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

Boards and Auxiliary Societies.

   Next in importance to the pastor in any church is the Board of Deacons. This
was their rank in the first church at Jerusalem and in the organization of the
other apostolic churches of the New Testament. Besides the pastor's theirs are
the only other qualifications catalogued.

Deacon Samson Bryan.

   In the First African Baptist Church, many deacons have distinguished
themselves. The first deacon of this church appears to have been Samson Bryan, a
brother of Rev. Andrew Bryan, who was baptized by Rev. George Leile during his
pastorate, (First African Baptist History, p. 163). He was meek and strong in
the faith, sharing with his brother the severe trials and persecutions of those
earlier days. He died early in the nineteenth century. Others serving the church
about that time were Somerset Bryan, Dick Nethercliff, Charles Golish, Josiah
Lloyd and others.

Deacon Adam Johnson.

   Another deacon whose name will ever remain conspicuous in the annals of the
church is Adam Johnson. He was baptized by Rev. Andrew Bryan, and was pious,
zealous and faithful. For years he was a staunch friend of Pastor Marshall, but
disagreeing with him in the controversy of 1832, broke with the pastor and led
155 members out of the church and organized the Third African Baptist Church in
January, 1833. In that church also he was a very faithful and prominent member.
He died March 18, 1853.

Deacon James M. Simms.

   Rev. James M. Simms, author of "the First Colored Baptist Church of North
America," the Bryan history, was baptized by Rev. A. C. Marshall on the first
Sunday in April, 1841 and was ordained a deacon, January 29, 1860. He was never
very pious, but quite intelligent. He was a fine carpenter and had charge of the
wood work in the construction of our present brick edifice which was completed
in 1859. This work is executed with great skill and taste. He purchased his
freedom for $740 in 1857. He was licensed to preach by the church in 1863.
During this same year he was fined $50.00 for teaching members of his race to
read. During the war, he ran the blockade and got away to Boston and joined the
Union army, serving a year before the emancipation. While in Boston he was
ordained to .the gospel ministry, and in 1865 returned with a commission from
the American Baptist Home Mission Society to labor in these parts among the
Negroes. The First African Baptist Church refused to honor the foreign
ordination, and Rev. W. J. Campbell wrote the society and had the commission
cancelled. Rev. Simms then went into politics, where he exhibted great skill and
was elected to the Georgia Legislature, where he served several terms with
marked ability. Governor Bullock appointed him a judge, but the legislature
abolished the jurisdiction before he was able to hold a term of court.

   Rev. Simms finally got a letter of dismission and united with the First Bryan
Church, Rev. U. L. Houston, Pastor. They recognized his ordination, and he
served several country churches. Rev. Simms returned with a letter from the
First Bryan Church in 1885, but the church refused to honor it. After assisting
Dr. E. K Love in writing the history of the First Church, he wrote the history
for the First Bryan Church.

Deacon C. L. DeLamotta.

   He was born in Charleston, S. C., in 1822, and was converted and baptized
into the First African Baptist Church in 1844. He was elected deacon in 1862. He
was one of the early superintendents of the Sunday school, which position he
filled with distinction, being loved and admired by both teachers and scholars.
For. his services in this capacity, he is still loved and remembered. He was
buried January 1, 1887.

Deacon J. H. Brown.

   Another shining mark among the deacons of the First Church was J. H. Brown,
who was born in Savannah, August 5, 1855. He united with the church in 1873 and
was ordained a deacon in 1875. Before dying, Deacon DeLamotta called his
teachers and a number of the scholars to his bedside and summoned Deacon Brown
and committed the Sunday school to his care in the midst of songs and prayer.
Deacon Brown was quite intelligent and made an excellent superintendent. In 1881
he was elected Vice President of the Missionary Baptist Sunday School Convention
of Georgia. The following year he was elected President: which position he
filled for years with dignity and efficiency. He was Clerk of the Mt. Olive
Baptist Association for years. In 1886, he was elected Clerk of the Missionary
Baptist State Convention. He was the one layman to serve on the Centennial
Committee from the State Convention to assist in arranging the program for that
great event. He was later expelled from and restored to the church; but does not
seem to have officiated any more.

Deacon J. C. Ross and Others.

