Chatham County GaArchives History .....The 1st African Baptist Church, Chapter XII 1925
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 11, 2004, 10:09 pm

CHAPTER XII.

   The question of a successor to Dr. Love was one of the most puzzling that
ever confronted Mother Zion. There were many able preachers and pastors in
Georgia, as able as any in the Union. But most of them were in the northern
section of the state and belonged to that wing of the denomination that was
hostile to Dr. Love and his policies in Georgia, especially as they related to
the unity of the convention and the attitude toward the American Baptist Home
Mission Society of New York. Almost any minister in the country would have
regarded it an honor to be extended the call. But who would it be? There were
thousands of aspirants and many visitors, some by invitation and some by chance.

   Indiana at this time was the home of a very able minister, the Rev. James
Wesley Carr, D. D., who enjoyed the distinction of being a national evangelist.
It was arranged that he should come and conduct a revival at the First Church.
He organized the forces, and through his preaching and leadership, the church
was revived and many souls professed Christ. After making it a matter of earnest
prayer, the First African Baptist Church extended him a unanimous call during
the year, 1901.

   Being a fervent preacher, Dr. Carr kept the church alive, and through several
revival efforts, added many souls to the membership. The church, having disposed
of the palatial brick parsonage on Montgomery Street, under Dr. Carr's
administration and his suggestion, purchased the present very beautiful and
valuable property at 717 West Broad Street, which is still the most attractive
Negro Baptist pastorium in Georgia. Also during his administration, our present
very attractive and well appointed oak pews were purchased and installed.

   Dr. Carr was of pleasing personality, quite jovial and very polite, even to
aged women and children. Mrs. Carr was a pleasant and gifted woman, and proved
to be a very valuable asset to her distinguished husband. They held the people
together and built up the church. Many in the church today point to Dr. Carr
as-the bearer of the gospel torch that first lit up their pathway and directed
them in the way of grace and truth.

   He passed away August 26,1907, full of good works and greatly loved and
honored.


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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