Читать книгу The Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists of Alabama: Their Leaders and Their Work - Charles Octavius Boothe - Страница 53

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True, our white brethren were hindered by the wild forests, which were pathless and bridgeless, fieldless and cribless, and by the savage beasts and friendless red men, as well as by the slowness of travel, but after all, we may be permitted to compare our progress with our white brethrens’ struggles on educational and missionary lines; and I think the foe will feel more hopeful of us, while the friend will see reason for encouragement and pleasure. The white Convention organized in Salem Church, near Greensboro, in October, 1823, but they did not begin a school till 1834—eleven years. We organized in 1868 and started a school in 1878—ten years. Their school continued only about five years, when their property was sold to pay their school debts. Our school still continues at this writing—1895. In 1839, they passed a resolution to encourage young men to study for the ministry under capable pastors, and the money of the Convention was ordered to be paid out in support of operations on this line.

They now owe on Howard College, so I am informed, some $30,000 or $40,000 in the form of a bonded debt, the interest on which they find it hard to pay. Indeed, I very much regret to hear that they are thinking of making an assignment in the interest of their creditors. On careful examination of the records of the Convention, we come upon the following important facts and lessons:

1. The blindness of the leadership as to the work to be done.

In the jubilee meeting, Rev. H. Stevens, said: “When I resolved in 1868 to meet the call of the Montgomery Church for a Convention of delegates, I didn’t see what we could do. I went only out of some sort of curiosity to meet other brethren and to look on. I got a little light before I reached Montgomery, as I listened to some things Brother McAlpine had to say along the way. And I was not much better off when the Convention closed. I did not know what they were talking about one-half the time.” But few saw one inch ahead. The horizon increased only as we advanced. We grew up with the growth of the work.

2. The power of faith to give form and fixedness to ponderous enterprises.

We vacillated till Brother Woodsmall appeared, so far at least as our school project was concerned. As the queen bee draws together her wandering swarm and fixes them in settled habitation and orderly toil, so did this saintly man do for the colored Baptists of Alabama. And his spirit is still among us.

3. Progress is born of progress.

Because we gained one step, we gained another step. Because we made it to the top of one mountain, we could therefore make it to the top of another.