   Deacon J. C. Ross came to Savannah from Detroit, Michigan, in 1887, and
became Principal of the East Broad Street Public School. He was ordained to the
deaconate, January 17, 1897. Upon the expulsion of Deacon Brown, he became
Superintendent of the Sunday school, and made one of the most punctual and
progressive officials ever to serve in this field.

   Among some of the others who deserve mention in this connection are Deacon S.
S. McFall who was Chairman of the Board of Deacons for several years. Deacon B.
H. Maxwell, who served as Chairman during the pastorates of Drs. Carr and Jones,
and who died January 11, 1915, distinguished for piety and full of good works,
was buried from the church by Rev. T. J. Goodall upon his first visit to the
church before being called. Deacon Thomas R. Williams, who was born in Effingham
County, May 7, 1858, was converted May 9, 1899, and ordained in 1898, succeeded
Deacon Maxwell as Chairman of the Board. He filled this position with ability
until his death, September 12, 1923.

   Our present Board of Officers whose pictures appear on page 132, is quite up
to the standard. It is efficiently organized and most of the committees function
creditably. Deacon George .L. Binyard is the honored chairman; Deacon J. W.
Marks is Chairman of Finance; Deacon J. H. Davis is Chairman of Choir Committee.
Deacon Fannin S. Belcher, who has been twice honored with position of City
Physician, is Chairman of Entertainment Committee; Church Committee, Deacon C.
B. Burson, Chairman; Printing Committee, Clerk Willie G. Williams, Chairman;
Parsonage Committee, Deacon J. W. Marks, Chairman; Purchasing Committee, Deacon
H. J. Freeman, Chairman; Pulpit Committee, Deacon Geo. L. Binyard, Chairman.

Brother C. H. Ebbs, Clerk.

  Brother C. H. Ebbs, clerk, was born in Savannah, March 17, 1854. He was
converted December 26, 1875 and was elected clerk January 7, 1876. Mr. Ebbs was
a fine penman, very accurate, very faithful, humble and pious. He gave the
church a quarter of a century of pleasing service, when he was succeeded by our
present very efficient clerk, Brother Willie G. Williams, who has been serving
in this capacity already for twenty-three years.

The Sunday School.

   As stated in Chapter IV., ours is the oldest Negro Sunday School in North
America, having been organized in 1826 by white Christians from the Independent
Presbyterian Church. The church itself took charge of the school in 1835. Since
that time, it has maintained a lively and, for the most part, a progressive
school. Deacon C. L. DeLamotta was for many years the beloved superintendent and
won for himself an extensive reputation for his great work with the young. As
stated above he was followed by the popular Deacon J. H. Brown who won new
laurels both for himself and for the school. Records of the details of its
operation are not available, but considering the numerical strength of the
church it is to be supposed that at times it must have enrolled five or six
hundred scholars.

   Following Deacon Brown, Deacon Ross held sway. And it is said that he was the
most capable, punctual and progressive of them all. Under him the school made
wonderful strides. Succeeding him, the school has had as its head such
Superintendents as Brethren I. M. Jackson, C. H. Schneider, St. Louis Ponder, S.
M. Lee, Deacon W. J. Ayers, and Brother J. S. Delaware. Brother Delaware is
proving a worthy official and is leading on to success. Mrs. Susie 0. Graham is
the dean of the teaching force, having taught for years. Mrs. Maggie Grant is
next in duration of service. The Sunday school keeps abreast with the times, is
modernly organized and keeps represented in local, state, and national
organizations. Also its organized classes send delegates annually to the
National Sunday School and B. Y. P. U. Congress. The Debbora Class known as
Class No. Six, Miss Eloise Williams, President, and Mrs. Sarah Coles, Teacher,
is easily the banner class of the school. Other officials are Brothers W. E.
Jones and R. A. Bryant, Assistant Superintendents, Mrs. Ruth Williams and Miss
Sarah Horton, Secretaries, Miss Frances Brown, Treasurer, Miss Clara Brownlee,
Chorister, and Miss Brown, Organist.

Choir.

