Chatham County GaArchives History .....The 1st African Baptist Church, Chapter XI 1925
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CHAPTER XI

   At the meeting of the State Convention in May before the Centennial in June,
1888, Rev. W. S. Ramsey, of Columbus, offered a motion that since the Centennial
must be held in honor of some church as the oldest in Savannah, and as both the
First African Baptist Church, Franklin Square, and the First Bryan Baptist
Church on  Bryan St., Yamacraw, claim to be the original First African Baptist
Church, that a committee of brethren be appointed before whom both claimants
should go in person and with papers that the right church may be determined. The
convention adopted the resolution and appointed the following brethren as that
committee: Revs. F. M. Simmons, Stone Mountain; E. J. Fisher, La Grange; W. S.
Ramsey, Columbus; N. B. Williamson, Quitman; H. B. Hamilton, Walthourville; S,
A. McNeal, Augusta; and C. H. Brightharp, Milledgeville. Dr. Love with his
documents came at the committee's call, but Rev. James M. Simms, representing  
the First Bryan Baptist Church, gave notice that the representatives of that
church would not appear before the committee.

The committee, however, having the book he had just published, purporting to be
the history of the oldest Colored Baptist church in North America, which book
set forth his claims as cogently as he possibly could have done, put this book
in evidence, examined all claims carefully and proceeded to make the following
report which was unanimously adopted:

REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

   We, your committee, to whom was referred the matter of priority of the First
Bryan Baptist Church on Bryan Street, in Yamacraw, or the First African Baptist
Church at Franklin Square, beg to submit the following report:

   Having the facts in the case, which we think are conclusive, we earnestly
state that the conclusion to which your committee has arrived was caused solely
from the facts at their command. We regret to state that one of the parties
refused to appear before your committee, notwithstanding being urged upon,
namely, Rev. J. M. Simms, for the First Bryan Church in Yamacraw. It does strike
us that men feeling that they had a good case would not refuse to be examined.
These brethren have openly and defiantly refused in the presence of the
convention to lay their case before you or the committee, declaring that you
have nothing to do with it, and they had nothing for you to decide. Your
committee to perform their work, having seen the book written by Rev. J. M.
Simms purporting to be the true history of the oldest colored Baptist church in
North America, feels that the book makes their case as strong as they could
possibly make it. We find that the church organized at Brampton's barn, three
miles southwest of Savannah, January 1788, is the same First African Baptist
Church today. This fact is admitted by the book which Rev. Simms has written.
Until 1832 there was no dispute about the first African Baptist Church, but in
the year, 1832 a great trouble occurred which continued for several months. Many
councils were called, who advised again and again a course, which, if pursued,
would restore peace to the grand old army, then numbering 2,795 members divided
into parties, the one led by Rev. Andrew Cox Marshall, and the other by Deacon
Adam Arguile Johnson; two thousand six hundred and forty following Rev. Marshall
and one hundred and fifty-five following Deacon Johnson. It appears to your
committee, from the evidence found, that before this trouble the church had
contracted to buy the white Baptist church located at Franklin Square, hence,
when the trouble occurred, Rev. Mr. Marshall and his 2,640 members went to
Franklin Square, still owning the site on Bryan Street, in Yamacraw. The white
Baptist church of this city took a lively interest in the church, and tried to
spare it of all this bitter pain and heartache, an accurate account of which has
been carefully preserved in their church records, which have been in the hands
of your committee and carefully read, which we now offer in testimony. We read
from the minute book of the white Baptist church: "In the conference of the
white Baptist church, Dec. 24, 1832, an application was made that the minority
of the First African Church be received as a branch of this church, when it was
decided that it was proper that they first be formed into a church and afterward
could come under the supervision of a committee."

   They being refused admittance under the supervision of the White Baptist
church, it appears quite clear that the white brethren began to labor with both
parties, hence the following petition of the First African Baptist Church,
January 4, 1833. The First African Baptist Church addressed the following letter
to the Savannah Baptist Church, white:

   "We, the subscribers of the First African Baptist Church, do solicit the aid
and protection of our brethren, the Baptist church of Savannah. We propose to
come under the supervision of a committee of your body, provided you will
receive us on the terms and conditions following:

   "1st. That we be independent in our meetings; that is, that we receive and
dismiss our members, and elect and dismiss our own officers, and finally manage
our own concerns, independently; however, with this restriction: In case any
measure is taken by us which shall seem to militate against our good standing as
a church of Christ, we shall submit it to a committee of five members, whom we
shall choose out of the Baptist Church of Savannah, whose counsel we bind
ourselves to follow, provided it be not contrary to the precepts of the gospel.

