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liam Quinn, James Toroson, Robt. But- [ ler, Joseph Oliver, David Smith, Jacob Tapsico, John Messer, Sampson Peters, Adam Clincher, Zarah Hall, Julius Stewart, Daniel C. Hall, (Steward,) William Johnson, James Woolford, Samuel Ridley, Thomas Robinson, Abner Cooker.

In 1818, the whole number of preachers in the connection was 23, and the whole number of members was 6778. From thence the A. M. E. Church has béen gradually and steadily increasing in all her interests, so that now, in 1847, there are upwards of 300 preachers, 7 Annual Conferences, and upwards of 20,000 members, extending over thirteen states.

The A. M. E. Church has a book concern, and a magazine, edited by that man of God, the Rev. George Hogarth, general book steward of the connection. It has also 3 Education, and 7 Missionary Societies.

There are lands purchased in the State of Ohio for the establishment of a Manual Labor School, and an agent employed in collecting funds to establish another east of the Alleghany Mountains. Since the organization of the A. M. E. Church, it has had four bishops, namely: Bishop Richard Allen, who was ordained in 1816; Bishop Morris Brown, who was ordained in 1828; Bishop Edward Waters, who was ordained in 1836; and Bishop William P. Quinn, who was ordained in 1844. The first and third are dead, the second is superannuated, and now 77 years of age; the last is actively engaged in the eversight of the churches.

And may the great Head of the Church, who has led us thus far, still continue to shed the dews of his grace upon this little branch, until it shall become like the cedars of Lebanon in strength, and like the garden of the Lord in beauty, and fertility.

HISTORY

OF

THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

BY REV. JOHN J. MOORE, PHILADELPHIA, PA.

A compendious account of the rise, pro- | Methodist Episcopal Church, (White,) in gress, doctrines, government, and statistics of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in America, commonly known by the title of the Zion Wesley Methodist connection. I. History. Doctrines. III. Government.

II.

IV. Statistics.

I. HISTORY.-The mother Church of said denomination, commenced her formation in the city of New York, in A. D. 1796. From the following circumstances, the colored members connected with the

the city of New York, being considerable in number, and being limited in their Christian privileges and usefulness among themselves: not being privileged to improve their religious talents, on the account of those popular prejudices, existing against colored people, therefore they determined, from the suggestions of some of the most pious and intelligent of them, the propriety of having meeting among themselves, which they did, with the consent of Bishop Asbury: (Francis) for the full particulars of this movement, see History of said

connection, by Rev. Christopher Rush, published in New York. The leading men in this movement, were Francis Jacobs, William Brown, William Miller and others too tedious to name. In a short time after the commencement of this separate plan of worship, they secured a place of worship, where they held stated meetings; there were three licensed preachers, that conducted these meetings, with the permission of the white Bishop Asbury; they held their meetings on Sabbath, in the intermediate time of preaching in the white church; for the persons of color principally composing those meetings, were members connected with the white Methodist Church, and had to give their attention there, at its proper hours of worship, thus for several years they worshipped in this way; the white Church being their proper and permanent place of worship, but privileged to worship among themselves, in such places as they could secure for that purpose; which places of worship they had frequently to change from contingencies.

now stands, in the city of New York; the house was dedicated October, A. D. 1800, and titled the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. When the white ministers of the Methodist E. Church found that the colored brethren were determined upon becoming a separate society, they appointed Rev. John McClaskey, at their general conference, (who was a stationed elder in the city of New York,) to effect a stipulation with the trustees of the A. M. E. Zion Church, to secure the government spiritual part of said church to the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal Charch, and secure a union between the two bodies, so as to give the general conference ecclesiastical control over the former, from time to time. Accordingly he met them, (the trustees) on his mission, and in concert with them, he framed an article of agreement to that effect; for said article of agreement, see History of African Methodist Episcopal Church in America, by C. Rush, pages 17-24. An instrument was then drawn up by the trustees, to present to the master in Chancery, to obtain a charter of incorporation, which they received from the master in Chancery, as follows:

In pursuance of an act, entitled an Act to enable religious denomintions of this State, to appoint trustees, who shall be a body corporate, for the purpose of taking

