chapter I

wish to mention the names of the general officers of the A. M. E. Church, in order that my readers who may not be familiar with the great work of the "African Methodist Episcopal Church" may form some idea what a work is being done, also a better knowledge of the men who stand at the head of the connection. I only wish I had the space to give a short history of each of the men whose names will be mentioned. To begin with, the church has fourteen Bishops, who are all able men, and we head our list with the senior Bishop, H. M. Turner, D. D., LL. D., who is a native of South Carolina. He was never a slave. I regard Bishop Turner as one of the most remarkable men I have ever met. He was the first colored man appointed a commissioned officer by President Lincoln, his appointment was as Chaplain of the First United States Infantry during the late war. When mustered out he was recommissioned a Chaplain in the regular service of the United States Army by President Johnson. He has been a member of the Georgia Constitutional Convention, and has served two terms as a member of the Georgia Legislature, was twice appointed to positions of honor by President Grant. He now represents the Liberian Government in the United States. He at one time was the manager of the publishing department of the A. M. E. Church, and was consecrated a Bishop in 1880. So it is very easy to see that Bishop Turner has led a busy and useful life. I have been personally acquainted with the Bishop for years, and I am only one of thousands who know him to love him. In the State of Georgia, where Bishop Turner resides, I found him very much thought of by the leading white people.

Bishop W. J. Gaines, D.D., is a native of Georgia and at one time was owned by that famous Toombs family. His first work in the church was in a very humble way, that of member. As a preacher he did a great deal for the church in Georgia. He wrote a book on African Methodism in the South that was both interesting and useful. It was through the efforts of Bishop Gaines that Morris Brown College was established at Atlanta. He was elected as Bishop in 1888.

Bishop B. W. Arnett, D.D., is a native of Pennsylvania and is entirely a self-made man. He, like Bishop Turner, has held some high positions of honor. He was at one time a member of the Ohio Legislature and while serving his district in that capacity he introduced a bill, known as the Arnett Bill, that wiped out the old and infamous black laws that were a disgrace to the State of Ohio. Just before he was elected Bishop in 1888, he served the church as financial secretary. He is the father of several very intelligent sons. Is also very active in Christian Endeavor work.

Bishop B. T. Tanner, D. D., is also a native of Pennsylvania. He began life as a barber, and has held every position from lay member up to the Bishopric. He was editor of the _A. M. E. Review_, and at one time editor of the _Recorder_, the church organ. Bishop Tanner was elected in 1888 as Bishop. Few men in this country have been harder students than Bishop Tanner; he has a magnificent library, and one can see at once that he has taken advantage of his fine collection of books, and is regarded by the connection a very able man.

Bishop A. Grant, D.D., is a native of Florida and was born a slave and, what makes this man more remarkable, was born in an ox-cart, while his poor mother was being taken from one plantation to another where she had been sold. Some men are born to lead others, and it would seem that Bishop Grant was one of them. I have never met any man who had such a magnetic influence over his hearers. I had the pleasure of being present at the A. M. E. Missionary Jubilee held at Ocean Grove, July 24th, 1896, when the Bishop presided, and his address to the thousands who heard it was a gem. He was elected Bishop in 1888.

Bishop M. B. Salter, D.D., was elected to the Bishopric in 1892. He is a native of South Carolina, and he too was born a slave. His owner was a watchmaker, and he taught the trade to Mr. Salter when he was a young man; that of course made him a valuable piece of property. And when freedom came it was a great blessing to Mr. Salter to have a trade. Bishop Salter grew in the church from the walks of a member up to the Bishopric, and is much loved by men under him.

Bishop Jas. A. Handy, D.D., was elected Bishop in 1892. He is a native of Maryland, and I am told never had any schooling except what he got in night school. He is regarded as a very able man, and is a great lover of education. He at one time represented the church as its financial secretary, and when in the ministry was pastor of some of the largest churches in the connection.

Bishop B. F. Lee, D.D., is a native of New Jersey. He went when a young man to Wilberforce University, Ohio, to obtain an education, but being poor, he had to work his way through. In thirteen years from the time he went there as a student he was elected President of the University. He was for quite a number of years editor of the _Christian Recorder_. Bishop Lee was made a Bishop in 1892 and I am sure the church never did a better thing for its interest than to elect him. He is not only a Christian, but a magnificent scholar.

Bishop J. C. Embry, D.D., who was elected as Bishop in 1896, was one of the most profound scholars in the church. For twelve years he managed the A. M. E. Book Concern in Philadelphia, Pa. He only lived about two years after his election.

Bishop J. H. Armstrong, D.D., was elected as Bishop in 1896. For four years he had filled the office of financial secretary with great credit to himself. He lived about three years after his election.

Bishop W. B. Derrick, D.D., was elected Bishop in 1896 by a very large vote. For eight years he had been secretary of Missions. Dr. Derrick was known far and wide as a powerful orator, and has been associated in great meetings with some of our greatest white leaders. I give here a beautiful tribute he paid to the American flag, on one occasion.

