vales be filled with melody;
the trees of every forest break forth into singing;1 -
the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the
deaf unstopped;"t that "the fulness of the Gentiles shall come, for the same Lord over all, is rich
* Psal. 72.   - Isa. 60.:  Mal. 1.
Q Isa. 35: 1.  II Ch. 44,   T Ch. 29; Ch. 35.




76              A DISCOURSE.
unto all that call upon him;* that the ransomed
of the Lord, shall return, and come to Zion with
songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads;"t
that "'a great multitude"-countless by men, "'of
all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,
shall stand before the throne, and before the Lamb,
clothed in white robes, and palms in their hands $"
(3.) Lastly, it is great, because, as it will shine on
with unceasing lustre, until the end of time; so it
will shine hereafter, in the glory which it produces
throughout all eternity.
From the words thus opened and explained, there
clearly arise certain duties, which you are expressly
concerned in. Allow me with affectionate plainness to state and recommend them.
1. The first is Gratitude to God, for having directed, in his own wise Providence, that you should
come from a land of Pagan darkness, to a land of
Gospel light; from a state, afterwards, of slavery,
to a state of liberty; and now, from guilt and sinfulness, to this state of salvation through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
As for those who brought you, or your fathers,
from your own country,-one may say of them,
with a little variation, because of the different circumstances-as Joseph said to his brethren, "But
as for you, ye thought evil against us; but God
meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this
day, to save much people alive."
I am aware that your condition, or cases severally,
* Rom. 11.  t Isa. 35.  % Rev. 7.




A DISCOURSE.              77
may differ a good deal, one from the other. I will
specify an instance, and consider it with you, a
moment; not losing sight of the gratitude just mentioned. As the greater number of you are free, so
there may be others of you yet in bondage; these
nevertheless, have received mercies enow to thank
God for. His dispensations are unquestionably
wise and proper. Whatever he permits, will turn
to the real profit of such as do resign themselves to
his good pleasure. Your present situation does not
hinder you from being Christ's freemen. Your
present situation gives you some advantages above
what others have: yes, and very possibly, above
what your masters have,-in that your humbleness
of mind, your patience, faithfulness, and trust only
in God, will add to the greatness of your future
happiness.
2. The next duty is gratitude to your earthly
benefactors, who planned your emancipation from
slavery.
There are certain evils, which, when once they
have obtained footing, and become epidemic, as it
were, are scarcely seen as evils; no wonder then if
they be slow and difficult to remove; so it hath been
with slavery. A few humane, considerate persons,
at an early period of our settlement in this country,yes, in Pennsylvania particularly, were moved by
the Divine Spirit, to open light upon this darkness.
Their testimony was treated as visionary for a
while; but, in time, it gained upon the judgment
and consciences of men.
Here, you will recollect the names of LAY, of




78              A DISCOURSE.
WooLMAN,-and above all, ANTHONY B]ENEZET;whose labors were unwearied in your behalf;
whose works of benevolence and love, have followed
them to the regions of peace and blessedness beyond
the grave.
There are also living characters not a few, in this
city, and throughout the United States, heartily
engaged in the same business of humanity. Behold, how intent they are to do your people good!
You owe much likewise, to those persons who
planned schools for the instruction of your children.
This instruction is as the door introducing the
young people to the great light. Knowledge is the
best foundation for integrity and usefulness: and it
is the element and life of Freedom.
You owe much to the Pennsylvania Society for
promoting the abolition of slavery, and the relief of
free negroes unlawfully held in bondage. The
memory of Franklin here rises before you. He
was its President. With the like views in which
it originated, may it persevere, till its work be
completed.
But especially, do you owe a large debt of gratitude to the citizens of Philadelphia, who assisted
you by donations and loans, in the' building of this
handsome, spacious, and very convenient church.*
You thought that to have an house of your own to
assemble in for public worship, was, in consideration of your increased numbers, now desirable and
expedient. In the same view have your patrons
* Dimensions, 60 feet, by 40-height proportional.




A DISCOURSE.              79
and friends regarded the matter, and countenanced
your proceedings. And, as with brotherly kindness and complacency, they leave it to yourselves
to fix upon, or adopt such system, order, and mode
of worship as may be most agreeable to you; so
have they found a perfect freedom in helping you
to prepare a place, where that system, order, and
mode may peacefully reside, and operate.
On the pleasing ground marked out above, I
could go farther,-indulging your feelings,-and my
own, by particularly mentioning some characters in
this place, preeminent for generous actions, whenever they have opportunity; and who truly have
been so, with regard to you:-But we are restrained
in that satisfaction. There is, however, what will
be infinitely more acceptable to them; namely, to
see that their acts of kindness do good.
Most favorably assisted, the pious labor of your
hands hath prospered thus far; and you are now
happily assembled, for the first time, within these
walls;-we offering our congratulations; and cheerfully uniting with you to worship the God of All.
3, Another duty, is compassionate love to your
brethren, who are yet in darkness, or bondage, in
other parts of the world. Be tenderly affectioned
towards their condition. Pray publicly, and privately, that " the Lord may hear your voice, and
look upon their affliction, and their labor, and
their oppression."
O, mighty God! Thou dost encourage us in this
thing. For notwithstanding the confusion of nations, and the corruption and madness of human




80               A DISCOURSE.
passions, there is some prospect that the general
cause of justice, of freedom, and of peace on earth,
will at last prevail 
4. Humility is the next duty. Remember your
former condition. Pride was not made for man, in
any, even the highest stations in life; much less for
persons who have just emerged from the lowest. It
is said, there is a great deal of this among your
people, already; and that it is increasing extremely
fast. I wish this might be no more than a surmise:
and then, that even the surmise itself might be
dropped; for your friends meet with discouragements on this head. Will you, my brethren, guard
against pride? Will you reflect on the nature of
the evil itself; the offences that come by it; and
other unhappy consequences!
It was a custom among the Jews, as you find recorded by Moses, in the book of Deuteronomy, ch.
26: 5; when the Priest received the Basket of first
fruits from them; for each person to- declare, in the
house and presence of the Lord, the history of the
mean and wretched origin of his family: " A Syrian
ready to perish, was my father."
In like manner, when you are tempted to cherish
the least pride, in your freedom-in dress-in your
favorable reception among your fellow-citizens,
and even in this stately building; or in any of your
civil, as well as religious privileges; then check
yourselves, by confessing privately and publicly,
that "a slave ready to perish, was my father:" or
if all cannot say this; you may unite in expressions
still more humbling, and say "a sinner-a fallen




A DISCOURSE.              81
man-a rebel against God-an heir of wrath; and,
until redeemed, a child of hell, was my father."
5. Circumspection in your conduct and intercourse with the world, is another duty that you are
especially concerned in. "See that ye walk circumspectly; not as fools, but as wise." Remember,
that you have enemies, as well as friends; that you
will be narrowly watched; and that less allowance
will be made for your failings, than for those of
other people.  This circumspection will be more
necessary, as you have become a religious society.
Peaceableness among yourselves, and with all men,
is indispensable to a fair character; as also truth
in your dealings, in your words, and in your inner
man; diligence in providing things honest: temperance and sobriety; an obliging, friendly, meek conversation.
Here a particular thought occurs to me, which is
not to be suppressed: with regard to those of you
who are not free, you must not be cast down, nor
discontented. It is a dispensation of Providence, as
I hinted already, to which you should submit in
quietness, for conscience sake: and in so doing,
you shall certainly meet with good. I give you St.
Paul's advice, adapted exactly to your situation:
"Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count
their own masters worthy of all honor: that the
name of God, and his doctrine be not blasphemed."*
*1 Tim. vi., 1.
8




82              A DISCOURSE.
To proceed: You have built an house for the
public worship of God; and this day, solemnly
dedicated it unto Him.
O may the Lord our God accept of the dedication! Let Him not leave this people, nor forsake
them I "Hear thou in Heaven, their prayers, and
their supplications, and maintain their cause!"
Come then, ye people, highly favored! Your
house is Holiness unto the Lord  Let none who
ever worship in it, dishonor it at any time, or in
any way.   You have here, in the most public
manner named the name of Christ, and told us,
you " have seen His star in the east, and are come
to worship Him;" depart then-depart from allyea, even from the shadow of iniquity.
It is not a small matter, to have even heard of
the true God. It is still a greater to have been
taught His pure religion: But, together with the
above-for you to be encouraged in the course of
events to build a temple to that God, wherein His
name may be adored-this is indeed an honour
bestowed upon you. Here then, be assured, is a
period in your progress and profession, which will
prove very remarkable: For, according as your
conduct henceforth turns out well or ill, your
example will be a praise in the view of all around
you, or a reproach. Yes, this very house, or
rather, the conversation of those belonging to it,
" is set for the fall or rising again of many"-of the
people of your colour. On the right improvement
of your present advantages, depends, perhaps, the




A DISCOURSE.              83
fate of your brethren in bondage in every part of
the world. Strengthen the hands of your friends
every where by your pure and unexceptionable
conduct. This will be to "let your light shine" in
favour of the multitudes yet covered with darkness.
This will be encouraging the deliverance of those
who are bound.
A contrary behaviour will certainly increase
their darkness, and tend only to rivet still closer
their chains. It may render the yet existing reproach of your country perpetual.
To conclude-strive to escape from the darkness
of sin. 0 let it not be "your condemnation, that
light is come into the world, and that you have
chosen darkness rather than light, because your
deeds are evil." With your own eyes, behold the
great light that has been described, and walk ye in
it. Prize beyond all things the instructive, renovating grace of the Gospel. Reflect on the considerations now offered for that purpose. Attend,
I beseech you, to the admonitions of your own
consciences; to the calls of Providence; to the
word of the Lord; to the teachings of the Divine
Spirit; to the terrors of neglecting so great a salvation; to the hopes and joys of obtaining it; to the
sure prospects of glory, honour, and immortality in
the life to come.
Thus we have asked, O great God! for the
counsel, and light, and Blessing we need. Thus,
have we opened these doors, for Thy sacred worship,
and to Thine honor. Thus, with Thy permission,




84              A DISCOURSE.
have I spoken to this people whom we take by the
hand as Brethren in Christ Jesus. Who can doubt,
that Thou wilt look down from Heaven, and cast
upon us the bright beams of Thy mercy?
MY RESPECTED AUDIENCE:
What if now, before we part, some free-will
offering should be made in favour of this dedicated
house. Prayers never come up more acceptably
before God for a memorial than when united with
alms. And I am inclined to believe, that there are
very few occasions, if any, on which such an union
could, with more propriety than the present, take
place.
Under some difficulties, though highly favoured,
-after considerable delay and apprehensions, at
times, much greater, it hath pleased Providence to
permit this goodly building to be brought on to its
present state. There is more must be done to it
yet, you see, ere it will be quite safe and convenient
to assemble in, and very probably, notwithstanding
the economy of the managers or trustees, a share
of the past account is yet unpaid.
The people of the congregation may, by easy
contributions from time to time, help themselves in
this laudable business. Yes, and it may be reasonably expected, that each of you now present-I
speak to those of the congregation-will, this day,
give something for that purpose. And, for your
encouragement, these respectable citizens, a num



ACT OF INCORPORATION.          85
ber of your benefactors-your fellow-christians
also —will cheerfully go on to encourage and assist
you. 
Will you then, (I address myself to such benefactors) will you allow me to solicit a present
contribution in the generous view intimated above?
and then we shall depart with satisfaction.
To press this matter much, is totally unnecessary:
For, it has ever appeared to me a trait in the
Philadelphia character, that the citizens looked not
for pressing solicitations to do beneficent actions,
but for opportunities.
"And God is not unrighteous, that he will forget
your works and labor that proceedeth of love."
ACT   OF INCORPORATION.
To all to whom these presents shall come:
Section First.
KNOW   YE, that we, William  Gray, Absalom
Jones, William  White, William  Gardner, and
Henry Stewart, by virtue of an Act of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, entitled "An Act to confer on certain Associations of
the citizens of this Commonwealth the powers and
immunities of Corporations or Bodies Politic in
law," do hereby constitute and declare ourselves
8*




86          ACT OF INCORPORATION.
and our successors duly chosen, as are hereafter
provided, for a corporation or body politic in law,
to be known by the name of the Trustees of the
African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, in the
city of Philadelphia, until Easter Monday, which
will be in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and ninety-six, and from and after the said
day, by the name of the Minister, Church Wardens
and Vestry-men of the African Episcopal Church
of St. Thomas, in the city of Philadelphia.
Section Second.
And the election of the Minister, of the Church
Wardens, and of the Vestry-men, who are to constitute the said corporate body, from and after
Easter Monday, which will be in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six,
shall be chosen from time to time by the members
of the said church, agreeable to certain articles or
rules by them made and entered into, on the twelfth
day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and ninety-four: And the said articles and rules are hereby declared to be binding
on this corporation, and not to be altered by them
in any respect.
Section Third.
That the said Minister, Church Wardens, and
Vestry-men, and their successors, by the name and
title aforesaid, shall for ever after be persons capable in law to purchase, have and receive, take, hold
and enjoy, in fee simple, or of any lessor, estate or




ACT OF INCORPORATION.          87
estates, any lands, tenements, rents, annuities, liberties, franchises, and other hereditaments, by the
gift, grant, bargain, sale, alienation, enfeoffment,
release, confirmation or devise of any person or
persons, bodies politic or corporate, capable to make
the same.
And further, that the said corporation may take
and receive any sum or sums of money, and any
kind, manner or-portion of goods and chattels, that
shall or may be given or bequeathed to the said
Minister, Church Wardens and Vestry-men, and
their successors, by any person or persons, bodies
politic and corporate, capable of making a gift or
bequest thereof; such money, goods and chattels to
be laid out by them in a purchase or purchases of
lands, tenements, messuages, houses, rents, annuities, or hereditaments, to them and their successors
forever.
Section Fourth.
And the said Minister, Church Wardens, and
Vestrymen, and their successors shall and may
grant, alien, or otherwise dispose of any messuages,
houses, lands, tenements, or hereditaments, other
than the house of public worship, or church aforesaid, and the burial ground or grounds, which they
now do or may hereafter possess as to them may
seem meet and proper. Provided always, That in
the disposition, sale, or alienation of such messuages, houses, lands, tenements, and hereditaments,
the consent and concurrence of two-thirds of the




88          ACT OF INCORPORATION.
Vestrymen shall be had and obtained; and, also,
the moneys arising from said disposition or sale be
appropriated to the purchasing and procuring other
more convenient messuages, houses, land or tenements as aforesaid, as the said vestry may deem
proper and expedient, and to no other purpose
whatever.
Section Fifth.
And the said Minister, Church Wardens, and
Vestrymen, and their successors, or a majority of
them, shall and may convene from time to time to
make rules, by-laws, and ordinances, and transact
every thing requisite for the good government and
support of the said Church. Provided always, That
the said rules, by-laws, and ordinances be not repugnant to the Constitution or laws of the United
States, or to the Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth.
Section Sixth.
And the said Minister, Church Wardens, and
Vestrymen, shall have full power and authority to
make, have, and use one common seal, with such
device or devices and inscriptions, as they shall
think proper, and the same to break, change, alter,
and renew, at their pleasure.




