The Journal of Negro History Volume I Part 8

_Reverend Sir_,

The perusal of your letter of the 15th July last, gave me much pleasure--to find that you had interested yourself to serve the glorious cause Mr. Liele is engaged in. He has been for a considerable time past very zealous in the ministry; but his congregation being chiefly slaves, they had it not in their power to support him, therefore he has been obliged to do it from his own industry; this has taken a considerable part of his time and much of his attention from his labours in the ministry; however, I am led to believe that it has been of essential service to the cause of G.o.d, for his industry has set a good example to his flock, and has put it out of the power of enemies to religion to say, that he has been eating the bread of idleness, or lived upon the poor slaves. The idea that too much prevails here amongst the masters of slaves is, that if their minds are considerably enlightened by religion or otherwise, that it would be attended with the most dangerous consequences; and this has been the only cause why the Methodist ministers and Mr. Liele have not made a greater progress in the ministry amongst the slaves. Alas! how much is it to be lamented, that a full QUARTER OF A MILLION of poor souls should so long remain in a state of nature; and that masters should be so blind to their own interest as not to know the difference between obedience inforced by the lash of the whip and that which flows from religious principles. Although I much admire the _general doctrine_ preached in the Methodist church, yet I by no means approve of their discipline set up by Mr. Wesley, that reverend man of G.o.d. I very early saw into the impropriety of admitting slaves into their societies _without permission of their owners_, and told them the consequences that would attend it; but they rejected my advice; and it has not only prevented the increase of their church, but has raised them many enemies. Mr. Liele has very wisely acted a different part. He has, I believe, admitted no slaves into society but those who had obtained permission from their owners, by which he has made many friends; and I think the Almighty is now opening a way for another church in the capital, where the Methodists could not gain any ground: a short time will determine it, of which I shall advise you.--I really have not time to enter so fully on this subject as I wish, being very much engaged in my own temporal affairs, and at present having no clerk.--The love I bear to the cause of G.o.d, and the desire I have of being any ways instrumental to the establis.h.i.+ng of it in this land of darkness, has led me to write this: but before I conclude, I have some very interesting particulars to lay before you:--Mr. Liele has by the aid of the congregation and the a.s.sistance of some few people, raised the walls of a church ready to receive the roof, but has not the means to lay it on and finish it; nor do I see any prospect of its going further, without he receives the aid of some religious inst.i.tution from home. One hundred and fifty pounds, I think, would complete it; and if this sum could be raised, it would greatly serve the cause of G.o.d, and might be the means of bringing many hundred souls, who are now in a state of darkness, to the knowledge of our great Redeemer. If this could be raised the sooner the better. Our family contributed towards the purchase of the Methodist chapel; nor shall our mite be wanting to forward this work if it meets with any encouragement from home.--I am a stranger to you, but you may know my character from Daniel Shea, Esq.; and John Parker, Esq.; merchants in your city; or from Mr. Samuel Yockney, tea-dealer, in Bedford Row.

Perhaps you may expect me to say something of Mr. Liele's character. He is a very industrious man--decent and humble in his manners, and, I think, a good man. This is my opinion of him. I love all Christians of every denomination, and remain, with respect and sincere regard,

Reverend Sir,

Your friend and servant,

(Signed) Stephen Cooke.

--_Baptist Annual Register_, 1790-1793, pages 338 and 339.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Most of these letters were written by two colored preachers, George Liele and Andrew Bryan.

[2] Mr. Moore was an ordained Baptist minister, of the county of Burke, in Georgia; he died, it seems, some time since. EDITOR.

[3] 140 l. currency is 100 l. sterling.

[4] A bit was seven pence half-penny currency, or about five pence halfpenny sterling.

SKETCHES OF THE BLACK BAPTIST CHURCH AT SAVANNAH, IN GEORGIA; AND OF THEIR MINISTER ANDREW BRYAN, EXTRACTED FROM SEVERAL LETTERS

Savannah, July 19, 1790, &c.

_Dear Brother_,

"With pleasure I receive your favor of the 20th ult. more particularly, as I trust the correspondence may be of use to Brother Andrew's church; concerning the origin of which, I have taken from him the following account.