In A. D. 1799, their number of memberships having greatly increased, and their disadvantages likewise, in the white Church. They therefore thought of building a house of worship for themselves, and to become a body corporate to themselves, distinct from the white Church, and accordingly a meeting of the colored breth-care of the temporalities of their respecren was called to consult on the matter: for the particulars in this move, see History of said Church, by Rev. C. Rush, page 11. The following were some of the leading men in this movement, George E. Moore, Thomas Sipkins, David Bias, Geo. White, Thomas Cook, John Teesman, George Colling. After mature reflection on the subject, they determined to be a body corporate, separate from the whites but under the government of the Methodist Episcopal Church; they also determined to be titled the African Methodist Episcopal Church; in this purpose they succeeded, and became a body corporate, separate to themselves, but governed by the discipline of the white Methodist Church. Being successful in procuring a lot of ground on the corner of Church and Leonard streets, they succeeded in erecting a Church on it, where the Zion Church

tive congregations, and for other purposes, therein mentioned, passed this 6th day of April, A. D., 1784. Public notice was given in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, (called Zion Church) of the city of New York, in the state of New York, as the aforesaid law directs; and we the subscribers, being nominated, and appointed agreeably to the foresaid act; inspectors for an election held in our place of meeting, the 8th day of September, A. D., 1800, do report and declare the fol lowing persons duly elected by a plurality of voices, to serve as trustees for the said church, viz:

Francis Jacobs, George Collins, Thomas Sipkins, George E. Moore, George White, David Bias, Peter Williams, Thomas Cook, William Brown, which said persons so elected and their successors in office, shall forever be styled and denominated,

the trustees of the corporation of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the city of New York.

Given under our hands and seals this the fifth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and one.

his

Peter X Williams, mark. Francis Jacobs.

State of New York, ss. on the sixteenth day of February, A. D., 1801, before me personally came Peter Williams and Francis Jacobs, to me known to be the persons within described, and who executed the within conveyance, who duly acknowledge the same, and there being no material erasures or interlineations therein,

I do allow it to be recorded.

[signed] James M. Hughes,

Master in Chancery.

Recorded in the office of the Clerk of the city and county of New York, in lib. No. 1 of incorporations of religious denominations, page 28, this ninth day of March, A. D., 1801.

[signed] Robert Benson, Clerk.

Thus the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was established distinct from the whites in their temporalities, (government of) but under the spiritual government of the white General Conference. Thus they remained for a number of years, during which time, their efforts to promote the kingdom of Christ, were crowned with the utmost success. In A. D., 1820, the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, (white) met according to usual mode, during the sitting of which, several resolutions were passed, in that body, which were considered, by the more pious and wise portion of members, as detrimental to the general prosperity of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but they had the majority in favor of their passage. The most important of those resolutions, was a resolve that a petition be drawn up and subscribers obtained by the preachers, and the said memorial to be presented to the legislature of New York, praying them to pass a special act, on the incorporation of religious bodies, to suit the peculiarities of the Methodist discipline, giving the

preachers more power over the temporalities of said Methodist Episcopal Church, this resolution was highly objectionable by many of the ministers, common officiary, and laity of said church, and created great dissatisfaction, which resulted in a schism in the said church. The trustees of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, hearing of this movement were equally dissatisfied; also the entire officiary and laity of said church, knowing that it would deprive the trustees of the right of the control of the temporalities of the church, and effect the general prosperity of their church. The trustees therefore called a meeting to consult on the subject, and to adopt such measures as might avert the impending danger; after the trustees meeting; the entire officiary were convened, to consult on the matter, then the laity with all of which there was a concomitancy of conclusions, as to the impropriety of this movement of General Conference; (white) and also as to the danger of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, if she continued in connection with the white bishops and conference for further particulars in the case. See History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, by Rev. C. C. Rush, pages 40-45.-On Friday evening, July 21st, A. D., 1820. The official members of said church were convened pursuant to a call, and after duly consid ering the case, they unanimously agreed upon the following:

Whereas, a very grievous Resolution was passed in the last general conference of the M. E. Church, and acted upon by the annual conference of the New York district, the substance of which was, that a memorial be drawn up, and subscribers obtained by the preachers, and the same to be presented at the next session of the State Legislature of New York, praying it to pass a special Act of incorporation to suit the peculiarities of the Methodist discipline; to give the preacher more authority to exercise their functions in the Church; and so change the present manner of conducting the temporalities of the said Church, that the trustees or stewards appointed, (according to the contemplated mode of the above memorial,) will hold the property of the society, for the preachers in conference instead of the members

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