"The American flag has been washed, and cleansed from the foul stain of Negro slavery until it is to-day among the most beautiful of national emblems. The stars represent the stars of heaven; the blue the sky; the white a higher Christian civilization; the red the blood of the various nationalities who fought to make the principles of the Republic more lofty and enduring. It is our purpose to continue agitating until beneath its silken folds shall stand as equals before the law the inventive German, the wily and industrious Irishman, the trafficking and cunning Jew, the musical and wandering Italian, the polite Frenchman, the hospitable and tenacious Englishman, the granite-minded and scholarly Scotchman, the pagan Chinese, the unconquered Indian, and last, but not least, the industrious, kind-hearted and forgiving Negro."

Bishop Evans Tyree, D.D., was elected as Bishop in 1900. He was born Aug. 19, 1854, of slave parents, and was twice sold as a slave. His education was received at Central Tennessee College. Bishop Tyree never held a general office before his election as Bishop. He received a very large vote--in fact the largest ever given any one man.

Bishop M. M. Moore, D.D., was elected to the bishopric in 1900. For four years he had served the church as financial secretary. He was a native of Georgia. He was elected Bishop in May, 1900, and died in November of the same year.

Bishop Charles S. Smith, D.D., who is a native of Canada, was elected as Bishop in 1900. He was for seventeen years manager of the _Sunday-School Union_, a department of church work he created. As a scholar he is regarded as one of the best in this connection.

Bishop C. T. Shaffer, M.D., D.D., was elected as Bishop in 1900. He had been for eight years secretary of the church extension department. Splendid mention of Bishop Shaffer will be found on page 383 of this book.

Bishop L. J. Coppin, D.D., who was for eight years editor of the _A. M. E. Church Review_, was elected as Bishop in 1900. Mention of his life and work can be found on page 359 of this book.

Rev. H. B. Parks, who is a very able man and was for years a prominent pastor, is now secretary of the missionary department.

Rev. R. H. W. Leak, of North Carolina, is now business manager of the A. M. E. Publishing House, 631 Pine street, Philadelphia, Pa.

Rev. P. A. Hubbard is secretary of the financial department of the church located at Washington, D.C.

Prof. John R. Hawkins, A.M., secretary of education, is mentioned on page 132 of this book.

Rev. W. D. Chappelle, D.D., of South Carolina, is secretary of the _Sunday-School Union_, at Nashville, Tenn.

Rev. H. T. Johnson, D.D., Ph.D., editor of the _Christian Recorder_, is mentioned on page 356.

Prof. H. T. Kealing, editor of the _A. M. E. Church Review_, is mentioned on page 373.

Rev. G. E. Taylor is editor of the _Southern Christian Record_, located at Atlanta, Ga.

Rev. John T. Jenifer, D.D., is Secretary of the Preachers' Aid Society, located at Baltimore, Md. I regret that, for want of space, I am not able to give a more extensive account of the general officers, who are all worthy men, and most of them have been prominent pastors, holding charge of some of the largest churches in the connection.

The next largest body of Methodists among Colored people is the A. M. E. Zion Church, which is organized on the same principle as the A. M. E. Church, with an able force of Bishops. They also have a publishing department, located at Charlotte, N.C.

Bishop J. W. Hood, D.D., stands as the leading spirit of the Zion connection. He has done a great work for the church and the race at large. He is the author of two books, in the way of a book of Sermons and a history of the Zion Church.

Bishop C. R. Harris, D.D., is a graduate and was, before his election to the Bishopric, connected with educational work at Livingstone College, also general steward of the Zion Church.

Bishop C. C. Petty, D.D., is also a graduate and before he was made Bishop was one of the leading pastors.

Bishop I. C. Clinton, of South Carolina, has been one of the most useful men in the connection as a church builder and organizer.

Bishop A. Walters, D.D., was, when elected, the youngest Bishop in the country. He is a very energetic and hard worker for the cause of his Church.

Bishop T. H. Lomax, of N.C., is also known as a church builder. At their last General Conference at Mobile, Ala., in May, 1896, they elected three new Bishops in the persons of Rev. George W. Clinton, D.D., Rev. J. B. Small, D.D., and Rev. J. Holliday.

Rev. Clinton I have known for years, and I regard him by far one of the ablest men in the connection, both as a speaker and writer.

Rev. J. B. Small is one of the best scholars in the country, and should have been a Bishop long ago.

William Howard Day, who is mentioned in another part of my book, is their financial secretary, and Rev. J. W. Smith, also mentioned, is editor of the _Star of Zion_.

Bishop J. W. Alstork was elected as Bishop at the last General Conference, held by the A. M. E. Zion Church in 1900, at Washington, D.C. Rev. Alstork is regarded an able man.

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