ACT OF INCORPORATION.          89
Section Seventh.
That the said Minister, Church Wardens, Vestry.
men, and their successors, by the name aforesaid,
shall be able and capable, in law, to sue and be
sued, plead, and be impleaded, in any court or
courts, before any judge or judges, justice or justices, in all manner of suits, complaints, causes,
matters, and demands, of whatever kind, nature, or
form they be, and all and every matter and thing
thereunto do, in as full and effectual a manner, as
any other person or persons, bodies politic, or corporate in this Commonwealth in like cases may or
can do.
Section Eighth.
And until the appointment of the rector or principal minister of the said church, and afterwards,
in case of death or removal of such minister, until
any other minister shall be chosen agreeable to the
usage and custom of the said church, the Church
Wardens, for the time being, with the consent of a
majority of the Vestrymen in vestry met, shall have
the same powers and authorities relating to the disposition of the rents and revenues of the said corporation, as is herein before vested in the Minister,
Church Wardens, and Vestrymen.
Section Ninth.
That the clear yearly value of the messuages,
houses, lands, tenements, rents, annuities, or other




90         ACT OF INCORPORATION.
hereditaments, the interest on the money by them
lent, and the real estate of the said corporation shall
not exceed the sum of five hundred pounds, money
of Pennsylvania, exclusive of the moneys arising
fiom the letting of pews belonging to the said
church; and also, exclusive of the moneys arising
from the opening of the ground for burials in the
church-yard or yards belonging to the said church,
which said money shall be received and disposed
of by the Church Wardens and Vestrymen for the
time being for the purposes herein before mentioned
and directed.
In faith whereof, we have hereunto set our hands
at Philadelphia, the second day of March, in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
ninety-six.
WILLIAM GRAY,
ABSALOM JONES,
WILLIAM GARDNER,
HENRY STEWART,
WILLIAM WHITE.
I have perused and examined the preceding
instrument, and am of opinion, that the objects,
articles, and conditions therein set forth and contained are lawful.
JARED INGERSOLL,
March 26, 1796.          Attorney General.
We, the Justices of the Supreme Court of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, certify to his Ex



ACT OF INCORPORATION.          91
cellency the Governor, that we have examined the
preceding instrument of writing, and are of opinion
that the objects, articles, and conditions therein set
forth and contained are lawful.
As witness our hands,
THOMAS MOKEAN,
EDWARD SHIPPEN,
JASPER YATES,
THOMAS SMITH.
Philadelphia, March 28th, 1796.
SEAL. I  In the name and by the authority of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Thomas Mifflin Governor of the said Commonwealth: To Mathew
Irwin, Esq., Master of the Rolls of Pennsylvania, sends
Greeting.
THOS. MIFFLIN.
WHEREAS, it has been duly certified to me by
Jared Ingersoll, Esq., Attorney General of the
Commonwealth, and by Thomas McKean, Esq.,
Chief Justice, and Edward Shippen, Jasper Yates,
and Thomas Smith, Esquires, Justices of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, that they have respectively perused and examined the foregoing
Act or Instrument, for the incorporation of the
Ministers, Church Wardens, and Vestrymen of
the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in
the City of Philadelphia, " And that they concur in
opinion, that the objects, articles, ard conditions




92         ACT OF INCORPORATION.
therein set forth and contained, are lawful." Now,
know ye, that in pursuance of the Act of the General Assembly, in such case provided, I have transmitted the said act or instrument of incorporation
unto you the said Mathew Irwin, Master of the
Rolls aforesaid, hereby requiring you to enrol the
same at the expense of the applicants, to the intent,
that according to the objects, articles, and conditions therein set forth and contained, the parties
may become and be a corporation, or body politic,
and in fact to have continuance by the name, style,
and title in the said instrument provided and
declared.
Given under my hand and the great seal of the
State, at Philadelphia, this Second day of April, in
the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred
and ninety-six, and of the Commonwealth, the
twentieth.
By the Governor.     A. J. DALLAS, Sec'ry.
Enrolled, in the rolls office, for the State of Pennsylvania, in Letter of Attorney Book, No. 6, page
14, &c.
Witness my Hand and Seal of Office, the 27th
day of October, 1796.
[SEAL.]               MATHEW IRWIN, M. A.




CAUSES AND MOTIVES.           93
THE
CAUSES AND MOTIVES
FOR ESTABLISHING
ST. THOMAS'S AFRICAN CHURCH.
OF
PHILADELPHIA.
WHEREAS, a few of our race did in the NAME and
FEAR of GOD, associate for the purpose of advancing,our friends in a true knowledge of God, of true religion, and of the ways and means to restore our
long lost race, to the dignity of men and of christians; andWhereas, God in mercy and wisdom, has exceeded our most sanguine wishes, in blessing our
undertakings, for the above purposes, and has
opened the hearts of our white brethren, to assist
in our undertakings therein;-and
Whereas the light of the glorious gospel of God,
our Saviour, has begun to shine into our hearts,
who were strangers to the true and living God, and
aliens to the commonwealth of this spiritual Israel;
and having seen the dawn of the gospel day, we are
zealously concerned for the gathering together our
race into the sheep-fold of the great Shepherd and
Bishop of our souls; and as we would earnestly
desire to proceed in all our ways therein consistent
with the word of God or the scriptures of the reve9




94 THE CAUSES AND MOTIVES OF ESTABLISHING
lation of God's will, concerning us, and our salvation;-and
Whereas, through the various attempts we have
made to promote our design, God has marked out
our ways with blessings. And we are now encouraged through the grace and divine assistance of
God opening the hearts of our white friends and
brethren, to encourage us to arise out of the dust
and shake ourselves, and throw off that servile fear,
that the habit of oppression and bondage trained us
up in. And in meekness and fear we would desire
to walk in the liberty wherewith Christ has made
us free. That following peace with all men, we
may have our fruit unto holiness, and in the end,
everlasting life.
And in order the more fully to accomplish the
good purposes of God's will, and organize ourselves
for the purpose of promoting the saving health of
all, but more particularly our relatives, the people
of color. We, after many consultations, and some
years deliberation thereon, have gone forward to
erect a house for the glory of God, and our mutual
advantage to meet in for edification and social religious worship. And more particularly to keep an
open door for those of our race, who may be induced to assemble with us, but would not attend
divine worship in other places; and
Whereas, faith comes by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God, we are the more encouraged
thereto, believing God will bless our works and
labors of love;-and
Whereas, for all the above purposes, it is needful




ST. THOMAS'S AFRICAN CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA. 95
that we enter into, and forthwith establish some
orderly, christian-like government and order of
former usage in the Church of Christ; and, being
desirous to avoid all appearance of evil, by self-conceitedness, or an intent to promote or establish any
new human device among us.
Now be it known to all the world, and in all ages
thereof, that we the founders and trustees of said
house, did on Tuesday the twelfth day of August,
in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four,
RESOLVE AND DECREE,
To resign and conform ourselves to the Protestant Episcopal Church of North America.-And we
dedicate ourselves to God, imploring his holy protection; and our house to the memory of St. Thomas,
the Apostle, to be henceforward known and called
by the name and title of St. Thomas's African Episcopal Church of Philadelphia; to be governed by us
and our successors for ever as follows.
Given under our hands, this Twelfth day of August, 1794.
Founders (WILLIAM GRAY, ABSALOM JONES,
and   i WILLIAM WHITE, WILLIAM GARDNER,
Trustees. (HENRY STEWART, WILLIAM GRAY,
for
WILLIAM WILTSHIRE.




96     THE CONSTITUTION OF ST. THOMAS'S
THE CONSTITUTION.
THE CONSTITUTION.
WHEREAS, we the Founders and Trustees of the
African Church of Philadelphia, did by our unanimous consent, at a general meeting held for the
purpose, on Tuesday the twelfth day of August,
1794, decree, and consent, to commit all the ecclesiastical affairs of our church to the government of
the Protestant Episcopal Church of North America,
and to establish her creeds and articles of faith
among us, as the governing system of our church
for ever: and that the following rules shall be the
binding constitution of our church for ever.
First.-All our ecclesiastical affairs are committed to the rule and authority of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, to be by the Bishop and other
officers of said Church and their successors, regulated as occasion may require: Provided always,
that the general doctrines, and principles of worship
of said church, shall continue as now professed in
the same, and understood to be the rule or government of the same. And provided further, that we
and our successors shall always retain within ourselves the power of choosing our minister and
assistant minister, duly qualified to officiate according to the established rules and discipline of said
church.
Secondly.-The mode of admitting an adult person, shall be by the approbation of the minister and
the church wardens; they having obtained satis



AFRICAN CHURCH OF EHILADELPHIA.      97
factory proof of the zeal and integrity of, and also
a good report, of him or her desiring to become a
member.
Thirdly.-After the church is regularly organized, the mode of choosing officers for the church
shall be by ballot. No person to have a vote
except those who have been regularly admitted,
and shall have been a member of the church twelve
months preceding the election.
Fourthly.-The officers shall consist of a vestry
of twenty men, two of whom shall be chosen by the
vestry, to do the duty of church-wardens. The
duty of the wardens and vestry to be what is
defined and enforced by the Protestant Episcopal
Church aforesaid; and all such officers shall be
chosen, annually on every Easter Monday, or as
soon as may be after. All elections to be held
under the inspection of the two presiding churchwardens; and in case of absence of one or both of
them, their place shall be supplied by the vestry;
otherwise, the congregation shall nominate persons,
members of the church, to act in the capacity the
wardens ought to act in, on the occasion:And likewise there shall be two members of the
congregation to be nominated by them to assist the
wardens or their representatives, justly and truly
to inspect such elections, and make a true return
thereof to the congregation. But as we are now
situated, we cannot do anything by way of election,
until the second Easter Monday next ensuing.
Therefore, we the founders and trustees, do agree,
and bind ourselves to conduct the business of the
9,




98   CONSTITUTION OF ST. THOMAS'S CHURCH.
church until then; that is to say, the providing a
minister, inspecting the admission of members, and
in all points discharging the duty of wardens and
vestry to the best of our power.
Fifthly. —The duty of the vestry, is to attend to
the interest and welfare of the church in all its temporal concerns, and in order to save unnecessary
trouble to the vestry in general, the church-wardens
shall have full power to transact the business of the
church, between the several stated meetings of the
vestry, which shall be monthly; and at every such
meeting the church-wardens shall deliver their returns for the preceding month and particularly state
their transactions during the same, respecting the
church, to the vestry:-And so continue to do,
unless in case of emergency. In all such cases, the
clerk of the church, shall have orders to summon
the vestry. But it is thought unnecessary to summon them to their stated monthly meetings. The
vestry is empowered to receive all monies issuing
to the church in all manner of ways whatsoever;
and to make such repairs and improvement in the
the church, as a majority of them may see necessary,
and to keep in good order the yard, and all and
every messuage, tenement and hereditament, that
doth now, or hereafter may, belong to the church
and congregation. They are also to regulate the
minister and assistant minister's salary, and also,
the salary of the clerk and sexton. They are to
keep a regular account of the debits and credits of
the church in a fair and clear manner in a book
provided for the purpose; the state whereof, is to




COUNCIL OF ADVICE AT BISHOP WHITE'S HOUSE. 99
be presented to the congregation, when required
by them; which book with every document, or
thing of value belonging to the church they may
be possessed of, they are to deliver to their successors, at their first meeting after their election.
Sixthly.-We ordain and decree, that none among
us, but men of color, who are Africans, or the descendants of the African race, can elect, or be elected
into any office among us, save that of a minister or
assistant minister; and that no minister shall have
a vote at our elections.
COUNCIL OF ADVICE AT BISHOP WHITE'S HOUSE.
" Philadelphia, Sept. 9th, 1794.
At a meeting of the Council of advice and standing Committee of the Convention of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania, in the Bishop's
house.
PRESENT.
The Right Rev'd. Bishop White, and a quorum
of the members.
The Bishop laid before the Council, the Constitution of the African Church of Philadelphia, a
congregation of the people of color, who, having
lately erected a building for the public worship of
God, do now in consequence of free and mature
deliberation, propose, and request to be associated
with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States; and in particular to commit all their ecclesiastical affairs to the rule and authority of the
Bishop and Church in this State of Peunsylvania.




