The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-12-09
CoIoREp IMPosroR.
Rev. f:) Lewis Charlton still ON his
Rounds.


few days ago the Mayor of Westminster
received from England letter asking lnfor-
nation concerning q negro named Lewis
Charlton, who is travelling that country seek
ing aid and asking for assistance to build
church and school for colored Baptists In
Westminster. The writer of the letter, after
EXPRESSING wish to assist him if deserving,
also expresses wonder at his having been sent
to England for such cause, and inquiries into
the truth or falsity of his statements. He en-
closes hand bill, which is as follows;
Lewis Charlton, preacher of the Gospel to his
his in the United States and who for o9 years
was in bondage in the state of Maryland and for 70
of those years suffered the worst effects OF slavery
will d. W lecture the above subject at the Print
tive Methodist Chapel, ST. Anstel., on Tuesday No
vember nth, 1882 att p. IN.
YORK BUILDINGS DALE ST., LIVERPOOL,
9th February. 1851
DEAR SIR Il have read your letter of introduc.
ton from Captain Dutton of the 5. s. Sardlnian,
in which ship you have come over to TINS country
have also seen your recommendations from various
friends in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Inc
United States. Once slave having suffered severely
under that terrible system, understand you are
now preacher of the Gospel, and that you were
converted when about 16 years old also under
stand the object OF your visit to TINS Is "
schoolroom i'll Westminster, small town IN CarroH
county, Maryland about % miles from Baltimore
have much pleasure in contributing e. and In re-
commencing your case toany friends who may sym
pathize with your object. This letter you can snow
to friends. am yours truly, j. dOUGHTON.
LEWIS CHARLTON.
HALIFAX, N s., September 9th, 1880.
To THE GENEROUS PUBLIC AT LARGE This certl-
fes that the bearer Mr. Lewis Charlton is solcltng
aid for the purpose of erecting place OF worship
for his coored brethren in the South to the honor
and glory of their redeemer. We therefore take
pleasure in recommending him as a worthy brother
from the African Association, convened at Halifax
REV. WILTON R. BOONE, Chairman.
PETER E. MCKERRow, Secretary.
A collection will he taken ND at the close i'll the
aid of the mission of Mr.. Charlton, who comes to
England with letters and from mi e and
worth His OBJECT is to raise funds to build place
of worship to serve the double purpose OF both
Westminster Carroll county Maryland. Pamphlets
may also be purchased with full history of Mr..
Charlton's life at the close of his lecture
According to the statement of those &C
uuainted with Charlton's career, he came to
Westminster, either during the war or just at
its close, from Prince Georges county, Mary
land. He first started out to beg money to
build the colored Methodist Church on Union
street, in this place, and at first made a re-
all over PENNSYLVANIA he returned with the
statement that he had been robbed He
finally started out to beg for the colored Bap-
fist Church, but the original site of the build
ing was long ago abandoned, and the church
built on Green street by the efforts of colored
Baptists in Westminster, assisted by friends
in Baltimore. Charlton has in the meantime
been roaming from place to place in this coun-
try and has never returned one cent of money
collected, and has been almost entirely lost
sight of until his whereabouts are thus unex-
pectedly discovered. He has evidently work
ed upon the sympathies of the people with a
plausible story of some kind, and has evil
IDENTIFY received considerable money for his
protested mission, which has never been ap-
propriated to the object for which it was given.
Charlton can neither read nor write, and is
we'll known in this community. His career
has proved him to be sharp, shrewd and a
rascal, abusing the confidence and imposing
upon the charity of people wherever he goes,
and that he has been successful is proved by
this last chapter in his marvellous career.