   "2nd. We agree to hold no meetings for discipline or other purposes until we
have duly notified by writing, one member of the Baptist church, selected by
said church, to be present and agreeing not to pursue any measure such delegated
member shall deem improper until we shall have had council of the above named
committee.

   "3rd. We agree to relinquish to the minority of this body all our rights and
title to the old church so soon as they shall agree to give up and do relinquish
to us all rights and title to the newly purchased one, and when we are put in
full and free possession of it and our trustees, William H. Stiles, Peter
Mitchell and John Williamson, shall satisfy us that they have good and
sufficient titles.

   "4th. We agree to dismiss all members and such as have been members of our
church, that they may either join another or form a new Baptist church, and as
soon as such church shall be satisfied with and receive them, they shall be
dismissed from us."

   This being accepted by both parties, the minority of the First African
Baptist Church was organized into the Third Baptist Church, for in the minutes
of the white Baptist church, January 28, 1833, appears the following resolution:

   "Resolved, That, inasmuch as the minority of the First African (now the
Third) Church have conformed to the requirements of this church in constituting
themselves into a church, be received under the supervision of this body upon
the same terms as the First African Church."

   The 155 was always after the trouble of 1832 called the minority of the First
African Church until they were organized into a church, when they became the
Third African Baptist Church. To this name they offered no objection, nor for
thirty years was the slightest protest offered of their being known and called
the "Third African Baptist Church." In 1833 they entered Sunbury Baptist
Association as such, and their church was always recorded in their minutes as
the Third African Baptist Church." The Sunbury Association expelled the First
African Baptist Church in November, 1832, as the First African Baptist Church.
Every reference to this church in public or in the minutes of the Savannah
Baptist Church book is as the First African Baptist Church. The Third Church
themselves complained against the First African Baptist Church as the First
African Baptist Church. Reverend Simms in his book admits that the 155 above
mentioned were organized as the Third Church; that is, he admits the
reorganization. Your committee has seen a sketch of the First African Baptist
Church from its organization in 1788 till toward the close of the administration
of Rev. W. J. Campbell about 1877, in Rev. Simms' own handwriting, without any
reference to the First Bryan Baptist Church. It appears passing strange to your
committee that if the First Bryan Baptist Church is the First African Baptist
Church that they do not and have not called themselves by that name. The pastor
of the First African Baptist Church has shown your committee the deed of the
First African Baptist Church to the spot of ground which the First Bryan Baptist
Church now occupies. With all of these facts and as many more which have come
before your committee as candid, God fearing men, we feel in honor bound to
decide that the First African Baptist Church at Franklin Square is the original
First African Baptist Church, organized at Brampton barn, January 20,1788, by
Rev. Abraham Marshall and Rev. Jesse Peter, whose centennial anniversary we have
gathered to celebrate. We decide, therefore, that the claim of priority of the
First Bryan Baptist Church, which has given itself this name since the
Emancipation and the claim of the book written by Rev. J. M. Simms, of being the
oldest church (colored) in North America is without foundation.

      Signed, your committee,
                                      REV. F. M. SIMMONS,
                                      Chairman.

CLIPPING FROM THE "SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS," JUNE 3, 1888.

First African Baptist Church of Savannah Has the Honor.

   "There was some show of feeling in the final settlement in the African
Missionary Baptist State Convention yesterday of the question as to which is the
oldest church organized in the state, and the First African Baptist Church of
Savannah carried off the honors.

   "Last Thursday the question was presented to the convention and on Friday it
was referred to the following committee: Rev. F. M. Simmons, Stone Mountain;
Rev. W. S. Ramsey, Columbus; Rev. H. B. Hamilton, Walthourville; Rev. S. A.
McNeal, Augusta; Rev. E. J. Fisher, LaGrange; Rev: C. T. Walker, Augusta; Rev.
N. B. Williamson, Quitman; Rev. G. T. Johnson, Arlington; and Rev. C. H.
Brightharp, Milledgeville.

   "Yesterday afternoon the committee presented a unanimous report in favor of
the First African Baptist Church, in which it said: "We find that the church
organized at Brampton barn, three miles southwest of Savannah, January 20,1788,
is the First African Baptist Church of today. This fact is admitted by the work
which Rev. Simms has written. Up to 1832 there was no dispute about the First
African Baptist Church, but in 1832 a great trouble occurred which continued for
several months. Many councils were called, which advised again and again a
course which, if pursued, would restore peace to the grand old army then
numbering 2,795 members.