"Our Brother _Andrew_ was one of the black hearers of _George Liele,"_ of whom an account was given before; and was hopefully converted by his preaching from chapter III. of St. John's Gospel, and a clause of verse 7, _Ye must be born again_; prior to the departure of _George Liele_ for Jamaica, he came up from Tybee River, where departing vessels frequently lay ready for sea, and baptized our Brother _Andrew_, with a wench of the name _Hagar_, both belonging to _Jonathan Bryan_, Esq.; these were the last performances of our Brother _George Liele_ in this quarter.

About eight or nine months after his departure, _Andrew_ began to exhort his black hearers, with a few whites. Edward Davis, Esq.; indulged him and his hearers to erect a rough building on his land at _Yamacraw_, in the suburbs of Savannah for a place of wors.h.i.+p, of which they have been very artfully dispossessed. In this their beginning of wors.h.i.+p they had frequent interruptions from the whites; as it was at a time that a number of blacks had absconded, and some had been taken away by the British. This was a plausible excuse for their wickedness in their interruptions. The whites grew more and more inveterate; taking numbers of them before magistrates--they were imprisoned and whipped. _Sampson_, a brother of _Andrew_, belonging to the same master, was converted about a year after him, and continued with him in all their persecutions, and does until now. These, with many others, were twice imprisoned, and about _fifty_ were severely whipped, particularly _Andrew, who was cut and bled abundantly_, while he was under their lashes; Brother _Hambleton_ says, he held up his hand, and told his persecutors that he rejoiced not only to be whipped, but _would freely suffer death for the cause of Jesus Christ_. "The chief justice _Henry Osborne_, Esq.; _James Habersham_, Esq.;[1] and _David Montague_, Esq.; were their examinants, and released them. Their kind _master_ also interceded for them; and was much affected and grieved at their punishment." Brother _Hambleton_ was also an advocate for them; and further says, that at one of their examinations _George Walton_, Esq.; spoke freely in favour of the sufferers, saying, that such treatment would be condemned even among barbarians. "The chief justice _Osborne_ then gave them liberty to continue their wors.h.i.+p between sunrising and sun set; and their indulgent _master_ told the magistrate, that he would give them the liberty of his own _house or his barn_, at a place called Brampton, about three miles from town, and that they should not be interrupted in their wors.h.i.+p. In consequence hereof, they made use of their masters _barn_, where they had a number of hearers, with little or no interruption, for about two years. During the time of wors.h.i.+p at Brampton Brother Thomas Burton, an elderly baptist preacher, paid them a visit, examined and baptized about _eighteen_ blacks: at another period while there they received a visit from our brother _Abraham Marshall_[2]

who examined and baptized about forty and gave them two certificates from under his hand;" copies of which follow:

This is to _certify_, that upon examination into the experiences and characters of a number of _Ethiopians_, and adjacent to Savannah, it appears that G.o.d has brought them out of darkness into the light of the Gospel, and given them fellows.h.i.+p one with the other; believing it is the will of Christ, we have const.i.tuted them a church of Jesus Christ, to keep up his wors.h.i.+p and ordinances.

(Signed) A. Marshall, V.D.M.

Jan. 19, 1788.

This is to certify, that the Ethiopian church of Jesus Christ at Savannah, have called their beloved _Andrew_ to the work of the ministry. We have examined into his qualifications, and believing it to be the will of the great Head of the church, we have appointed him to preach the Gospel, and to administer the ordinances, as G.o.d in his providence may call.

(Signed) A. Marshall, V.D.M.

Jan. 20, 1788.

"After the death of their master his son, Dr. _William Bryan_, generously continued them the use of the _barn_ for wors.h.i.+p, until the estate was divided among the family. Our Brother _Andrew_, by consent of parties, purchased his freedom, bought a lot at Yamacraw, and built a residence near the dwelling house which their master had given _Sampson_ liberty to build on his lot; and which have ever been made use of for wors.h.i.+p. But by the division of their master's estate, the lot whereon _Sampson_ had built a house to live in, and which until this time continues to be used for wors.h.i.+p, by _Andrew_, fell into the hands of an attorney, who married a daughter of the deceased Mr. Bryan, and receives no less than 12 l. a year for it. _Sampson_ serves as a clerk, but frequently exhorts in the absence of his brother who has his appointments in different places to wors.h.i.+p.