   The First African Baptist Church has maintained a choir from days immemorial,
and has been prolific of many notable vocalists and instrumentalists. Mrs. M. M.
Monroe was the first organist of note, having been elected in 1874 and served
skillfully for about twenty-five years. Some reputable singers were Mesdames
Anna Gordon, Cornelia Gilmore, Jennie Mack, Miss Louise Carr and Mr. Julius
Jenkins. In later years, Mrs. J. W. Carr and Mrs. T. J. Goodall rendered good
service.

   The present officers are Mr. C. A. Allen, President, Mr. Paul D. Davis,
Chorister, Mrs. Mamie V. Bryant, Secretary, Mrs. Lula Burson, Treasurer, and
Mrs. Miram Lewis, Organist. The membership of the choir numbers about
thirty-five. Some among them are very good singers. It ranks as one of the very
best in Savannah.

Woman's Missionary Union.

   Another of the earlier movements in the church was the mission work of the
sisters. This dates far beyond the time when such organizations were regarded as
a component part of the church itself. For almost a century it has been
administering to the needy of the church. Its present officers are Mrs. Julia A.
Ward, President; Mrs. M. M. Sampson, Secretary; Mrs. Julia P. Brownlee,
Treasurer. They are engaged now in the good work of providing the church with an
individual communion service.

Nancy Gibbons Club.

   Auxiliary to the Missionary Union is the Nancy Gibbons Club for young girls
which is teaching them to do benevolent work and practice some arts of
handicraft. Their officers are: Misses Nancy Houston, President; Theresa Woods,
Vice President; Albertha Pettigrew, Secretary; Wilhelmina Levy, Treasurer; Clara
Brownlee, Pianist.

Baptist Young People's Union.

   The moving spirit in the organization of the B. Y. P. U. in the First African
Baptist Church was Mr., now Rev. J. A. Lockett. This took place in 1902. It
united with others in the organization of the State B. Y. P. U. Convention and
as in other churches, it had its early struggles here. But for many years it has
been a flourishing auxiliary, and is now one of the most substantial in the
church. Following Rev. Lockett, who is now a successful pastor and a teacher in
the Georgia State College, Deacon J. W. Marks became President and led this
organization with great success. Brother J. S. Delaware, who is one of the most
capable laymen in the church and at present the Superintendent of the Sunday
school, was next elected President and served with honor. He was succeeded by
Brother J. P. Brownlee who is able to keep it among the frontline unions of the
state. It is represented annually in all the local, state, and national bodies.
It was awarded a banner for the largest contribution in the state in 1925.
Brother B. C. Patterson is Vice President; Miss Nancy Houston, Secretary; Mr. W.
S. Glover, Chorister, and Miss Clara Brownlee, Pianist. The Union is divided
into four groups, and a Junior Department.

B. Y. P. U. Chorus.

   The General State B. Y. P. U Convention at its annual sessions conducts a
musical contest between competitive choruses from various sections of Georgia.
The chorus of the First African Baptist B. Y. P. U. for the last two years has
been directed by Mr. W. S. Glover who is one of the most artful trainers and
directors in the state. In Columbus, in 1924, this chorus won the first banner
over a dozen other choruses. In Augusta in 1925, it won the third banner. Mrs.
W. S. Glover is pianist; Miss Frances Brown is the Secretary.

The First African Baptist Brotherhood.

   It is designated to enlist the man power of the church and coordinate it in
progressive and constructive movements about the church. It has a commendable
program and has done some tangible work. Dr. F. S. Belcher is the ideal
President; Mr. W. G. Roberts, Vice President; Mr. Charles H. Stewart, Secretary;
Mr. J. S. Delaware, Treasurer.

Willing Workers’ Union.

   The Willing Workers' Union is virtually an auxiliary to the Brotherhood. This
is the first year of its history and bids fair to rival the men's organization.
It was represented in the Woman's National Baptist Convention in Baltimore this
year by Misses Eloise Williams, Ethel Grant, Mamie Brooks, C. E. Watrous and
Mrs. Esther B. Thomas. The officers are: Miss Eloise Williams, President;
Miss________________ Vice President; Elsie Williams, Secretary; ___________,
Treasurer.

   In accepting January 20, 1788, as the date upon which the First African
Baptist Church was organized, the Centennial Committee drew their conclusion
from the evidence then at their disposal. Had they been favored with the facts
brought to light through research of historians of later days, their findings
would have inevitably been identical with the disclosures of this book.


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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