100     RECOMMENDATION OF A. JONES,
The Bishop and Council are pleased with the application made as above, and are willing to accept
the terms.
Resolved and declared therefore that as soon as
the Trustees or Deputies of the said congregation,
being duly authorized shall sign the Act of Association of the said church in this State, they shall
be entitled to all the privileges of the other
congregations of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Agreed, that Dr. Samuel Magaw and Dr. Robert
Blackwell, be a committee to meet the Trustees or
Deputies of the African Church, and see them
ratify the Act of Association.
Extract from the minutes,
SAMUEL MAGAW.
A member of the Council."
RECOMMENDATION OF A. JONES AS A CANDIDATE FOR
ORDERS.
"To the Rt. Rev. Dr. William White and the
Clergy, and Wardens of the Protestant Episcopal
Churches of Philadelphia.
The Trustees and Representatives of the congregation of St. Thomas's Protestant Episcopal Church
of Philadelphia, send greeting.
Whereas by grace a number of our race have
formed ourselves into a congregation in Philadelphia, and on the 17th of July last, the house we
prepared was opened and dedicated for divine
worship, and whereas on Tuesday, August the
12th, 1794, at a special meeting held for the
purpose, the Constitution of our Church was unan



AS A CANDIDATE FOR ORDERS.      101
imously ratified upon the principles of the Protestant Episcopal Church of North America; and
whereas on application to the Bishop and Clergy
of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Philadelphia,
we were graciously received into the bosom of the
Church, on Sunday, 14th September, 1794; and on
Sunday, October 12th, 1794, our being received
into the fellowship and communion of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Philadelphia, was most
cordially and fully announced from the pulpit by
the Rev. Robert Blackwell; and whereas the
several pastoral charges delivered to us by the
Bishop, the Rev. Mr. Magaw, the Rev. Mr.
Abercrombie, and the Rev. Robert Blackwell
demonstrate the most affectionate and fatherly care.for our spiritual and temporal progress and prosperity; and desiring to ornament our profession,
and to walk worthy of the high privileges wherewith we are blessed, by a godly, sober, and exemplary life among men in general, but, more
especially among our own color, in order to
promote the gathering in of those who are wandering away from the paths of virtue and knowledge;
we, after mature deliberation have concluded that
it would be highly expedient to have among us a
godly man of color, qualified to act as our Minister,
knowing that it is derogatory to the discipline of
the Church, to admit a Layman to exercise the
functions of a minister.
With due deference to your wisdom, we presume
to present to you our well-beloved brother, Absalom Jones, a man of good report, of Godly conver



102     RECOMMENDATION OF A. JONES,
sation, and zealously engaged in promoting religion
and virtue among us, as a candidate for the above
purpose. And in consideration of the utility of
having such a person clothed with authority to
visit the sick, attend funerals, administer the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, reproving, exhorting and following the wandering and
careless to bring them into the sheepfold of Christ,
and in view of the reverence and respect in which he
is held by the generality of our color, and of his zeal
for the prosperity of the church, and his assiduity
in doing good for man: we, therefore, humbly hope
that his want of the literary qualification required
by the church, may, under our circumstances, be
dispensed with.
Signed in behalf and by apointment of the congregation of St. Thomas's Church.
WM. GRAY,
WM. WHITE,            Trustees
WM. GARDNER,
HENRY STEWART.
Oct. 23d, 1794. The Council of Advice, and
Standing Committee of the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, met at Dr. Blackwell's
on adjournment. Present, a quorum of clerical and
lay members. 
An address, or letter to the bishop and clergy of
the Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadelphia,
written in very respectful and affectionate terms,
from the trustees and other representatives of the
congregation of the African church, now called St.
Thomas's Church, of Philadelphia, was laid before




AS A CANDIDATE FOR ORDERS.     103
the Council, communicated through. the hands of
the bishop, representing among other. things, that
it would be expedient to have among themselves, a
pious and duly qualified man of color, to discharge
the functions of a minister, and recommending for
the said purpose, as a candidate, Absalom Jones, a
man of good report and Godly conversation. Whereupon, the Council being heartily disposed to favor
the address and application as above, and entirely
satisfied as far as doth to them appear, of the moral
and religious character of the person recommended,
do agree in opinion and respectfully advise that the
most regular mode of proceeding is, for the Bishop
to give his sanction and approbation to Absalom
Jones, to officiate as a Reader of Divine service, &c.,
in the said church and a candidate for Deacon's
orders, till the meeting of the convention of the
church in this State, which will be in the month of
May next. The 7th canon, ratified in General Convention, requiring with regard to the learning of
those to be ordained that the requisition of an acquaintance with Latin and Greek, is only to be dispensed with by two-thirds of the Convention of the
State to which the candidate belongs, and for good
causes moving thereunto; the recommendation to
-the Bishop to the effect foregoing, to have the signature of the names of a majority of such Conven
tion.
Extract from the book of Minutes.
SAMUEL MAGAW,
A member of the Council, &c., Secretary.




104 APPROPRIATION FOR A FREE SCHOOL, ETC.
Oct. 22d, 1794. At a meeting of the Trustees
and Representatives of St. Thomas's Church of
Philadelphia, held in the Church-Present,
William Gardner,     James Dexter,
Doras Jennings,      Cyrus Porter,
William Gray,        Henry Steward,
William White,       Jno. Emory,
Caesar Worthington,  Absalom Jones.
Absalom Jones reports that this day Bishop
White informed him that a gentleman in Old
England appropriated a part of his estate in Philadelphia, to a considerable amount, for supporting a
free school for the African race and other good purposes, for their use and behoof, and desired that we
should appoint a committee of our congregation to
confer with him, and the Trustees appointed to act
in conjunction with him on the business.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE CALL BY MR. A. JONES.
" Oct. 21, 1794.
To the Trustees of St. Thomas's Church.
BRETHREN-After some deliberation in my own
mind upon the call you have given me, I sensibly
feel that it is of such a serious nature as to cause
me to tremble at the thought of such an undertaking. But, on my looking up to Him who is the
Sovereign Ruler of all things, the recollection of
Jacob's going over the brook unfurnished, with
nothing but his staff and crook, and seeing what
great things were done for him, and how his fears
were banished, I was led to put my trust in God,




AS A CANDIDATE FOR ORDERS.       105
and become your servant in Christ; and in all
things begun, continued, and ended in his name, I
hope He will be glorified, and our souls eternally
profited.
*ABSALOM     JONES."
" Aug 12th, 1795. At a meeting of the Trustees
of St. Thomas's Church of Philadelphia, held in the
Church on Wednesday,
PresentWm. Gray,          Absalom Jones,
James Dexter,      Jno. Henry,
Saml. Jackson,     C. Porter,
Rev. Dr. Magaw,    Rev. Dr. Andrews,
Rev. Dr. Blackwell, Rev. Dr. Abercrombie.
This meeting was called by request of the Bishop,
who presented an extract from the Journal of the
Convention of the Episcopal Church of Pennsylvania, held in Christ Church,' Philadelphia, June
2d, 1795, which was read and explained. The members present uniting with the restrictions therein
specified, it was agreed to. -The Bishop then informed the meeting that he could not with propriety
ordain any person without being assured that the
person so ordained would be supported by the Congregation that recommend him for Holy Orders.
* Mr. Jones-a candidate for Orders at the above date-was
ordained Deacon by Bishop White in August, 1795. He was
reported by Bishop White as Priest in 1804.
10




106        EXTRACT FROM JOURNAL.
Resolved, That a support be provided for the
minister ordained for St. Thomas's Church of Philadelphia.
Adjourned."
"Extract from the Journal of the Convention of
the Episcopal Church of the State of Pennsylvania,
held in Christ Church, Philadelphia, June 2, 1795.
It was moved and seconded, that the knowledge
of the Greek and Latin languages, in the examination
for Holy orders of Absalom Jones, a black man,
belonging to the African Church of St. Thomas, in
this city, be dispensed with, agreeably to the canon
in such cases made and provided. Resolved, that
the same be granted, provided, it is not to be understood to entitle the African Church, to send a
Clergyman or Deputies to the Convention, or to
interfere with the general government of the Episcopal Church, this condition being made in consideration of their peculiar circumstances at present.
JAMES ABERC ROMBIE.
Secretary."
FIRST ELECTION FOR VESTRYMEN.
"We, the subscribers, being duly appointed
judges of an election held in St. Thomas's Church,
on Monday the 28th March, 1796, pursuant to
notice given in the Church, and according to the
Charter thereof, do certify that the following named




FIRST ELECTION FOR VESTRYMEN.     107
persons are duly elected.vestrymen for the ensuing
year, viz.:
John Exeter, Warden, Henry Stewart,
Charles Bunkam,      Samuel Jackson,
William Gray, Warden, Robert Turner,
Ishmael Robins,       Joseph Williams,
Charles Golding,      William Thomas,
William Colston,      Rutland Moore,
Wm. Coleman, Sec.,    James Forten,
James Dexter,         Kent Burry,
Peter Mercer,         Jacob Gibbs,
Alexander James,      John Church,
John Emory, Clerk of the Church.
SAM'L BINGE,       -
ROWLAND PARRY, 
JNO. J. PARRY,          Judges.
Wr. WIGGLESWORTH, (
JNO. WOODSIDES,     /
REGISTER OF THE MEMBERS UP TO 1794.
Rev. Absalom Jones, Wm. Gray, Wm. White,
Wm. Wiltshire, Wm. Gardiner, Henry Stewart,
Caesar Worthington, James Dexter, John Henry,
Dorus Jennings, S. Jackson, Cyrus Porter, Flora
Madure, Joanna Patterson, Caesar Thomas, Sarah
Johnson, Henry Wilson, Ab. Ingles, Mark Reed,
Tho's Batt, Cuffy Jordan, Molly Black, Harriette
Reese, Hannah Kerney, Hannah Morris, Anthonv
Woodward, Ann Burk, Thomas Frederick, Rober
Noble, Susan Groves, J. Doran, Katy Groves, Reuben Kinzey, Cato Wilks, Peter Bows, Hannah




108      REGISTER OF MEMBERS, 1794.
Rowland, Francis Williams, Quam   Butler, Cato
Williams, Ruth Black, Rachel Groves, Tho's King,
Tho's James, Rich'd Conner, Nathan Gray, George
Vandyne, Rich'd Gray, Andrew     James, Jesse
Brown, Rob't Veneble, John Toge, John Kelly,
Moses Anderson, Peter Robinson, Rob't Phillips,
Rich'd Charles, Abm. Butler, Sawny Alexander,
Moses Hocal, Joseph Robinson, Kingsly Williams,
Jas. Brown, Jas. Williams, Wm. Harding, Alice
Vandyne, Phoebe Cummings, Sarah Dexter, Margarette Cummings, Sylvia Brown, Diana Toga,
Phoebe Kelly, Phoebe Eston, Hagar Parker,
Rachael Coltiss, Nancy Coltiss, Rachel Anderson,
Elizabeth Anderson, Sylvia Phillips, Mary Brown,
Sarah Head, Temperance Richardson, Bella West,
Sally Butler, Elenor Robinson, Rachel Gooden,
Ann Harvey, Ann Brown, Katy Cox, Violet
Brown, Ruth Harding, James Caton, Jehu Hall,
Catherine Jackson, Jos. Pilgrim, Peter Richmond,
Josh. Head, sen., Josh. Head, jr., Sharp Bickmore,
Sam'l Reeves, Ed. Potts, Chas. Watt, James Lanty,
David Stevens, John Johes, Ed. Ryan, Wm. Griffis,
M. Mall, James Cross, Henry Duff, Chas. Thompson, Moses Oakley, James Potter, Kent Berry, Jas.
Sparks, Cato Robinson, Joseph Parker, Dan'l W illiams, Joseph Williams, William Coleman, Peter
Mercer, Sam'l Harding, Jas. Williams, Jesse Brown,
Alex. Hutchinson, David Dunkin, Frank Bacon,
Cuff. Jordan, James Cole, sen., Joseph Scorer, Osburn Coleman, Devonshire Randall, Jno. Trested,
Rich'd Williams, Elisha Miller, William Corentins,
Sam'l Hall, Anthony Miller, Gregory Mulvin, Peter




REGISTER OF MEMBERS, 1794.      109
Barns, John Coats, Jas. Harding, Jas. Gold, John
Exeter, Benj. Woodby, Daniel Alexander, Lewis
Weldon, Charles Cury, Caesar Barns, Ed. Wood,
Charles Bumkin, Cato Freeman, Philip Woodby,
Charles Woodby, Frank Otoby, James Coleman,
Sam'l Brown, Henry Wiltshire, Othello Pollard,
Roderick Coleston, Joseph Tunch, Wm. Dickus,
Richard Davis, sen., Richard Davis, jr., Cain Cuff,
Moody Jackson, John Conner, Charles Weiden,
John Church, Shandy Yard, James Burriss, James
Foster, Thomas Williams, Peter Evans, William
Campenfelt, Tatem Williams, Tony Hart, Robert
Essex, James Forten, Benj. Johnson, John Richmond, sen., John Richmond, jr., Frank Johnson,
John Sparks, Sam'l Jackson, Thomas Roderick,
Tobias White, John Mills, Thos. Swan, Alexander
Wetherhead, Joel Hazard, John Teebo, Jas. Barry,
James Kinsey, Caesar McCall, Benj. Moore, Philip
Goodrich, Rob't Martin, Jacob Lawrence, William
Scott, King William, Margarette Thomas, Philip
Rixon, Favorout Bush, Mark Reed, Phillis Mann,
Joanna Patterson, Diana Wills, Thos. Swan, Pleasant Swan, Eve Pompus, Jane Gray, Marilla Burk,
Ann Styles, Jacob Warner, Mary Johnson, Isaac
Jones, Charlotte Clarkson, Cherry Winchester,
Eliza Weiden, Wim. Grubb, Diligent Dexter, Eliza
Wright, Sarah Cole, Mary Black, John Emory,
Margarette Woodby, Phillis Clark, Flora Madure,
Elizabeth Jones, Ed. Wood, Rosann'a Wood, Fanny
Gray, Israel Burgo, Mary Warder, Mary Williams,
Devonshire Craff, Amelia Harris, Ann Mercer,
Wm. Thomas, Rob't Gordon, Simon Cato, Charles
10*




110    INCREASE OF MEMBERS, IN 1795.
Golden, Cato Jackson, Phoebe Seymore, Ann Brown,
Jane Jacobs.-Total, 246.
In the year 1795, the names of persons recorded
as members, in the aggregate, are four hundred and
twenty-seven, almost twice the number of the preceding year. In addition to the regular members
of the Church, we may reasonably suppose that a
floating congregation of at least a hundred or more
persons were attracted thither from, various motives,
thus filling it to its utmost capacity. For St. Thomas's at that time, was THE African Church. There
were none, then, of the same class, to emulate her
noble example, excepting the small company collected together in the blacksmith shop, fitted up for
a place of worship by the venerable Richard Alien,
aided by the active benevolence of a Christian community. This frame building, from all that we
have learned, could scarcely seat one hundred and
fifty persons.
SCHOOL ESTABLISHED.
In 1804, a day school for the instruction of youth
was established by the Vestry, to be under their
direction and control. They appointed a board of
eleven trustees, eight of whom were selected from
their own body, and three from the congregation.
The duty of this board was to visit the school once
in every month, to examine the scholars, note the
progress made ty them in their studies, and propose
such improvements to the Vestry, in regard to the
order and government of the school, as they might
deem advisable. Each member of this educational




CHARITY OF THE REV. DR. BRAY.   I11
society was required to pay into the hands of either
of the trustees the sum of one dollar annually. The
Bishop, or any of his Council, had the prerogative
of visiting the school, and of proposing amendments
to existing regulations. All proposed amendments
were reported by the trustees to the Vestry at their
ensuing monthly meeting.
The following named persons constituted the
Board of Trustees appointed by the Vestry:
Robert Gordon,      Wm. Gray,
Cato Collins,      James Forten,
James Harding,      Randall Shepherd,
Robt. Douglass,     Wm. Thomas,
Peter Richmond,     Joseph Randolph,
Jno. Bowers.
FACTS CONCERNING THE CHARITY OF THE REV. DR.
BRAY.
The Board of Trustees continued to manage the
concerns of the school up to the year 1816; beyond
which time no minutes of their proceedings appear.
One fact in connexion, worthy of notice, is, that
the expense of instructing ten male scholars was
paid from the trust of the Rev. Dr. Bray. It appears
that the Vestry finally gave up the control of the
school and placed it in the hands of Solomon
Clarkson (one of its members), who also, for a considerable number of years afterwards, was paid from
the same charity for the tuition of the aforesaid
number of scholars. Besides, there was a female
school, taught by Madam Iand, in the Northern
Liberties, supported from the same source.