"Brother _Andrew's_ account of his number in full communion is TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE, and about THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY have been received as converted followers, many of whom have not permission" from their owners "to be baptized.--The whole number is judged to be about five hundred and seventy-five, from the towns being taken to this present July. I have consulted brother _Hambleton_, who thinks they have need of a few Bibles, the Baptist Confession of Faith, and Catechism; Wilson on Baptism, some of Bunyan's works, or any other that your wisdom may think useful to an illerate [sic] people. They all join in prayers for you and yours and beg your intercession at the throne of grace for them, as well as for the small number of whites that dwell here; and among them I hope you will not forget your poor unworthy brother, and believe me, with sincere affections and brotherly love, your in the bonds of the Gospel,

(Signed) Jonathan Clarke[3]

Concerning the church at Savannah, the late Rev. Mr. Joseph Cook, of the Euhaw, upper Indian land, thus writes: "From the enclosed you will see how it became a church, and what they have suffered, which is extremely affecting, but they now begin to rise from obscurity and to appear great. I have some acquaintance with their pastor, and have heard him preach; his _gifts are small_, but he is _clear in the grand doctrines_ of the Gospel.--I believe him to be _truly pious_ and he has been the instrument of doing more good among the poor slaves than all the learned doctors in America."

The friends of our adorable Redeemer will, no doubt, rejoice to find that this large body of Christians negroes, under the patronage of some of the most respectable persons in their city, "have opened a subscription for the erecting of a place of wors.h.i.+p in the city of Savannah, for the society of black people of the Baptist denomination-- the property to be vested in the hands of seven or more persons in trust for the church and congregation."

Their case[4] is sent to England, recommended by J. JOHNSON,[5] Minister of the Union Church.

JOHN HAMILTON.

EBENEZER HILLS.

JOSEPH WATTS.

D. MOSES VALLOTTON.

JOHN MILLENE.

ABRAHAM LEGGETT.

Since the preceding account has been in the press, other letters have been received, of which the following is an extract.

Kingston, Jamaica, May 18, 1792.

_Rev. and Dear Sir_,

In answer to yours I wrote December 18 last, and as I have not received a line from you since, I send this, not knowing but the other was miscarried. Mr. Green has called upon me, and very kindly offered his service to deliver a letter from me into your hands; he also advised me to send you a copy of our church covenant, which I have done: being a collection of some of the princ.i.p.al texts of scripture which we observe, both in America and this country, for the direction of our practice. It is read once a month here on sacrament meetings, that our members may examine if they live according to all those laws which they profess, covenanted and agreed to; by this means our church is kept in scriptural subjection. As I observe in my last the chiefest part of our society are poor illiterate slaves, some living on sugar estates, some on mountains, pens, and other settlements, that have no learning, no not to know so much as a letter in the book; but the reading this covenant once a month, when all are met together from the different parts of the island, keeps them in mind of the commandments of G.o.d. And by shewing the same to the gentlemen of the legislature, and the justices, and magistrates, when I applied for a sanction, it gave them general satisfaction; and wherever a negro servant is to be admitted, their owners, after the perusal of it, are better satisfied. We are this day raising the roof on the walls of our meeting house; the height of the walls from the foundation is seventeen feet. I have a right to praise G.o.d, and glorify him for the manifold blessings I have received, and do still receive from him. I have full liberty from _Spanish Town_, the capital of this country, to preach the Gospel throughout the Island: the Lord is blessing the work everywhere, and believers are added daily to the church. My tongue is not able to express the goodness of the Lord. As our meeting house is out of town "(about a mile and a half)," I have a steeple on it, to have a bell to give notice to our people and more particularly to the owners of Slaves that are in our society, that they may know the hour on which we meet, and be satisfied that our servants return in due time; for which reason I shall be greatly obliged to you to send me out, as soon as possible, a bell that can be heard about two _miles_ distance, with the price. I have one at present, but it is rather small. The slaves may then be permitted to come and return in due time, for at present we meet very irregular in respect to hours. I remain, with the utmost regards, love and esteem,

Rev. Sir, yours, &c.

George Liele.

Copy of a Recommendatory Letter of Hannah Williams, a Negro Woman, in London. It is all in print, except the part of it which now appears in Italics.

Kingston, Jamaica, we that are of the Baptist Religion, being separated from all churches, excepting they are of the same faith and order after Jesus Christ, according to the scriptures, do certify, that our beloved _Sister Hannah Williams, during the time she was a member of the Church at Savannah, until the evacuation, did walk as a_ faithful, well-behaved Christian, and to recommend her to join any church of the same faith and order. Given under my hand this 21st day of _December_, in the year of our Lord, 1791.