Two Factions.

   "This was divided into two parties, the one led by Rev. Andrew Cox Marshall,
and the other by Deacon Adam Johnson, 2,640 following Rev. Marshall and 155
following Deacon Johnson and known as the Third African Baptist Church. It
appears to your committee, from the evidence found, that before this trouble the
church had contracted to buy the white Baptist church- then located on Franklin
Square; hence when this trouble occurred, Rev. Marshall and his 2,640 members
went to Franklin Square, still owning the site on Bryan Street in Yamacraw. The
pastor of the First African Baptist Church has shown your committee the deeds of
the First African Baptist Church to the spot of ground which the First Bryan
Baptist Church now occupies. With all these facts and many more which have come
before your committee, as candid, Godfearing men we feel honor bound to decide
that the First African Baptist Church at Franklin Square is the original First
African Baptist Church organized at Brampton's barn, January 20, 1788, by Rev.
Abraham Marshall and Rev. Jesse Peter, whose centennial anniversary we have
gathered together to celebrate. We decide therefore that the claim of priority
of the First Baptist Church (which has given itself this name since
Emancipation) and the claim of the book written by Rev. J. M. Simms of being the
oldest colored church in North America is without foundation.

   "When the report was read, it brought Rev. Simms to his feet with blood in
his eye. He said the committee had been packed in the interest of the First
African Baptist Church, and that the committee had been prejudiced by the
ex-bishop of Georgia, alluding to Rev. E. K. Love, Vice President of the
Convention and pastor of the church. He spoke for half an hour with great
vehemence and was frequently interrupted by indignant members of the convention.
Calls for order and denials and interruptions flowed thick and fast. In vain,
the President, Rev. J. C. Bryan of Americus, and Vice President Love appealed to
the convention to hear Rev. Simms, but it howled him down, and the report of the
committee was unanimously adopted.

   "The President took the occasion to say that the only side which had
attempted to pack the committee was the Simm's side, that Rev. Love had not
suggested a single member of the committee, but that the Simms1 side had
suggested two persons, and one of these had been appointed to gratify them.

   " ‘This I would not have made public to the convention,' " said President
Bryan, *had not the charge been made that the committee had been packed, and I
tell it now in vindication of the committee.'

   Among the documentary evidence submitted by the First African Baptist Church
was a deed, yellow with age and honeycombed by moths, dated July 3,1797, being a
deed by Andrew Bryan, a free black man, to the trustees of the First African
Baptist Church of lot 7 in Yamacraw village for a consideration of 30 pounds,
also a sketch of the church written by Rev. Simms when he was friendly to it."
                            —Savannah Morning News, June 3,1888.

   Little did Dr. Love think when he offered the resolution to celebrate the
centennial of Baptist life in Georgia that it would fall to him to perform so
conspicuous a part in that celebration. But Providence directed. No fitter man
could have been found. True to his loving oversight of this precious branch of
the Vine, God brought love "into the kingdom for such a time as this." The
triumphant success of this wonderful program and the apostolic utterance of the
states-manic report of the Special Committee on the controversy gave
satisfaction and dignity to the denomination, brought prominence and renown to
Mother Zion, and increased the fame and popularity of the eminent pastor, Rev.
Emanuel King Love, D. D.

   Having lived an eventful life with still a full and ambitious program ahead,
while yet in the midst of an active career and at the zenith of national fame,
all that was mortal of Dr. Love ceased to move, April 24th, 1900. His death was
a shock to the entire nation; and many distinguished clergymen from remote parts
of the country came to do honor to this son of the denomination and race, led by
Dr. C. S. Wilkins, Vice President and other leaders of the Missionary Baptist
State Convention of Georgia; perhaps no funeral in the state ever assembled a
larger multitude of both ministers and laymen than his, while prominent
clergymen and statesmen, white and black, heaped encomiums upon this fallen
chieftain and portrayed in rosy colors his wonderful achievements and heroic
deeds. The church, according to its reverent custom, bore the expense of the
elaborate funeral, and installed a marble tablet in the walls of the church to
his memory, inserted his portrait in a memorial window and placed a life size
bust in a cove near the pulpit he so ably filled for fifteen years. Thus ended
the activities of, doubtless, the most remarkable preacher that ever lived in
Georgia.


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.


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