112     CHARITY OF THE REV. DR. BRAY.
"This ancient charity originated with the Rev. Dr.
Bray, American missionary, the Bishop of London,
and Mr. D'Alone, secretary to King William. In
1774, the ground rents of a large lot in this city
were set apart for the payment of the expenses of
two schools for blacks, one for each sex, to be educated gratuitously.'The Associates' in England
are perpetual; and from their appointments, three
of our citizens, churchmen, constantly serve the
schools as directors and governors. Those lately
in service were Wm. Meredith, Thos. Hale, and
James S. Smith, Esquires." 
For the last fifteen years, at least, this charity
has been turned in some other direction. It has
been ascertained that ever since the suspension of
the schools here, the nett sum of nine hundred dollars, arising from said ground rents, has been forwarded to London annually.
We have been in communication with the "Associates" in England, through their Secretary,
respecting the ground taken for suspending said
schools, and have recently received in replication
a polite note, from which is taken the following
extract: —" The trust to which you allude is for the
support of schools in BRITISiH AMERICA.  The'Associates' have always been advised that the term'British America' is to be construed as comprising
the territory now known by that name, and not the
territory which was so considered prior to the Peace
of 1783, and that it is their duty to apply the trust
accordingly."
* Watson's Annals, 2d vol., page 263. Ed. of 1S54.




PETITION.              113
SOCIETY FOR SUPPRESSING VICE AND IMMORALITY.
In 1809 a Society was formed by the leading
colored men of that day, for the suppression of vice
and immorality among their people, composed of
members belonging to different denominations of
Christians. A tolerably correct idea of their plan
of operations may be obtained from the perusal of
the following copy of an appeal (from the original)
to the Chief Justices of Pennsylvania, and the city
and county of Philadelphia, for their approbation
of the work in which they were about to engage.
PETITION.
T" To the Honorable William Tilghman, Esq., Chief
Justice of the State of Pennsylvania.
A  number of the free people of color have
associated themselves together in a. society by
the name, title and description of the African
Society, for the suppression of vice and immorality,
among the people of our own race. They have for
a long time viewed with a painful anxiety, the multiplied evils that have occurred and do daily occur,
for the want of such advice and instruction as they
feel desirous of giving, by visiting some of the
more dissipated parts of the city and suburbs, on
proper occasions, and using such persuasive measures as may be best calculated to produce reformation of manners among them. They, therefore, solicit
* A similar appeal is addressed also to the " Chief Justice of
the city and county of Philadelphia."




114            COMMENDATIONS.
your Honor's approbation and concurrence, in behalf of the society.
JON. TRUSTY, Chairman.
Philadelphia, 1st Nov. 1809."
Appended to this appeal, are commendations of
the enterprise, in the hand-writing of some of the
most illustrious persons, that graced the age in which
they lived. We regard them as precious relicsmementos of friends in the olden times, which
should not lie buried in oblivion. It is, therefore,
with grateful pleasure, we proceed to transcribe
them.
"I have read the Articles of the African Association and approve of them. The object is highly
commendable, and there is reason to hope that the
Association may produce very beneficial effects.
WM. TILGHMAN.
Philadelphia, Nov. 3, 1809."
"I have also read the Articles of the African
Association, and heartily concur with the Chief
Justice in the opinion above expressed.
B. FRANKLIN.
Philadelphia, Nov. 3, 1809."
"Every rational plan, to reform the people of
colour, will always have my approbation. The
effort now proposed to be made, by means of religious instruction and conversation, at seasonable
times, has, therefore, my cordial wishes for its success.
JACOB RUSH.
Nov. 2, 1809.




PARSONAGE.              115
By a certain financial arrangement, truly benevolent, of William Bradford, Esq., made before his
death in 1793, between Dr. Benj. Rush, and Bishop
White, St. Thomas' Church, became in possession
of the Parsonage, situated in Powell street, between
Fifth and Sixth, Spruce and Pine streets, in the
year of our Lord 1809. It is a double three story
brick building. The lot on which it stands, contains in breadth 16 feet 6 inches, and in length or
depth 66 feet 9 inches, subject to an annual ground
rent of thirty-four dollars. As a small testimony
of profound gratitude, the Vestry had placed in front
of the Parsonage, a marble slab with the following
inscription:
"THE LEGACY OF WM. BRADFORD, ESQ.,
AUG. 19TH, 1793,
TO THE AFRICAN CHURCH OF ST. THOMAS."
TEMPORARY DIVISION IN THE CHURCH.
In the month of July, 1810, the noise of an angry
tumult began to be heard within the borders of this
interesting branch of the Church. It appears that
certain disaffected members took upon themselves
the responsibility of opening a communication with
Mr. Alexander Cook Summers, (a colored gentleman of Jamaica,) respecting his becoming a candidate for the ministry in St. Thomas' Church. Such
were the encouragements held out to Mr. Summers
by those persons, that he was induced to leave his
native home and embark for Philadelphia. On his




116          TEMPORARY DIVISION.
arrival, he handed the letter which had been written
to him, to Mr. Jones, who presented the same at a
regular meeting of the vestry. The vestry, upon
hearing its contents, expressed their indignant surprise at the course which had been thus pursued,
and disavowed all connexion with, or participation
in, the matter whatsoever. They accordingly appointed a committee to wait upon the Bishop for
his counsel and advice, in relation to, what they
conceived to be, a wicked attempt to create a division in the church. The Bishop, after hearing a
statement of the case, recommended that an interview, if possible, be had between the Vestry and
Mr. Summers.    This proposal was accordingly
made to Mr. Summers, by a committee appointed
for the purpose, but he,-perhaps through the controlling influence of his friends-"absolutely refused" compliance with said proposal.
This sad occurrence developed a party spirit in
the congregation whichwas not healed during the
few remaining years that were left to the life of the
Rector, or indeed for many years after his decease.
Those discontented members finally seceded, hired
a room in Zane street, employed Mr. Summers as
Lay Reader, with the view of having him in due
time ordained. Their expectations, in regard to increasing numbers rallying around them, were not
realized. They struggled on, however, for a year
or more; at the expiration of which time, they
became wearied of the increased burden of taxation;
which had the double effect of moderating their zeal




S. CLARKSON PROPOSED AS ASSISTANT. 117
in the ill-conceived enterprize, and of opening their
eyes to their inexcusable folly and wrong doing.
What a lamentable picture did those days present to the truly pious mind! The Grand Adversary of God and man then waved in triumph his
hellish banner of "envy, hatred, malice and all
uncharitableness" within the sacred precincts, where
love, unanimity, peace and concord should ever
dwell. " The ways of Zion," then mourned, because
few went up "to the solemn feasts" with duly prepared hearts. The Priests, the Ministers of the
Lord, then wept " betweeen the porch and the altar,
saying, SPARE THY PEOPLE, O LORD, AND GIVE NOT
THINE HERITAGE TO REPROACH." HOW important
is it for christians at all times to give heed to the
admonition-" PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM."
S. CLARKSON, PROPOSED AS AN ASSISTANT.
March 13th, 1811. Solomon Clarkson, by a resolution of the vestry was taken up to be educated
for the ministry; and, in the event of success in the
prosecution of his studies-no other impediment
being in the way-he was to be received as an
Assistant Minister to the Pastor then in charge.
All this was sanctioned by the Minister, Vestry,
and Congregation. They, by voluntary subscriptions, met the expenses of his board and tuition for
a considerable time; but finding in the end, that he
gave such poor promise of reaching a point of
literary respectability, within any reasonable period,
they advised him to abandon the idea of the minis11




118   S. CLARKSON PROPOSED AS ASSISTANT.
try and seek some other calling. He soon afterwards commenced keeping a common day school,
in which occupation he continued, until the day of
his sickness, which terminated in death. Mr. Cwas a godly man, warmly attached to the church,
but was regarded as being very singular in his
manners. He was communicative to few, except
his confidential friends. He seemed to take pains
to avoid the company of all others. He was very
quick in his movements; in debate, rapid in the
expression of his sentiments, but would never publicly oppose his friends though differing in opinion
from them. Had he entered the ministry, he would,
I am sure, have belonged to that class of ministers, whose sermons are always enveloped in " the
blue blazes of hell fire and brimstone." One prominent trait in the character of Mr. C-, worthy of
being imitated, was his punctuality. For twenty
years or more, he acted as Secretary of the Vestry,
and I always found him among the first in attendance. It was his uniform practice to read the Lessons, Epistle and Gospel for the day, at the church,
before the time arrived for commencing divine
service.
SKETCH OF THE REV. ABSALOM JONES.
The Rev. Absalom    Jones, after having been
actively and faithfully engaged in the service of
the Church for the space of twenty-two years,
was released from his anxious toils, and arduous
labors, by the welcome messenger, Death-" gathered unto" his "fathers in the communion of the




SKETCH OF THE REV. ABSALOM JONES. 119
Catholic Church; in the confidence of a certain
faith; in the comfort of a reasonable, religious and
holy hope; in favor with God, and in perfect
charity with the world." He was born a slave;
his young ideas, therefore, were never taught how
to shoot forth their rays of intellectual light and
beauty. He had arrived at manhood before he
was initiated into the first branches of a common
school education. He became somewhat proficient
in these, by dint of self-application, during intervals
from his secular labors. By industry, frugality,
and economy, previous to his entering the ministry,
he had accumulated some means which he invested
in real estate. He was the owner of several neat
dwellings, the value of which we have not ascertained. A day school was taught by him while he
pursued a course of preparation for the ministry,
and also for some time after he entered upon its
duties and responsibilities. When he took charge
of the church he was in the 49th year of his age.
The following narrative is copied from  the
original manuscript written by himself:
"I, Absalom Jones was born in Sussex," DEL.,
"on the 6th of November, 1746. I was small,
when my master took me from the field to wait
and attend on him in the house; and being very
fond of learning, I was careful to save the pennies
that were given me by the ladies and gentlemen
from time to time. I soon bought myself a primer,
and begged to be taught by any body that I found
able and willing to give me the least instruction.




120  SKETCH OF THE REV. ABSALOM JONES.
Soon after this, I was able to purchase a spelling
book; for as my money increased, I supplied
myself with books, among others, a Testament.
For, fondness for books, gave me little or no time
for the amusements that took up the leisure hours
of my companions. By this course I became
singular, and escaped many evils, and also saved
my money
In the year 1762, my mother, five brothers and
a sister were sold, and I was brought to the city of
Philadelphia with my master. My employment in
this city was to wait in the store, pack up, and
carry out goods. In this situation, I had an
opportunity, with the clerk, to get copies set for me;
so that I was soon able to write to my mother and
brothers, with my own hand. My spelling is bad
for want of proper schooling.
In the year 1766, I asked my master the liberty
of going one quarter to night-school, which he
granted. I had a great desire to learn Arithmetic.
In that quarter, I learned Addition, Troy weight,
Subtraction, Apothecaries' weight, Practical Multiplication, Practical Division, and Reduction.
In the year 1770, I married a wife, who was a
slave.  I soon after proposed to purchase her
freedom.  To this her mistress agreed, for the
sum of forty pounds. Not having the money in
hand, I got an appeal drawn, and John Thomas,
my father-in-law, and I called upon some of the
principal Friends of this city.  From some we
borrowed, and from others we received donations.
In this way we soon raised thirty pounds of the




SKETCH OF THE REV. ABSALOM JONES. 121
money, her mistress, Sarah King, forgiving the
balance of ten pounds. By this time, my master's
family was increased, and I was much hurried in
my servitude. However, I took a house, and for
seven years, made it my business to work until
twelve or one o'clock at night, to assist my wife in
obtaining a livelihood, and to pay the money that
was borrowed to purchase her freedom.   This
being fully accomplished, and having a little
money in hand, I made application to my master,
in the year 1778, to purchase my own freedom;
but, as this was not granted, I fortunately met with
a small house and lot of ground, to be sold for one
hundred'and. fifty pounds, continental money.
Having laid by some hard money, I sold it for
continental, and purchased the lot. My desire for
freedom increased, as I knew that while I was a
slave, my house and lot might be taken as the
property of my master. This induced me to make
many applications to him for liberty to purchase
my freedom; and on the first of October, 1784, he
generously gave me a manumission. I have ever
since continued in his service at good wages, and I
still find it my duty, both late and early, to be
industrious to improve the little estate that a kind
Providence has put in my hands.
Since my freedom, I have built a couple of small
houses on the same lot, which now let for twentytwo pounds a year."
Mr. Jones, is said to have been very earnest and
impressive in his style of preaching; but, it was
never thought that his forte was in the pulpit. It
11*




122  SKETCH OF THE REV. ABSALOM JONES.
was his mild and easy manners, his eveness of
temper, his repeated visitations among the people,
especially the sick of his flock, his active cooperation with every effort put forth for the advancement of his race,-(in which respects he had
no superior among the contemporaries identified
with him)-that endeared him to all who knew him.
He was of medium height, dark complexion, with
a stout frame, bland and open countenance, yet
indicative of firmness. The costume among the
Clergy of his day, was a black dress coat, breeches
and vest of the same color, with top boots, or
shoes with buckles, and black stockings, depending upon the season of the year.   Mr. Jones,
uniformly appeared in public, habited in the same
manner.
His mortal remains now repose beneath the
shadow of the church, which, under God, he was
chiefly instrumental in founding, with the following epitaph upon his tomb:
To THE MEMORY
OF THE
REV. ABSALOM JONES,
who, born a slave, and becoming possessed of
freedom by good conduct, and rendered respectable
by a course of virtuous industry, was principally
instrumental in founding the African Church of St.
Thomas, in which he was the first Pastor; and
after discharging the duties of the ministry faithfully during 22 years, he departed this life February
13tb, 1818, aged 71 years, 3 months, and 3 days.




