Chatham County GaArchives History .....The 1st African Baptist Church, Chapter IX 1925 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 11, 2004, 9:08 pm CHAPTER IX. Of all the great men who have been called to the service of the First African Baptist Church, —and all were great—without doubt the most prominent and aggressive of all was the Rev. Emanuel King Love, D. D., successor to Rev. George Gibbons. Dr: Love was born of humble parents near Marion, Ala., July 27, 1850. He was baptized by Rev. W. H. Mclntosh one Sunday afternoon in July, 1868, and tried to preach that night. He was soon licensed and won distinction as a boy preacher. Developing a burning desire for an education, he went to school at night to friendly white people and by diligent study advanced rapidly. In 1871, he entered Lincoln Institute at Marion. After five months his money gave out and he went to ditching to secure money to continue his education. Encouraged by his pastor and church, he matriculated in Augusta Institute, Augusta, Ga., now Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga., November 18, 1872, and graduated at the head of his class in June, 1877. He served his home church during the summer of 1876 and declined a unanimous call to its pastorate that he might return to school and finish his course. During the summer of 1877, he was appointed a State Missionary for Georgia by the Home Mission Society of New York and the Mission Board of the white state convention of Georgia. He filled this position with distinction till July of 1879 when he resigned to accept the pastorate of the First African Baptist Church, Thomasville, Ga. He remained in Thomasville till October 1, 1881, having baptized 450 members, remodelled the house of worship, and brought the church -into great prominence. He resigned this church to accept a position as colporteur for the American Baptist Publication Society of Philadelphia. In this capacity, he continued for four years winning great distinction and giving complete satisfaction. Dr. Love had already been a favorite of the First African Baptist Church of Savannah, having frequently preached here arid assisted in revival meetings here. When Kev. Gibbons was stricken he had closed a meeting here within less than a week. Hence as was to have been expected, Mother Zion extended him a call and on October 1, 1885, he took up the pastorate of this, at that time, the largest and most prominent Negro church in the United States. Dr. Love found some opposers on the field when he arrived; for there were some who stubbornly objected to the call. Then too, there were still some smouldering embers of the fire that racked the church in Rev. Campbell's lifetime. Endeavoring to placate these objectors and win the whole church, the new minister influenced the church to erect a monument to Rev. Campbell; and by wise and affectionate leadership and forceful preaching, he soon welded all factions together. In a series of revival meetings he baptized several hundred. The church was enthused and his future was secure. Mother .Zion was in her bloom, and crowds that taxed the capacity of the edifice and often overflowed it flocked to hear Dr. Love. It was soon evident that more room was necessary. The church bought an adjoining lot in the rear and added 26 1-2 ft. to the rear of the building at a cost of $18,000, the work being completed in time for the great Centennial of 1888. Also during his pastorate, galleries extending around three sides of the church were erected, and beautiful memorial windows were put in. Elaborate stone steps, a vestibule, a belfry extending into a spire 100 feet high were built, and a bronze bell, weighing 1,067 lbs. was installed. Then the whole structure was painted within and without and presented a picture becoming the Mother Church of all the Negro Baptists of North America, and the world. Dr. Love was not only a great builder, he was a great organizer and leader of men. Congenial, jovial and commanding, he was easily the center of attraction of almost any group. Thus he became the favorite of hosts of men of many sections and held many positions of trust. He served with credit the Vice Presidency of the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Georgia for many years, and was elected President of that body in Atlanta, 1893. He was a "stormy petrel" in Georgia Baptist affairs for several years, and when that body split, he was elected President of the majority group, retaining the original name, which position he held till his death. He was one of the organizers of the Baptist Foreign Mission Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1880, also for several years he served that body as President. It was he who in St. Louis, Mo., September 28,1896, offered the motion in the National Baptist Convention to establish the National Baptist Publishing Board. Dr. Love was the prime mover in the petition of Negroes to induce the State of Georgia to establish what is now the Georgia State Industrial College for Negroes. He led in the raising of sufficient funds to insure its location in Savannah, and was instrumental in the selection of Prof. R. R. Wright to be its first President. Dr. Love fostered a sentiment to have a Negro President of Atlanta Baptist Seminary, now More-house College, but at this time he had lost much of his prestige in the state because of unfortunate charges and sensational controversies through the press and on the platform with the powerful Dr. C. H. Lyons, a cousin, and others. After this controversy and during a prolonged contention, Central City College came into being, and Prof William E. Holmes was elected President in Macon in 1899. Dr. Love was also a successful social and political leader. For years, his influence was the greatest single political force in Savannah. He made and unmade mayors and aldermen, greatly influencing the administration of the city. He was also a prominent figure in state and national Republican Conventions. He was a tireless debater and a wonderful preacher, forceful and persuasive, being in great demand for special sermons and addresses. He was also a vigorous writer, serving at one time as Associate Editor of the Augusta Weekly Sentinel. He established and published the National Watchman in Albany before coming to Savannah; and after becoming President of the State Baptist Convention, he edited The Baptist Truth which developed a wide circulation. His greatest written work is the "History of the First African Baptist Church," which was published in 1888. Additional Comments: From: THE FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA BY REV. EDGAR GARFIELD THOMAS, A. B., B. D. SAVANNAH, GEORGIA Copyright, 1925 By E. G. Thomas, Author. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/chatham/history/other/gms380the1staf.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 7.1 Kb