CHAPTER XXIV

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CHURCHES.

I shall not attempt to give a history of the various denominations with which the colored people are identified. I simply desire to set forth a few facts which indicate that they have, by vigorous efforts, made the same wonderful progress along church lines that they have along educational, industrial and professional lines.

The colored people are represented in nearly every denomination known in the United States.

The Baptists, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Methodists Episcopal, African Methodists Episcopal, African Methodists Episcopal Zion, Colored Methodists Episcopal, Congregational Methodists Episcopal, the Presbyterians, and other denominations are very well supported by the colored people, and the church work has been a great help to the race since 1865.

I cannot give the amount of space to this phase of the so-called Negro problem that it deserves; but in order that my readers may get some idea of the development of the race along religious lines, I offer here a brief sketch of the Bethel A. M. E. Church, of Philadelphia, Pa., for this is a fair representation of church work among the colored people throughout the United States. And what is said of Bethel will apply to all other denominations in proportion to their membership.

BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH.

[Illustration: THE BEGINNING OF AFRICAN METHODISM.]

In November, 1787, the colored people belonging to the Methodist Society of Philadelphia (St. George's) convened together, in order to take into consideration the evils under which they labored, growing out of the unkind treatment of their white brethren, who considered them a nuisance in the house of worship, and even pulled them off their knees while in the act of prayer and ordered them to the back seats.

For these and various other acts of unchristian conduct, they considered it their duty to devise plans to build a house of their own, that they might worship God under their own vine and fig-tree unmolested.

The causes which produced Bethel were race prejudice on the one hand and an innate desire of the heart for religious liberty and determination on the other to be content with nothing less than an opportunity for the exercise of the fullest Christian manhood in the house of God.

Hence the organization in 1787 (November) of Bethel Society, the oldest colored church organization in America. In 1793, Richard Allen, a preacher and leading spirit among his brethren, proposed the erection of a house of worship on his own ground, at his own expense, which being acceded to by his brethren, the first church edifice was erected on the present site of Bethel, Sixth street below Pine, Philadelphia, Pa., which house of worship was duly consecrated and opened for divine service by Francis Asbury, the then Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the invitation of Richard Allen. And the house was named Bethel notwithstanding the severest persecutions at the hands of their white brethren for a number of years. Bethel continued to grow in usefulness and influence, both locally and generally. So that in the year 1816 the spirit of Allen and his coadjutors had become so powerful that the hour was ripe for the organization of a connection to carry on the work everywhere so well begun by Bethel in Philadelphia.

Rev. Richard Allen now became to the connection what he had been for twenty-five years to Bethel--the acknowledged and honored leader, as the first Bishop of the connection, Bethel remaining the pivotal centre, around which the spirit of religious liberty and Christian manhood revolved; ever extending its influence until, like in the family, all over the connection it came to be known and called by the endearing name of "Mother Bethel."

[Illustration: RICHARD ALLEN.]

This first Bethel served to meet the demands of the growing congregation up to 1841, when it was found expedient to rebuild, and June 2, 1841, the corner-stone of the Second Bethel Church was formally laid with appropriate ceremonies by Rt. Rev. Morris Brown, the acting Bishop, Bishop Allen having died in 1831. This church was completed in the following year at a cost of $14,000, the first church having been valued at about $10,000.

[Illustration: BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA. _Projected and Built under the Pastorate of Rev. C. T. Shaffer, M. D., D. D._]

A most remarkable feature of this church has been, that notwithstanding the fact that Union, Little Wesley (now Murray Chapel), Zion Chapel, and finally Allen Chapel, were all colonies from this church, all of which are now flourishing organizations, Bethel has maintained such a hold on the community as to carry a congregation commensurate with the capacity of the building, through the century of her history, and for more than half a century sustained a membership ranging from 1,500 to 1,600 strong.

For some years the congregation, and especially the more advanced thinkers, had felt the necessity of a new church, the old one being both unsightly and unsafe, though no practical efforts had been put forth in that direction until 1889.

The Rev. C. T. Shaffer, M. D., was appointed to the pastorate of Bethel, May, 1888. He at once set about unifying and organizing, for the purpose of rebuilding. He soon had plans laid, the church inspired with larger hope, so that the people had a mind to work. And, during his first year, had struck a blow for the new Bethel by conducting a rally, the money being banked for the building.

[Illustration: REV. C. T. SHAFFER, M. D., D. D.]

On his return from Conference, and entering his second year, on the first Sunday of June, he held another rally, the last service in the old Bethel. The next Sabbath worship was held in Horticultural Hall, on Broad street, adjoining the Academy of Music. The old Bethel was torn down, and, on August 8, 1889, at 9:15 A. M., ground was broken for the new building, excavations made, and on November 7, 1889, the corner-stone of the new Bethel was laid, with imposing ceremonies, by the Rt. Rev. H. M. Turner, D. D., LL. D., assisted by the pastor, C. T. Shaffer, D. D., and associate pastors of the city and vicinity, from which time there was hardly a day lost by the workmen until the church was completed, which was done and formally dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, October 23, 1890, and a congregation equal to the capacity of the new Bethel returned to continue the worship of God on this sacred spot which they have held in undisputed possession for one hundred and three years as a church site, and the first piece of ground ever bought, and now held for church purposes, by colored people in the United States, and on which three churches have been erected by the congregation: the first in 1793; the second in 1841-2; and the third in 1889-90. This building is heated throughout with steam, and is one of the most completely modern in all its appointments, solid and massive in construction, of this great city of churches, and has not a superior in the whole connection of which it is the mother.

The cost of this building was about $50,000 and it is valued to-day at $85,000.

The Revs. W. H. Heard, D. D., Consul General to Liberia, and W. D. Cook, D. D., have served with marked success as pastors since the erection of the New Bethel, and the Rev. Theo. Gould, who served this church very successfully twenty years ago, is its present pastor.

The connection of which this church is the mother has fourteen Bishops, eleven general secretaries of departments, 4,365 itinerants, and 15,885 local preachers, full membership, 543,604, probationers, 35,287; total membership, 599,141. Church edifices, 4,575, valuation, $8,650,155; parsonages, 1,650, value, $75,950; schools, colleges and universities, 41, value of buildings and grounds, $756,475; grand total valuation of property, $9,482,580.

What hath God not wrought!

Is not this the fulfilment of that prophecy, "And Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hand unto God?"

Verily it would seem so.

Dr. C. T. Shaffer, the builder of Bethel Church, has a very interesting history. I am only sorry that space will not admit of a full account of his life. He is a splendid type of manhood that shows what can be done by push and energy. Dr. Shaffer is a native of Ohio; in his younger days he learned and worked at the plastering trade and in that way earned money enough to educate himself and a younger sister. He graduated at Berea College. He also had the honor of serving his country as a soldier in our late war. As a pastor, he has held the largest and best appointments in the connection. While he was pastor of different churches in Philadelphia, he took advantage of the opportunity and read medicine, graduating with honor in a class of 208 in 1888 from the Jefferson Medical College, Phila. He has never engaged in the practice of his profession, although it would pay him far better than church work, but he feels called upon to serve his church. At the present time he is general corresponding secretary and treasurer of the church extension department. This department of church work he created and has been twice elected to fill his present position.

Before closing this