BAPTISMS, INTERMENTS, ETC.     123
BAPTISMS-INTERMENTS.
By reference to the Baptismal Record, I find the
number of adults baptized between the years of
1796 and 1818 to be... 268
Infant baptisms,... 927-Total 1195
Confirmations,.....       274
Interments,....        624
This may justly be regarded as a large number
of interments in proportion to the size of the Congregation; but it may be accounted for from the
fact, that other persons, besides members of the
church, availed themselves of the privilege of bury.
ing their friends in the church-yard, by submitting
to the payment of one-third more than was exacted
of the members.
PRINCE SAUNDERS.
During the four years immediately succeeding
the departure of the Rev. A. Jones, St. Thomas's was
without any settled minister. Bishop White, the
Reverend Drs. Magaw, Abercrombie, and Blackwell, when convenient, kindly supplied the pulpit
by turns. Mr. Cato Collins, a very worthy man,
and highly esteemed, in the absence of a clergyman-acted as Lay Reader, to which office he had
been previously appointed.
In the month of June, 1819, Mr. Prince Saunders, from his great popularity among the people,
bid fair for a while to be received as a candidate
for Holy Orders in the Church. He had commendatory letters in his possession from persons of high




124            RUSSEL PAROTT.
distinction in London, showing how highly he was
estimated there, for his gentlemanly bearing and
fine scholarship.  He was said to be of pure
African blood, unprepossessing in his external
appearance, but of highly polished manners and of
brilliant parts. He was born in this country, but
his uncommon brightness, while a youth, drew the
attention of some influential and wealthy friend,
who, as an experiment, had him sent to England to
be educated; and the proficiency he there made,
more than met the most sanguine expectations of
his friends.
Mr. Saunders served the church as a Lay Reader
for several months, and just as he was on the eve
of being recommended by the Vestry to the Bishop
as a Candidate for Orders, a grave charge was preferred against him from Hayti, which was not
satisfactorily answered; and the lamentable result
was, his dismissal from all connexion with the
Church.
RUSSEL PAROTT.
January 28th, 1822. Mr. Russel Parott, a regular
communicant member of the church, and a very
talented young man, was, by a resolution of the
Vestry-chairman giving the casting vote-taken
up as a suitable person to be recommended as a
Candidate for Orders. He was licensed as Lay
reader by the Bishop in the following month. But
this selection failed to give the general satisfaction
to the congregation, desired. Hence, with a view
of restoring harmony in the church, a resolution




REVERENDS J. WILTBANK —J. GLOUCESTER. 125
was passed by the Vestry at a regular stated meeting, held April 20th, 1822, to release Mr. Pfrom any further obligation to serve them in the
capacity of a Reader. This promising young man
died August 3rd, 1824. As a tribute to his memory,
a Society, styled the " Sons of St. Thomas," (two
others co-operating,) had erected at the head of his
grave, now in the church-yard, a monumental slab
with the following inscription:
"In this grave is deposited the body of Russel Parott, a man
of unblemished reputation, of pure morals, and of unaffected
piety. He was, at the time of his decease, engaged in the study
of Divinity, and a candidate for Holy Orders in the Protestant
Episcopal Church.
He departed this life Aug. 3rd, 1824, aged 33 years, 9 mo.,
and 22 days.
In testimony of respect for his virtues and his talents, this
memorial is erected by the Sons of St. Thomas, the Daughters
of St. Thomas and the Female Baptist Assistance Societies, of
the first of which he was a member, and of the two others a
Director.
REVERENDS J. WILTBANK-J. GLOUCESTER.
March 20th, 1822. The Vestry succeeded in obtaining the clerical services of the Rev. James Wiltbank, who continued in the faithful performance of
his pastoral duties up to the month of February,
1825, at which time he resigned, and accepted a
call to the rectorship of St. Matthew's Church, Francisville. Mr. Wiltbank, at the time of his death,
was a Chaplain in the U. S. Navy.
April 25th, 1825. The corporate body of St.
Thomas's-adhering to the prevading import and
spirit of their Charter, in their persevering endea



126           REV. P. VAN PELT.
vors, to secure if possible, a minister of their own
race-put forth another effort in that direction in
favor of the Rev. Jeremiah Gloucester, a colored
clergyman of the Presbyterian denomination. But,
difficulties were soon thrown in the Way by certain
ill-disposed persons, who concocted and preferred
serious charges against him; whereupon a committee was appointed by the Corporation to institute an investigation of the matter. This investigation resulted in an honorable acquittal by the
Presbytery of which he was a member. The
Vestry continued in communication with Mr. G.,
up to the month of September following, but without reaching the desired result, and so the matter
ended.
REV. P. VAN PELT.
In the Summer of 1826, the Rev. P. Van Pelt, a
Presbyter of South Carolina, and in charge of one
of the most important Parishes of that Diocese, visited the City of Philadelphia. During his stay
here, he frequently officiated for our people, and
much to their satisfaction and benefit. Previous to
his return to the South, the Vestry of St. Thomas's
Church tendered him a unanimous invitation to
become their Rector.  Bishop White, Dr. Abercrombie, and others of the City Clergy, knowing
the desire of the congregation to secure his services,
and believing that they would be productive of
great good, strongly urged his acceptance of the
call. To this, regarding it as a duty, he, at length,
assented; but, in consequence of previous engage



REV. P. VAN PELT.          127
ments at the South, did not enter upon his duties,
as Rector, until June, 1827. Having been appointed
Secretary of the " Domestic and Foreign Missionary
Society," and editor of its Periodical, he resigned in
October, 1830. On the eve of separating, the congregation, as a testimony of their affectionate regard
gard, presented him, in addition to other substantial
memorials, a large and beautiful silver pitcher.
Mr. Van Pelt was a young gentleman of very prepossessing appearance, fine talents, and oratorical
powers of a high order. During the three years of
his ministrations he was very successful, through
the divine blessing upon his labors, in promoting
true and vital godliness among the people of his
charge.
In 1829 he presented to Bishop White, forty-four
persons for confirmation. The Sunday school rapidly grew in its dimensions, and greatly flourished.
Its fame spread among the colored people of other
denominations, fromamong whom large accessions
were made to the school, they having at that time
no Sunday Schools of their own. An organ, for the
first time, was introduced into the Church, at his
suggestion. Mr. V. P. evidently made an indelible
impression upon the congregation of St. Thomas.
The elder members of that time have since departed
this life; but, I never knew them speak of the days
referred to, unless in the most glowing terms, as
pleasing reminiscences of the past. And I feel
confident, that it is not possible now for me to introduce into the pulpit a clergyman more acceptable to




128           REV. J. M. DOUGLASS.
our hearers-excepting our venerable and beloved
Bishop-than the Rev. P. Van Pelt, D.D.*
REV. J. M. DOUGLASS.
In February, 1831, the Rev. Jacob M. Douglass,t
accepted a call to the pastoral charge of the Church,
and resigned the 17th of August, 1834. The present incumbent assumed the said post of duty September 17th of the same year.
Mr. J. M. Douglass was universally beloved for
his suavity of manners, his eveness of temper, his
kindly affections, his concern for the poor and
needy, and for his earnest, impressive and pathetic
discourses. He was evidently a man of that peculiar temperament which enabled him, under God,
to calm the waters of strife and confusion that might
threaten to make inroads upon the peace and godly
quietness of the flock. For at the time of his resignation, the perfect unanimity, peace, harmony
and concord that universally prevailed in the
Church, marked the period as a happy era in its
history, contrasted with the stormy days of the
past. The present Rector, as he then with much
fear and trembling entered upon the solemn duties
of his station, having learned that this was the state
of affairs among his people, sensibly felt the sooth* Dr. Van Pelt, is at this date, Professor of Oriental Languages in the Theological Department of Burlington College, N. J.,
and Secretary of the " Board of Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America."
t He is now (1861) Rector of Zion Church, Philadelphia.




ADDRESS.               129
ing effect of the truth embodied in the beautiful
line:
"He tempers the wind to the shorn lamb."
Having now arrived at the proposed end of a
pleasant journey, and sketched, as we passed along,
the history of St. Thomas's Church, through successive scenes of light and shadows, up to the date of
our earliest pastoral connection thereto, we consider
this a proper point from which to offer a few words
to our parishioners, inciting gratitude for the past,
hope and zeal for the future.
At this interesting period of time, a goodly
number of those who witnessed the first opening
services of this church, were still on the stage of
action, still striving together with their wonted
zeal for the interest of their beloved Zion, though
fast ripening for the grave, as their hoary locks
proclaimed. The affectionate recollection of them
is still so fresh upon my mind, that I fancy them
all to be now present before me, listening to the following address to their successors.
MY   BELOVED BRETHREN:-In taking only a
slight survey of the inheritance that has come
down to us through the toils and labors of our
venerable predecessors, we are. instinctively led to
sympathise with the Psalmist, and with grateful
emotions exclaim-" THE LINES ARE FALLEN UNTO
US IN PLEASANT PLACES; YEA, WE HAVE A GOODLY
HERITAGE."
I would have you to mark well the following
language used by the founders of this church:
12




130                ADDRESS.
"Being desirous," they say, "of avoiding all appearance of evil by self-conceitedness, or an intent
to promote, or establish any new human device,
they entered into, and established an orderly,
christian-like government and order of former
usage in the Church of Christ." They desired
nothing more or less than to become a branch of
the one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic " Church; in
which the pure word of God is preached, and the
sacraments duly ministered according to Christ's
ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are
requisite to the same."  For this exhibition of
practical wisdom on their part, we should rejoice,
and be thankful. It is not the boast of St. Thomas,
that the mass of our people has hitherto been won
to her standard. Yet it cannot be successfully
denied, that she has exerted a powerful influence
for good, among other denominations of her
brethren, since organized into religious bodies.
Whatever of taste, order and intelligence be now
discovered among the various colored churches
here, may in a great degree be traced to the stimulating influence of St. Thomas's. She stood alone, at
one time, in favor of the education of the ministry
and people. But a favorable change is now universally taking place. She was once spoken of in
disparaging terms on account of her care for cleanliness and decency in the house of worship, her
carpeted aisles, her pews and organ. But now, she
is closely imitated in all these respects. I repeat,
that it is not our boast that the mass have flocked
to our Zion. The time has not yet arrived. It




ADDRESS.                131
should be remembered, that though our people are
rapidly improving, they are not yet fully developed.
Our sober, rational, and inimitable devotional service, the Lessons, Epistles, and Gospels statedly
read, are what they actually need in order to raise
them to the dignity of intelligent christians; but,
they are not as yet generally prepared to appreciate them, owing to their early prepossessions. But
the day is at hand, when, from previous intellectual
training, the rising generation will be fully compe.
tent, and every way disposed, to investigate matters
closely. They will no longer be governed, as too
many of their elders are now, by superstitious
notions, false premises, and illogical conclusions.
They will become honest and candid searchers
after the truth. Then, the time will have arrived
for St. Thomas' to arise in her strength, and make
an aggressive movement-to challenge her brethren
of other names to compare notes with her in regard
to the basis of their ecclesiastical structures. It
may be replied, that, in order to make aggressions,
it is necessary to be armed with pecuniary strength,
as well as spiritual vigor. Very true; but our
reference is to future operations. At present, she
looks occasionally to Head-quarters for material
reinforcements, and I am happy to say, that she
looks not in vain. But this is regarded as a temporary, not a fixed policy. Take a leisure walk,
about the outer courts of your Zion; " mark well
her bulwarks;" see the masked batteries, ready to
open and do good execution in the future. Sixty
years ago, your church edifice, stood on the out




132                ADDRESS.
skirts of the City. The streets in the immediate
vicinity were unpaved; the houses for the most
part, were frame buildings.  At a much more
recent date, when I first entered upon my pastoral
duties here, now twenty-seven years since, the old
gloomy walls of the Prison, cast their shadows
round about. But how is it now? The prison walls
have given place to a square of elegant mansions.
In the west, you see the Athenaeum, towering in
tall and grand proportions. In close proximity
North, a pile of stately law buildings has been
erected. Within a square or so, stand the Court
Houses, Custom House, Post Office, and Exchange.
Need I speak of the enhanced value of this property. It is patent to all. Our predecessors, in
selecting this spot, may be compared to a prudent
and noble-hearted man, who, places an inconsiderable amount at interest, to accumulate for after
generations. The present value is now, at least,
five-fold more than the first investment. And it
is evidently for a wise and good purpose. Divine
Providence never blesses us with superior gifts, of
any kind, to be buried, or, merely to minister to
our personal ease and pleasure; but, to be used for
the advancement of his cause in our day and generation, and for the good of those who shall come
after us. Here then is a capital-judiciously managed-which will enable you at some favorable
period in the future, either to erect or purchase a
commodious house of worship in some other
locality, more convenient to the people than the
present one, have a home for the aged poor of the




ADDRESS.               133
church, and besides, a surplus at interest, sufficient
to sustain the Parish, respectably. When this work
is accomplished, you will then be in a condition to
go vigorously forward to the help of the Lord
against the mighty, not only here, but in other,
and more destitute places. And may God, in his
own good time, usher in that glorious day.
12








APPENDIX.
OUTLINE SKETCH OF THE BUILDING.
The Church Edifice of St. Thomas, is situated at
the S. W. corner of Fifth and Adelphi streets. Its
fiont is on Fifth street. It is a substantial brick
building, 40 feet in width, and 60 feet in lengthheight in proportion.
Its entrance is by a flight of seven marble steps
extending north and south, nine feet.
The present style of the Church in its interior, is
widely different from the former. The Pulpit and
Reading Desk formerly stood at the north side of
the building.
A sounding board was then seen suspended from
the ceiling over the Pulpit, similar to the one still
remaining it St. Peter's Church of this city.
The Orchestra was on the south side, connected
with the gallery in the east and west.
The Pews of St. Peter's Church, with their high
perpendicular backs, were models from which those
of St. Thomas' were constructed.
There were two aisles running east and west,
leading from the front door in the east, to the back
door in the west, thence into the church yard.
One third of the Basement was fitted up for a
Lecture Room and Sunday School; while the remaining two thirds were rented out for storage.




136    OUTLINE SKETCH OF THE BUILDING.
The floor, in remodeling, was raised 3 feet,
making the Lecture Room the same size of the body
of the church.
The Pulpit, Reading Desk, and Chancel, now stand
in the west; back of which is a recess 14 feet in
height, and in width 14 feet, extending west 10 feet.
This recess leads into the Vestry Room below-dimensions 10 feet by 10. On the upper line of the
recess in front, is an entablature supported by two
pilasters and two fluted columns, on the frieze of
which, is inscribed in golden letters:"HOLINESS BECOMETH THINE HOUSE, 0      LORD,
FOREVER."
The Orchestra now stands in the east, connected
with the gallery on the north and south side.
The Pews were all modernized, and made of new
materials.
The aisles run in the same direction as before,
but admit of no egress as formerly into the church
yard.
The altering of the church commenced August
5th, 1839, and was completed December of the same
year, at a cost of $3600.
The Vestry, in the mean time, hired a large room
in Pear street, between Third and Dock streets,
where Divine Worship was regularly celebrated.
The introduction of gas, with fixtures, heaters,
painting, glazing, &c., was attended with an additional cost of $719.60. Total, $4.319.60.




