New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-08-06
FIX. Clark, in Methodist Recorder.
A Noted COlOred Church.

Who has not heard of the first African
Baptist church of Richmond? 1t is one of
the historical land-maik ks Of the city. With
an active membership of about 800 it is a
power in the cOlored community,
1t is brick structure painted stone color,
but streaked and clouded with age, Low
| and wide, situated a few steps below the lev
| ell of the street on two sides, and severely
plain in all its appointments, the building
seems rather store house of material wares
than simple worship to the Most High.
Entering, we find the pews uncushioned,
| stained with using, dingy and old.fashioned
enough for primitive Methodists or humble
descendants of William Penn. The congre-
cation is already gathered for the four O'clock
service. Well-dressed Oolored people, male
and female, old and young, come in groups
| from every direction and reverently take their
places in the church. Most of them are full
blooded blacks, very few mulattoes and oc-
casionally an octorOon. The whites are the
visitors. and strangers here-the observed of
all observers but hOnOred by the front pew,
and pOlitest attention from the Threshold to
the hest seat, Very soon the vast auiitori-
um-transepts, gallery and all-is filled with
an eXpectant congregation, and at the APP
pointed moment, colored preacher, slight.
gray, and wearing glasses, reverently enters
the pulpit.
The hymn announced is that old, familiar
one:
cam soldier of the cross,
A follower Of the lamb?"
And the singing! How hearty, how sincere
how full, and sweet, and universal! A choil
leads, but does not monopolize this delight
ful service. The music swells like tide and
sweeps to the oItm0st verges of the great
crowd, 1t overwhelms the silent stranger
and like one plunged into the sea, to save
himself, he strikes into the current and sings
as best he can. Many of this multitude can
not read the words, but they ali sing.
This sermon was an exposition of the par
able of the ten virgins. Although unpretend.
ing, and, in some respects, crude and con.
fused, yet it was so eminently sincere, and
50 APPLY illustrated, that it was to the edit.
cation of all who heard it,
AT the ciose. call was made for the usual
Sabbath collection. Instead of a basket, q
table was used The members came forward
each with his contribution, and laid it on the
table IN front of the pulpit while two OF
three deacons proceeded to count the funds
stimulating the people by pleasant wore
now and then, to be liberal and swell the aa
sregate to the largest possible sum.
During the collection, song was called 70,
and voice in the back part Of the house, il
"e'u, ehftAtihS stytc UeSdn
err be there, I'll be there:
W hen the general roll is called.
III be there"
The singer was joined first by one, thcr
another, then score, a hundred, thousan,
until the effect was sublime. The melod
was without time or accent-a mere monoto
nous intOnation- the chorus was dee,
n ri lt, itcr
easy to imagine the judgment day, the trump
ct call, and the responding multitudes rising
from their graves.
A layman being called upon to pray, LEI
this part of the service in 4 fervent appea
to Coda plea at once eloquent in smile an
musical in utterance. 1t was pictured pc
tition, vivid to the eye and pleasant to tn
ear. With voice of elevated key, the plead
errecOunted the mercies of God and besouob
blessings from above.
1t may have been indecorOus in US, but tn
prayer was so unique, so like a chant.
dream, and so like a converse with the list
ening God, that we ven tured to note down
few passages, while no less sharing the deve
tonal spirit of the hour and place.
1.-THE words spaced were prolonged an
circum fixed, In a higher key, as if the word
of song, while the intervening words wer
uttered with rapldlty almost beyond the ar
prehension the final words of each sentenr
being pronounced in low voice. and wit
the falling iuhection.l
sob, thou great King of glory who r-i-d.e.
in de COLIN chariot in de New Jerusalem abov
the sun. 'seech an p.r-a-y YOU drive 4
white horses down dis way: and when 4
h-o-o-f-s of de horses strikes dis lower worI
} an de dashin' wheels come in our SIGHTS
stop dy chariot at Washington CITY. an
light in loving kindness at de door of Il
} servant, de President Grant. and tell HI,
: 'Xactly wat to do. Scum de meanin' of d
} will into de Congress halls, an tell the orea
men 'thout their own axen how to serve da
, country bes'. Purge de hearts of de Sens
tors and 'sentatives from de love Of ain on
, load dare stumblin' feet from de snares
hell. Help dem to member DIV servants
every SORROW and temptation. "a Jesn
members them. Thin out de ,sire of bono
apd love of salary from their souls like ,mct
ers out'n corn and may your name be- aboy
every name, and dy kingdom come into
high places and de low, like de iioht Of morn
in comes to de hills and to de valleys i
same. After leavin' Washington city n,
: takiH' dy time, drive dy chariot down over a
fields an rein up dy horses of Fire at d
capital Of Old V1rginny. Light ont at d
doyeernor's door, and 60 into his house an
tell him what things he ought to saw. am sho,
him what things he ought to do, like fathe
who 'structs his own chile"