LTST OF VESTRYMEN.              137
LIST OF VESTRYMEN FOR 1834 AND 1835.
1834.
JOHN BOWERS,  WardABRAHAM WILLIAMS,
JAMES JOHNSON,  a           WILLIAM JEFFERSON,
SOLOMON CLARKSON.-Sec.      ROBT. C. GORDON, JR.,
ANTHONY CAIN,               JAMES C. MATTHEWS,
FRANCIS PETTS,             JOSEPH P. COLE,
JOHN MATTHEWS,              *JAMES NEEDHAM,
PETER RICHMOND,             ROBT. C. GORDON, SR., TREAS.
THOMAS CHARNOCK,            ROBT. B. AYERS,
JOHN DUFFINS,               WILLIS N. FOWLES,
- CLAYTON MILLER,           *JOSHUA BROWN.
1835.
JOHN BOWERS, } Wardens.    ABRAHAM WILLIAMS,
JAMES JOHNSON, I           *SCIPIO SEWELL,
SOLOMON CLARKSON —Sec.     JOHN MATTHEWS,
ANTHONY CAIN,              ROBT. C. GORDON, SR., TREAS.
FRANCIS PETTS,             *JOSH. BROWN,
JAMES FOSTER, SR.,         FREDERICK A. HINTON,
PETER RICHMOND,            EZEKIEL SULIVAN,
THOMAS CHARNOCK, SR.,      ROBT. B. AYERS,
JOHN DUFFINS,              SAML. C. HUTCHEINS,
*CLAYTON MILLER,           JOHN ALLEN.
CATO COLLTNS-Clerk.
CERTIFICATE OF CONSECRATION.
"The Rector, Wardens, and Vestrymen of St.
Thomas's Church, Philadelphia, Philadelphia county,
Pennsylvania, having requested me to consecrate
and set apart the House of Worship, lately repaired,
and renewed, in, and for, said Parish* All dead, except those marked with an asterisk.




138     CERTIFICATE OF CONSECRATION.
Be it known, that on this 20th day of December,
in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine, with the rites and solemnities
prescribed, I have consecrated and set apart the
said House of worship; separating it henceforth
from all unhallowed, ordinary and common uses,
and dedicating it to the service of the Eternal God,
for reading His holy word, for celebrating His holy
sacraments, for offering to His glorious Majesty,
the sacrifices of prayer and thanksgiving, for blessing His people in His name, and for the performance of all other holy offices, through Jesus Christ, our
blessed Lord and Savior, and according to the rites
and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
in the United States of America.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand and seal, and delivered this instrument at
Philadelphia, this said 20th day of December, in
the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred
and thirty-nine, and in the thirteenth year of my
consecration.
H. U. ONDERDONK,
Bishop of the Prot. Epis. Church in Pennsylvania.
SEASONS OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS.
The intervening period between the years of
1839, and 1849, was marked with an unusual
degree of spiritual interest among the congregation.
We would not, however, be understood as intimating here, that during all this time, no disturbing
elements were at work-no ripples upon the sea
causing fear of disaster to our little bark in her




PETITION TO EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.   139
progress; but, the results for evil were not of so
serious a character, as to demand special record.
The moral of the whole, was only an additional
lesson against the folly of expecting, in this disciplinary state, an unbroken series of either sunshine
or clouds.
But as aforesaid, the greater portion of this
decade was characterized by the turning of a
goodly number from the paths of guilt, shame, and
folly, into the ways of wisdom, righteousness, and
peace. The Spirit of the Lord, breathed upon the
dry bones, disposing many to stand up, go forward
to the standard, and enlist under the banner of
Christ, to fight against sin, the world, the flesh and
Satan. Some of them are still with us manfully
struggling against the powers of darkness; a few
have halted by the way-side, while a large number
of them  have been conveyed, we trust, to the
Paradise of God, joyfully waiting for the realization
of the opening glories of the resurrection morning.
In reviewing the list of Confirmations in those
years spoken of, we find a far greater number
recorded, than we have for the same space of time
that preceded them.
In the year 1840, there were 17 persons confirmed-in 1841, 11-in 1842, 24-in 1843, 21in 1844, 11-in 1846, 11-in 1848, 10-total, 125.
PETITION TO THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION IN 1849.
The Vestry of St. Thomas', with the view of
having their silence in regard to a certain TEMPORARY regulation, agreed to by their predecessors,




140   PETITION TO EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.
no longer construed into passive acquiescence;
and desiring the whole responsibility of its continuance-should it be continued-to rest alone upon
legislative power and authority; respectfully submitted the following Petition to the Convention of
the Protestant Episcopal Church, held in St.
Andrew's Church, Philadelphia, May, 1849.
To the Bishop, Clergy, and Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Pennsylvania,
in Convention assembled:
The Petition of the Vestry of St. Thomas's
African Protestant Episcopal Church, by the Minister and Church Wardens, respectfully represents:That the aforesaid Church, having been duly organized and constituted a body politic according to
the laws of the Commonwealth, and having conformed to the doctrines, discipline, and worship of
the Church for more than half a century, to this
day stands, unacknowledged, as a branch of the
Church in her representative capacity.- Your
petitioners further represent, that they are fully
convinced of the superior adaptedness of our
Church to the wants of the people represented by
them, and that its having failed to command a more
universal acceptance among them, is owing, more
than any thing else, to the anomalous and undignified position we occupy, furnishing as it does,
ground of no little discontent within, and of much
deriding from without. We therefore pray your
honorable body to repeal the 8th regulation which
prohibits the aforesaid church from being represented in the Convention. All of which is most




PETITION REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE.   141
respectfully submitted to the consideration of your
honorable body.
Signed in behalf of the Vestry of St. Thomas's
Church, in the city of Philadelphia, May, 1849.
WM. DOUGLASS, Rector.
JAMES NEEDHAM, Wardens
JNO. L. HART,    Wardens
PETITION REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE.
"This Petition was presented by the Rev. Mr. J.
Douglass, who submitted the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That the eighth revised regulation of
the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in Pennsylvania, be rescinded."
Thursday, May 17th. " Mr. Allibone moved to
lay the resolution upon the table, which was
carried."
Friday, May 18th. "The Rev. Mr. Montgomery
submitted the ensuing resolution, viz.:
RESOLVED, That the petition of the African
Church of St. Thomas, to have the eighth revised
regulation rescinded, be taken up and referred to a
committee of five, with instructions, to report
thereupon at the next Convention."
"The Convention proceeded to the consideration
of the resolution offered by the Rev. Mr. Montgomery, and it was adopted.
The committee appointed were, the Rev. Messrs.
Montgomery, Hare and Breck, and Messrs. G. M.
Wharton and T. Wagner."
13




142     MAJORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
Philadelphia, May 23d, 1850.
Thursday, 5 o'clock P. M.
"The House proceeded with the special order of
the day, fixed for this afternoon, and Mr. G. M.
Wharton, from the special committee, on the subject of the African Church, presented the majority
"Report," as follows:
"The Special Committee, to whom, at the last
Convention, was referred the Petition of the African
Church of St. Thomas, to have the Eighth Revised
Regulation of this Convention rescinded, beg leave
to ReportThe Eighth Revised Regulation was adopted in
June, 1795, and declares, that the African Church
of St. Thomas, is not entitled to send a Clergyman
or Deputies to the Convention, or to interfere with
the general government of the Church-this condition haying been made, as is recited, in consideration of the peculiar circumstances of such Church
at that period-and in 1843 it was further declared
by the Convention, that no Church in this Diocese,
in like peculiar circumstances with the African
Church of St. Thomas, shall be entitled to send a
Clergyman or Deputies to the Convention, or to
interfere with the general government of the
Church.
It appears that about two years before A. D.
1795, the Church of St. Thomas was organized by
certain residents of the City of Philadelphia, who
were Africans, or descendants of Africans, and were
either members or attached to the doctrines and
discipline of the Church; and who, moreover, de



MAJORITY REPORT ON PETITION.     143
sired to worship God in accordance with her forms
and ceremonies, and to submit themselves, as a
congregation to the Ecclesiastical Authority of the
Diocese. They seem to have been recognized by
the Standing Committee and Council of Advice,
and, perhaps, by the Convention, as a regular congregation: and had it not been for "peculiar circumstances," would doubtless have been placed on
the same footing with the other congregations of
our Church. The members of St. Thomas's were
desirous of having one.of their own color to minister among them, and made application to the Bishop
and Standing Committee for their approval of the
selection of Absalom Jones, a black man, as their
Clergyman, and solicited his ordination-at the
same time, requesting a dispensation in his case,
from certain literary qualifications enjoined by
Canon as prerequisites. The matter was brought
before the Convention of the Diocese, and that
body agreed to the dispensation which had been
requested, and to the recommendation of Mr.
Jones for Holy Orders; but, together with a resolution to that effect, passed as a proviso, what
is now denominated the Eighth Revised Regulation.
The Vestry of St. Thomas's Church, by a formal
act, assented to the restriction-and some other
stipulations prescribed by the Bishop and Standing
Committee being acceded to, Absalom Jones was
ordained, and became the settled minister of that
Church.
It may be remarked, that this arrangement was
evidently a compact entered into, with the view, on




144     MAJORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
the part of the African congregation, of securing
the ordination of one of their own people; and
might fairly be pressed, by those who are disposed
to rest their exclusion on technical grounds, as a
strong argument for holding the applicants strictly
to the terms of the original contract.
The "peculiar circumstances" referred to in the
Proviso, are not stated anywhere on the face of the
Journal of the Convention. They may be gathered,
however, from the records of the Standing'Committee, and of the Church in question, and were
probably the following: the color and other physical properties of the parties, their political and
social condition-their defects of education and
cultivation-and their consequent unfitness, from
all these causes, for the situation of legislators and
rulers in the Church planted in Pennsylvania.
This unfitness seems to have been conceded all
round; and it does not appear, that in recognizing
and acting upon it, it occurred to our first Diocesan,
or to any of the Clergy or Laity who acted with
him in the exclusion of the members of St. Thomas's
congregation, from a participation in the general
government of the Church, that they were violating
any principle of that divinely constituted body
which they were so earnestly labouring to extend.
It may be, that another circumstance, thought to
be "peculiar" in this particular congregation, was
the fact, that its Constitution excluded all persons
but Africans, and the descendants of Africans, from
membership or from holding office therein. There
was an exception made, with respect to the rector




MAJORITY REPORT ON PETITION.     145
or minister. This exclusive feature in their organization as a parish, no doubt constitutes a distinction
between it and any other in the Diocese, known to
the undersigned-and would furnish a plausible
argument for refusing to its delegates a seat in this
legislative body, all of whose other members represent parishes whose Charters or Articles of Association do not profess to confine membership to
any particular tribe of mankind. The Committee,
however, are not disposed to place their conclusions
upon any narrow basis-particularly one which
would not be applicable to other colored congregations adopting a form of Charter similar to that
usually sele3ted'by our parishes.
The main grbund on which the repeal of the
Regulation is placed by the advocates of that measure, seems to be, that its continuance is a violation
of Christian kindness and courtesy-that it deprives
the colored race of a portion of their spiritual
privileges, and is an infringement of their inherent
right as Christians to participate in the government
of the Church. The Committee, on the other hand,
regard the Regulation as but the exercise of a clear
power of so framing the lay representation of the
Church as most to conduce to its general goodas having no concern with the spiritual privileges
of the members of Christ's Church-and as founded
upon a recognition of the manifest truth, that participation in the legislative power of the Church is
but a qualified, and not an absolute right.
In matters of government, where the good of
numbers is concerned, and where not individuals,
13*




146     MAJORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
but the public, are chiiefly regarded, there can be
no violation of courtesy or kindness in withholding
what may be thought of particular advantage to
some persons, if its concession may prove generally
detrimental. The representatives of a community
have, in such a case, no right to yield to personal
considerations what a stern regard for the common
welfare may demand to be retained-and are not
invested with that wide discretion in the exercise
of their charities or feelings, which may safely be
conceded to individuals. If the circumstances of
our condition, social and political, are such as to
render the change desired by the petitioners a
disastrous, or even a dangerous bne, every wise
and reflecting man will pause, before he permits
himself, as a legislator, to be swayed by mere
appeals to his sympathies, while his reason and his
judgment remain unconvinced.
It is freely admitted, that no considerations of
mere expediency can legitimately be weighed in
the discussion of a question of right, or can be used
as an argument for the violation of the least even
of the high and awful privileges which appertain to
all the members of the Christian flock. The great
point, however, in this matter, which the advocates
of the petition are bound to maintain, and which
they have entirely failed to demonstrate, is, that
the right to a seat in this Convention, as the representative body of the Church in Pennsylvania, and
as the Convocation of her Clergy, is any one of the
spiritual privileges, which, by baptism or ordination, as the case may be, have been conferred upon




MAJORITY REPORT ON PETITION.    147
her members. Those spiritual privileges which
flow from being children of God, members of
Christ, and inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven,
are, fortunately, neither conferred nor increased by
membership in this body-nor can they be impaired
or hindered by absence or exclusion from it. They
do not depend upon the arrangements or the votes
of men-they are of divine appointment and regulation-existed long before representative Conventions, such as the present, originated-are the
individual immunities and comforts of the faithful,
without distinction of color, sex, age or nation;
and are to be found as untrammelled and unimpaired among the worthy members of the African
Church of St. Thomas, as among those of any of
the Parishes in union with us. The sanctified
water of baptism; the laying on of the Bishop's
hands in the Apostolic Rite of Confirmation; and
the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of
their crucified Lord; are the Charters of their
spiritual privileges, to which the darkest of the
children of Africa among us, may point with as
high a confidence, and as bright a hope, as any of
their white brethren.
The Committee suppose it to be held by all
Churchmen, that the constitution of the Christian
Church is not of human invention, but of divine
origin; and is founded upon the plenary grant of
power by the Saviour to his chosen Disciples.
They believe that in discharging their high commission, those holy men were guided in their work
by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. The Apos



148     MAJORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
ties seem to have laid down no fixed form as the
only model of a Council of the Church, for want of
an exact conformity to which, the proceedings of
any attempted Synod are to be considered void.
The distinct features of Apostles, Elders and
Brethren are clearly developed-and as clearly,
the higher prerogative of the Apostles and Elders
over the others, in the administration of the affairs
of the Church. Doubtless, the inherent power of
legislation under the Apostolic Commission, is
vested in the chief pastors of the Flock alone; and
the joint action of the inferior Clergy, and of the
Laity, is invoked and invited by their Bishops, on
the ground of mere expediency, and is to be treated
as a concession on the part of the latter. This is a
ground, however, amply sufficient and certain for
all of us, inasmuch as direct Apostolic precedent is
furnished for its support.
It appears in the record of the first Council, that
St. Paul and Barnabas, and certain others, went up
from Antioch to Jerusalem, unto "the Apostles
and Elders," about a disputed question, touching
the salvation of Gentile converts. It was "the
Apostles and Elders who came together to consider
of this matter," and the sacred record implies, that
"the much disputing" was confined to them; while
it distinctly states, that the authoritative judgment
was pronounced by one of the Apostolic College.
The whole body of the Church, then present in
Jerusalem, seem undoubtedly to have been consulted, and to have signified their satisfaction with
the sentence promulgated by St. James. And yet




MAJORITY REPORT ON PETITION.    149
it is as undoubted a fact, that the brethren of Antioch, who were directly interested in the question
to be decided, were not personally present in the
Council at Jerusalem, nor do they seem to have
been represented there by delegates forming a constituent portion of that Assembly. The Committee
do not perceive in the Scriptural account of this.
celebrated Synod, any model pattern of a representative assembly of the Church.
Turning to times but a little later, we perceive
that a somewhat different Constitution of Church
Councils is presented, the right to a seat being
apparently confined to the highest order of the
Clergy, and the participation of the Laity altogether dispensed with. The long practice of the
Christian Church, in perhaps every branch of it,
may fairly be considered as demonstrating, that the
introduction of laymen into Church government is,
by no means, the consequence of any absolute
right; and even the practice of our own branch of
the Church, which has, beyond all others, the most
clearly affirmed the privilege of the Laity to become a component part of her legislative authority,
as conclusively proves this right to be the subject
of condition and regulation. Witness our positive
Canon Law, which has limited the number of lay
deputies, and prescribed their qualifications as worshippers in the parish which they may representand indeed, treats the whole subject as one altogether within the discretionary control of the
Church herself.
So, too, with regard to the body of the Clergy.




150     MAJORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
Their participation in Church government seems to
have been equally under regulation with that of
their Lay brethren. In those early Councils which
our Church has always regarded as cecumenical,
and whose acts she has consequently recognized as
authoritative, the Bishops alone took their seats.
The Canon of the Great Council of Nice, as well
as the Apostolic Canon which provides for the
assembling of Councils and Synods, as a means of
preserving unity and peace, required the Bishops of
the Province to meet together and settle the ecclesiastical controversies which might have occurred.
If we turn to our Mother Church of England, which
may, by some, be considered the nearest and safest
guide for ourselves —(to say nothing of the absolute
exclusion of the Laity from her Church Councils
proper,) we find that her Convocations consisted
but in part of those who sat by virtue of their
order; while the others attended as chosen representatives of the body of the Priesthood. And it
is perfectly familiar to all of us, that a large portion
of our own Clergy, inferior to none of their brethren
in learning and experience, full Presbyters, and
above all personal exception, are excluded from a
voice and a seat here, under the exercise of a
power, which, unless it be lawful, is uncatholic,
grossly despotic and unjust.
If the considerations which the Committee have
presented, be well founded, the admission or rejection of the Clergymen and deputies from the African
Church-and the throwing open of the doors of this
Convention to others similarly circumstanced, be



MAJORITY REPORT ON PETITION.     151
comes a question of mere expediency, to be decided
according to each one's views of the edifying or
hurtful consequences of the act. Our legislation
should be for the good of the Church, and to
secure, so far as our judgments can do so, her
prosperity and advancement. And let us ask, can
there be a doubt, with dispassionate persons, as to
the incompetency of the parties in question, for the
post of advisers and legislators in the concerns of
this portion of the American Church? Are they
qualified for it, either by education, cultivation, or
social position? Would their decisions and acts
carry with them aught of the moral influence which
is so desirable an attendant upon the decrees of
authority? Are members of this House fully and
sincerely prepared to receive the proposed new
comers in such way as to exhibit in nothing, a distinction between them and others on the floor; and
are they not fearful of betraying, in even the slightest degree, a feeling indicative of the absence of
that entire equality and confraternity, which should
mark the intercourse of the members of such an
assemblage as this? Is there no reason to apprehend that heart-burning or jealousy will spring up
from imagined, perhaps actual slights, induced by
the unconquerable aversion, in many, to the admixture of races physically so diverse and separate,
as the black and the white? Gentlemen must
answer these questions, and many more such,
satisfactorily, before they can grant the prayer of
the Petition.
It is believed that the agitation of this proposal




152     MAJORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
would not have arisen from the spontaneous action
of the parties themselves, and that there is no
general, natural feeling among them, of supposed
wrong or oppression. For more than half a century, the Church in Pennsylvania has been at rest
on this point-quietly pursuing her way, undisturbed by the contests which have had their rise in
the unfortunate infusion into our population, of the
children of Africa. Providence, ages ago, had
planted them in another quarter of the globe; in
one perhaps specially designed for their inhabitation. It is not known to the Committee, that the
voluntary migration of these tribes from their
original seats has ever darkened the shores of other
lands-but the hands of cruel and mercenary men
tore them unwillingly from their homes, and more
genial clime, and rudely transferred them to a distant Continent, there to grow and to multiply as
the mere bondmen and serfs of another race. Their
position with us may well be considered as an error
loci-and the retributive justice of the Almighty,
for the inceptive wrong of their original subjection,
seems to have travelled with them as a moral
plague, and to have rendered their presence the
constant source of disturbance and evil. Far be it
from the Committee to undervalue the sufferings of
this portion of their fellow-men, to extenuate the
wrongs done to them, or to add a feather's weight
to the depression resting upon them. On the contrary, they are earnest to recognize, in the fullest
extent, the obligation upon the whites to exert, in
behalf of their colored brethren, the broadest extent




MAJORITY REPORT ON PETITION.     153
of protection and comfort-to regard them as in a
state of tutelage, and as especially committed by a
common Father, to their kindness and consideration, and particularly do they feel the duty of being
actuated in all their dealings with them, by the
most large-hearted charity. But they consider it
a most signal error, to break down every barrier
which instinctive nature has reared in the path of
free intercourse; and they are of opinion, that the
misjudged, though well meant effort to place them
on this floor, will conduce to their eventual injury.
The Committee deprecate now, and in the future,
the agitation of this question. We all know how
sensitive the public mind is, throughout every part
of our wide country, with respect to the colored
race; and we see no prospect of this sensitiveness
being eradicated. The main topic has fearfully
convulsed the political union of our Republic, and
has broken the bonds which had, previously connected some denominations of Christians. Our
branch of the Church has thus far been protected
from any considerable excitement upon this headyet it requires but a moderate share of sagacity to
perceive, how the pushing of the proposed change
to its legitimate results may endanger the permanence of our ecclesiastical organization as an American Church of United Dioceses. Fortunately, the
Divine Constitution of the Body of Christ preserves
the essential unity of that holy fellowship, in spite
of every merely social convulsion. And yet no
true friend of the Church, but would regret the
rude sundering of those ties of outward communion,
14




154     MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
which conduce so materially to the influence and
the dignity of the spiritual body itself. Serious
indeed seems the responsibility of commencing a
series of measures which may tend to such disastrous consequences; and the Committee, therefore,
would gladly see this whole matter laid permanently
and quietly at rest, by a decided and expressive
vote of the Convention, where fifty years of universal acquiescence has placed it. Gladly would
they see the wise arrangement, sanctioned by the
prudent apprehension of Bishop White and his
coadjutors in the work of framing our ecclesiastical
Constitution, continue unbroken and undisturbed;
and they accordingly submit the following Resolution as expressive of their views.
Resolved, That it is inexpedient to repeal the
Eighth Revised Regulation, and that the Committee be discharged from the further consideration of
the subject.
G. M. WHARTON,
CHAS. BRECK,
TOBIAS WAGNER,
Committee."
Phila., Miay 21, A.D. 1850.
MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION IN 1850.
"The undersigned, a minority of the Committee
appointed at the last Convention of the Diocese,
to consider the petition of the church of St. Thomas
in this city, for the repeal of the eighth revised
regulation, report, that in their opinion, the manner
and matter of the petition entitle it to serious and
respectful consideration.




MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.    155
It appears from the records of St. Thomas's
Church, (though the minutes of the standing committee do not show it, which however about the
time refused to bear evidence, being very imperfect) that at a meeting of the standing committee
and Council of Advice, of this Diocese, held September 9th, 1794, "the Rt. Rev. Bishop White laid
before the Council, the Constitution of the African
Church of St. Thomas, a congregation of the people
of color, who having lately erected a building for
the public worship of God, do now, in consequence
of free and mature deliberation, propose and
request to be associated with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, and, in particular, to commit all their ecclesiastical affairs to the
rule and authority of the Bishop and Church in
this State."
The Bishop and Council, being pleased with the
above application, and willing to accept the terms
"therein," it was RESOLVED, and declared therefore, that, as soon as the Trustees or Deputies of
the said congregation, being duly authorized, shall
sign the Act of Association of the Church in this
State, they shall be entitled to all the privileges of
the other congregations of the Protestant Episcopal
Church; agreed, that Dr. Samuel Magaw and Dr.
Robert Blackwell, be a Committee to meet the
Trustees or Deputies of the African Church, and
see them ratify the Act of Association.
(Signed,)   SAMUEL MAGAW,
A member of the Council.




156     MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
It appears also, from the records referred to, that,
at a meeting of the Standing Committee, held Oct.
23d, 1794, an address or letter to the Bishop and
Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, from the Trustees'and other Representatives of the Congregation of the African Church,
now called St. Thomas's Church, of Philadelphia,
was laid before the Council, communicated through
the hands of the Bishop, representing, among other
things, that it would be expedient to have among
themselves a pious and duly qualified man of color,
to discharge the functions of a minister, and recom-mending for the said purpose as a candidate, Absalom Jones, a man of good report and godly conversation.
Whereupon, the Council being heartily disposed
to favor the address and application as above, and
entirely satisfied, as far as doth to them appear, of
the moral and religious character of the person
recommended, do agree in opinion and respectfully
advise, that the most regular mode of proceeding, is
for the Bishop to give his sanction and approbation
to Absalom Jones, to officiate as a reader of Divine
Service, &c., in the said Church, and a candidate for
Deacon's Orders, till the meeting of the Convention
of the Church in this State; the 7th Canon, ratified
in General Convention, requiring with regard to
learning of those who are to be ordained, "That
the requisition of an acquaintance with Latin and
Greek, is only to be dispensed with by two-thirds
of the Convention of the State to which the candidate belongs, and for good causes moving thereto."




MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.    157
Now in the former part of this " address and
application" laid before the Standing Committee,
and received by them with favor, occur the following statements-" On Tuesday, August 12th, 1794,
at a special meeting held for the purpose, the Constitution of our Church was unanimously ratified
upon the principles of the Protestant Episcopal
Church of North America, and on application to
the Bishop and Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal
Church of Philadelphia, we were graciously received
into the bosom of the Church, and on Sunday, September 14th, 1794, the Bishop in public did receive
us under his pastoral charge, and on Sunday, October 12th, 1794, our being received into the fellowship and communion of the Protestant Episcopal
Church of Philadelphia, was most cordially and
fully announced from the pulpit by the Rev. Rob't.
Blackwell."
It appears, therefore, most clearly, from these
records, that, at this time, September, 1794, St.
Thomas's Church was entitled to all the privileges
of the other Protestant Episcopal congregations in
the Diocese, among which was the right of sending
Deputies to the State Convention. The Act of
Association "done in Christ Church," in this city,
the " 24th day of May, 1785," expressly providing
that the clergy and congregations duly ratifying
the said act, shall be called and known by the name
of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of
Pennsylvania, and that each congregation may send
to the Convention a Deputy or Deputies, and that
all such clergymen as shall hereafter be settled as
14*




158     MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
the ministers of the congregations ratifying this act,
shall have the same privileges, and be subject to
the same regulations as the clergy now subscribing
the same."
Thus stood the matter in September, 1794, when,
as the undersigned believe, St. Thomas's Church was
in full fellowship with the Church, and entitled to
all the privileges of the other congregations of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese.
In the Convention of the succeeding year (June
2nd, 1795,) "It was moved and seconded, that in
the examination for Holy Orders of Absalom Jones,
a black man, belonging to the African Church of
St. Thomas, in this city, the knowledge of the Latin
and Greek languages be dispensed with, agreeably
to the Canon.
RESOLVED, That the same be granted, provided
it is not to be understood to entitle the African
Church to send a clergyman or Deputies to the Convention, or to interfere with the general government
of the Episcopal Church, this condition being made,
in consideration of their peculiar circumstances at
present."
On Wednesday, August 12th, 1795, at a meeting
of the Trustees of St. Thomas's Church, the Rt. Rev.
Bishop and several of the Clergy of the Diocese
being present, the Bishop presented the above
extract from the Journal of the Convention, which
was "read and explained, and the members present,
uniting with the restrictions therein specified, it was
agreed to."
The undersigned, therefore, while granting the




MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.      159
Trustees of St. Thomas's Church did agree to the
restrictions referred to, cannot see why such assent
should prevent the present authorities of that
Church from seeking the removal of a provision
which the congregation have found by experience
to be burdensome and injurious to their interests.
The said restriction was imposed and agreed to, let
it be remembered, not according to the records cited,
at the time of receiving the Church of St. Thomas
into fellowship with the Church in the Diocese, but
nearly a year afterwards, when the question of the
dispensation of certain literary qualifications in
the person selected for their minister came before
the Convention, "this condition being made in
consideration of their peculiar circumstances at
present."
The restriction and the agreement to it are therefore, in the opinion of the undersigned, not to be
viewed in the light of an original compact contemporaneous with the existence of the Church of St.
Thomas as a part of the Church in the Diocese.
The agreement they yielded to the restriction in
their peculiar exigency, by no means interferes
with the right of the congregation to petition now
for a repeal of the prohibition which their present
"peculiar circumstances" may render highly oppressive, and detrimental to their prosperity.
But what were the "peculiar circumstances" to
which the restriction, passed in 1795, refers? The
words "at present" ought, in charity, to be strictly
limited. The Reverend Absalom Jones, the first
minister of St. Thomas's Church, though very defi



160     MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
cient in literary qualifications for the ministry, was
a "man of good report and godly conversation."
He was held in great reverence and esteem by the
colored people of our city. Zealous for the prosperity of the Church, and unwearied in doing good,
he was especially beloved in consequence of his
devotion to the sick and dying at the time of the
prevalence of that awful scourge, the yellow fever.
Administering to the bodily as well as spiritual
wants of many poor sufferers, and soothing the
last moments of many departing souls among his
people, he became greatly endeared to the colored
race.
Hence, when they formed a congregation, in
order that they might worship God according to the
doctrine and discipline of the Church of their
choice, they fixed their hearts upon having their
kind friend and helper for their minister.  He
who had already won his way to their hearts by
labors and sacrifices of Christian love that no one
can hear of without emotion, must be the shepherd
of their souls in Christ Jesus. So that they could
succeed in this their darling wish, they were content
to submit to inconvenience and to loss; for him
their friend and brother, bound so closely to their
hearts by the sympathy of past afflictions, they
were ready to be placed for the time being in a
position of inferiority,
They were fully sensible that he did not possess
the literary qualifications requisite for the ministry,
but they knew and loved his self-sacrificing spirit,
and consistently religious life. When, therefore,




.MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.    161
the great difficulty in the way of his ordination was
removed, by the dispensing vote of the convention,
the condition on which, in this case, the dispensation depended was agreed to, the congregation of
St. Thomas had succeeded in their great desire. In
their feebleness, they surrendered to the far stronger
power, the right which the church had already
given them, in order that their little flock might be
watched and ministered to by a shepherd whom
they loved.
The undersigned earnestly submit, whether, after
the expiration of so many years, advantage should
be taken of the concession which the petitioners
yielded in their then peculiar exigency? More than
half a century has passed away since the adoption
of the restriction, which, they now respectfully ask,
may be removed. Their present Pastor has, it is
believed, far superior literary qualifications to the
Rev. Absalom Jones, having passed a very creditable examination, for the Diaconate and Priesthood, before the Rt. Rev. Bishop Onderdonk, of
this city.
The very wording of the restriction referred to,
viewed in connexion with the facts above stated,
shows that both parties, the Convention on the one
hand and the Trustees of St. Thomas's Church on
the other, thought of it only as a temporary proviso, and that it would be rescinded when the
" peculiar circumstances" spoken of should cease.
It is believed by the undersigned, that the " peculiar circumstances" of the church of the petitioners
at that time have in a great measure changed; that




162     MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
special peculiarity aimed at in the restriction has
ceased, from the fact above stated, with regard to
the present minister of the parish, and also from
the consideration that their congregation are suffering a reproach now which they did not experience
at the time the restriction was agreed to, being contrasted unfavorably with a colored Presbyterian
congregation, whose minister had a seat in the
Presbytery.  The undersigned submit, that, even
on these accounts, the restriction should be immediately rescinded.
But some may contend that St. Thomas's Church
is not, and never has been, in union with the Convention in the Diocese. The undersigned cannot
permit themselves to doubt that it has been duly
received, and that, too, at a very early day, into the
communion and fellowship of the Church, as the
records of the Parish and the facts of the case furnish strong evidence of it. But grant, for the sake
of argument, that it has not been admitted as a part
of the Church of the Diocese. The supposition is
favored, it must be confessed, by the fact that the.
journals for several successive years before 1832,
after a list of the congregations in the State, append
these words: "There is, also, in Philadelphia, St.
Thomas's African Church, not in union with this
Convention." Granting, we say, that this is the
fact, though the undersigned think it far otherwise,
then it may well be asked, where is the necessity
of a restriction so calculated to wound the feelings
of those concerned?
According to this supposition, the danger of St.




MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.    163
Thomas's Church sharing in the legislation of the
Church is effectually guarded against already. They
do not yet possess, by right of communion and fellowship with the Church, the privilege which it is
the object of the Eighth Revised Regulation to take
away. If not in union with us, they cannot send
their representatives among us, until, by an express
vote of the Convention, we admit them to such
union. In this view, the restriction is entirely
useless-a gratuitous insult to the persons who are
the subjects of it. Even the strongest opponents
to the admission of the representatives of St.
Thomas's Church may, if the said Church be not in
union with us, vote for the repeal of the regulation
as superfluous and objectionable.
The undersigned submit, that the Eighth Revised
Regulation be rescinded on principle. No test of
admission should be adopted here which is at variance with the precepts of our Redeemer, and with
the practice of the Church in the apostolic times,and the undersigned would ask whether the said
regulation be not inconsistent with both? If it be
urged that darkness of the skin is just cause for
exclusion, let us look well at such passages as these
from the blessed Gospel: " One is your Master, even
Christ; and all ye are brethren."  " God hath made
of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all
the face of the earth." And by His own blood,
shed once for all men, hath Christ " redeemed us to
God outof every kindred, and tongue, and people,
and nation." There is no color marked out by our
Divine Master and Head for exclusion from even




164:    MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
the smallest privilege or honor of the Christian
Church. On the contrary, it is part of the glory
of the Church, "that God is no respecter of persons," but that all are equally the objects of His
parental care and His redeeming love.
At the first Council of the Church, after our
Lord's ascension, "the apostles, elders and brethren
were assembled with one accord." It will not be
contended that any exception was then and there
taken to the hue of the complexion.  But it is
alleged that the exclusion of the Church of St.
Thomas, and all others " in like peculiar circumstances," is a mere matter of expediency, and is not
at all connected with the spiritual privileges of our
excluded brethren: that the regulation as to who
shall or shall not sit in council with us is a subject
pertaining only to the legislative character of the
Church.
Without considering the great inconsistency of
the legislative affairs being governed by any rules
that seem at variance with the precepts and spirit
of Christianity, we think that the above allegation
will lose even its plausibility, when it is considered
that the exclusion of this Church from our councils
does interfere indirectly with spiritual privileges of
the petitioners. The Parish in question is cut off
from what is certainly to be considered a privilege
and an honor, the conferring with a band of brothers about the welfare of the Church, and aiding
in the promotion of such plans and regulations as
may seem best adapted to advance the cause of our
beloved Redeemer.




MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.    165
The singularity of its long exclusion, and the
stamp of inferiority which is thereby put upon it,
are well calculated, as the congregation respectfully
set forth in their petition, " to furnish ground of no
little discontent within, and of constant deriding
from without."  Hence they are hindered from
greater progress as a congregation, and a subject
of vexation and reproach is constantly kept before
them. 
It may well be asked if it be consistent with the
declaration of the great Apostle to the Gentiles,
" if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no
flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend," thus to wound the feelings and to
interfere with the peace and prosperity of a company of our brethren. They cannot be expected
long to reconcile the inconsistency of their pastor
being fit to preach the word of God, and to administer His Holy Sacraments, and yet incapable of
having any part in the councils of the Church.
Can we reasonably look for their advancement and
improvement in knowledge and virtue, while we
continue to give ground for attacks upon their position, and thus help to lessen their self-respect.
It seems, also, to the undersigned, well worthy
of consideration, whether the repeal of the Eighth
Revised Regulation would not tend to produce
peace in our own Convention?
It is believed that many of the members of this
body are conscientiously opposed to it. It is an
offence to them, and they would rejoice to see it
rescinded. While it remains on the statute book,
15




166     MINORITY REPORT ON PETITION.
it will tend to provoke agitation and dispute, not
only on account of its exclusive nature, but also
from its remarkable singularity. In no part of the
Church, it is believed, is a similar prohibition maintained with such invidious prominence.
In conclusion, the undersigned seek, by God's
grace, to free our Church in this Diocese from what,
they have reason to believe, affords ground with
many, without, for the charge against us of inconsistency.
They solemnly disclaim any purpose, or even
wish, to involve this question with subjects of an
exciting nature, that have no legitimate connexion.
They desire to have the subject discussed, and
entreat that it may be so discussed, on its own
merits alone, without being embarrassed and perplexed with topics that properly have nothing at all
to do with it, and with which the undersigned have
not the slightest intention to interfere.
They present the following resolution: "That
the Eighth Revised Regulation be and is hereby
rescinded."
All which is respectfully submitted.
HENRY E. MONTGOMERY.
PHILADA., May 21, 1850.
The subscriber agrees cordially with the main
principles of the above report.
G. EMLEN HARE.




EXPRESSION OF SENTIMENT.       167
RESOLUTION REPORTED BY MAJORITY COMMITTEE
ADOPTED.
"The Convention proceeded to the consideration
of the resolution submitted by the majority of the
special committee on the subject of the Eighth
Revised Regulation. The vote was called for by
ayes and noes, and by orders, and stood as follows:
CLERGY.       LAY REPRESENTATIONS-CHURCHES.
Ayes-44.         Ayes-51.
Noes-42.         Noes-16.    Divided-1.
"So the resolution reported by the'majority'
committee was adopted.  The Convention then
adjourned."
EXPRESSION OF SENTIMENT
From the Vestry of St. Thomas's Protestant Episcopal Church, in relation to the action of the
Episcopal Convention of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, on the majority report of a committee to
whom was referred a certain petition from the
aforesaid Church, respectfully asking a repeal of
the Eighth Revised Regulation.
At an adjourned meeting of the Vestry of St.
Thomas's Protestant Episcopal Church, held Monday evening, June 3d, 1850, the following preamble
and resolutions reported by a committe previously
appointed, were accepted and unanimously adopted.
The said committee were also authorized to publish
the same in such papers as they might deem proper
to select.




168;EXPRESSION OF SENTIMENT.
WHEREAS, The Minister, Church Wardens and
Vestrymen of St. Thomas's Protestant Episcopal
Church, did send in a petition to the Episcopal
Convention of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, sitting
in Philadelphia, May, 1849, praying said Convention to repeal the Eighth Regulation, which prohibits the aforesaid Church from being represented
by delegation, having been under the superintendence of the Bishop of the Diocese upwards of fiftyfive years; and having conformed to the doctrines,
discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church
during the period above mentioned; AND WHEREAS,
the said petition was referred to a committee of five
gentlemen to report to the Convention to be held at
St. Andrew's Church in 1850; and whereas, a majority of the committee not only reported adversely
to the prayer of the petitioners, but betrayed a
spirit very unbecoming professing Christians, announcing in their report that our "COLOR, PHYSICAL
AND SOCIAL CONDITION AND EDUCATION, RENDERING
US ENTIRELY UNFIT TO SIT IN DELIBERATIVE BODIES;" and whereas, we are not surprised at the
final result, yet we confess that we are perfectly
astounded to find that it was thought necessary in
so solemn an assembly, in order to reach the result,
to condescend to appeal to those unrighteous prejudices unknown in the Constitution of the Church,
and the Book of Common Prayer, and utterly at variance with all the principles, precepts and doctrines,
as laid down by the great Head of the Church:
Therefore, Resolved, That-if we were heretofore




EXPRESSION OF SENTIMENT.       169
desirous of being admitted into union with the
Convention, we are not now, nor can we hereafter
be, (with due respect to ourselves and posterity)
while "COLOR, PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL CONDITION
AND EDUCATION," continue to be the test of admission or rejection.
Resolved, As the sense of this Vestry, that the
members of St. Thomas's Church have common
understanding, and know how to appreciate virtue,
honesty and industry, as well as other people, let
their complexion be what it may.
Resolved. That in the opinon of this Vestry, the
expressions that were used by some of the members
of the Convention, should be kept from the heathen,
lest the Gospel should fail to have its salutary effect
upon their minds, they instinctively rejecting the
message at the hands of those who justify complexional distinctions in the Church of Christ.
Resolved. That expediency is no plea against the
violation of the great principles of charity, mercy,
justice, and truth.
Resolved. That the consideration offered, by reminding us that the rejection could not debar us
from communion with the Spirit, did not, in our
humble opinion, come with very good grace, after
having been told, in terms not to be misunderstood,
that we were " entirely unfit" to hold visible fellowship with a delegated council of that body, which
defines the Church to be a " VISIBLE BODY of faith



170    PETITION OF ST. THOMAS'S CHURCH.
ful men," &c., whose high mission on earth is fulfilled
only so far as she is a co-worker with the Spirit.
Resolved. That the thanks of this Vestry be, and
are hereby tendered to that portion of the Convention, who endorsed by their votes the minority
report, which developes the true Catholic spirit,
beautifully harmonizing with all that is pure, holy
and elevating in the Christian system.
JAMES NEEDHAM,      \
CLAYTON MIDLER, 
J. C. BOWERS,         Committee.
J. L. HART,
FRANKLIN TURNER.
PETITION OF ST. THOMAS'S CHURCH IN 1854.
A  petition from  the Vestry of St. Thomas's
Church, containing the same request of the former
one, signed by the Rev. Wn. Douglass, and James
Needham, Warden, was forwarded to the Episcopal
Convention, assembled in St. Andrew's Church,
May, 1854. This petition was presented on Wednesday, May 17th, by the Rev. Mr. Spackman, who
"then gave notice that on Thursday he would
move to repeal the Eighth Revised Regulation."
"Thursday afternoon 5 P. M. The Convention
re-assembled. The minutes of the morning session
were read and approved.
"The Rev. Dr. Clay withdrew his motion to lay
the resolution of the Rev. Mr. Spackman, offered this




LIST OF VESTRY.             171
morning, on the table. The vote was then taken
by Orders on Mr. Spackman's resolution to repeal
the Eighth Revised Regulation, as follows:
CLERGY.                 LAITY.
Ayes,.. 70            Ayes,.    32
Noes,.. 28           Noes,,. 40
One divided.
"So the resolution was lost."
LIST OF THE PRESENT VESTRY.
CLAYTON MILLER,        JAMES NEEDHAM } Wardens.
JOSHUA BRoWN-Treas.,   SCIPIO SEWELL,
JOHN C. BOWERS,-Sec.,  WILLIAM H. RILEY,
MORRIS BROWN-Clerk,    EDWARD W. VENNING,
ULYSSES B. VIDAL,      THOMAS CHARNOCK,
EDWARD COLLINS,        JAMES H. GEORGE,
JAMES S. DOUGLASS,      WILLIAM P. PRICE,
HAMILTON D. WILSON,     WILLIAM KNIGHT,
FRANKLIN TURNER,        GEO. T. BURRELL,
JAMES H. WILSON, M. D.  JOSEPH H. CARTER.
In 1849, a brick wall was erected, in extent 175
feet, forming the letter L, 8 feet high from  the
pavement, 13 inches thick, enclosing the church
yard at a cost of $470.
In 1859, an Organ, which had not been long in
use-of much greater volume than the former one,
was purchased-value, $1200.
The principal debt of the church at this date,
(1861) is a balance due on the Organ of about $175.




172      CONFIRMATIONS, BAPTISMS, ETC.
CONFIRMATIONS, BAPTISMS, &c.
Confirmations from, 1834 to 1860,    272,
Baptisms-Infants,..    163
"        Adults,..    42
Total    205
Communicants-present number,         105.
Congregation      "    " more or less, 337.
Sunday School-number of pupils-Male, 47.
it"   ( t    "    "    "( Female, 58.
Teachers-Male,....      5.
It"   Female...          13.
SOCIETIES.
Children's Aid Society.
Sinking Fund Society.
The Sinking Fund Society of St. Thomas's Church
superintend its cleansing at proper seasons, and aid
in meeting other incidental expenses, not otherwise
provided for.
The funds of the Children's Aid Society are
applied to furnishing clothing to the children of
such parents, whose only plea for not sending them
to Sunday School, is their want of decent apparel.
Both these societies are composed chiefly of females.
And, I cannot feel that my task is completed, without recording, as I now do, my high estimate,ever to be cherished-of "their works and labor
of love which they have showed for Christ's sake."
May Heaven's choicest benedictions rest upon them.
THE END.