The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-18
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD
NEGRO BAPTIsTS CELEBRATE
THEIR CENTENNIAL.

The Bryan Street Church Celebration
on Friday Night Preparations for
the June Centennial Going On All
over the State-Trials and Tribula-
tons ofthe Pioneers.
The colored Baptists of Georgia are much
interested just now in celebrating the one
hundredth anniversary of the existence OF
their denomination in the commonwealth.
The leaders of the church are exerting
themselves to meet and proper observance
of the occasion. There Will be local cele-
brations in different churches throughout
the State, which were organized in the
pioneer days, but the grand centennial cele-
bration of the church proper in which all
colored Baptists of the State will unite, is
to occur in Savannah in June next. The
preparations are in the hands Of State
committee and the occasion Will be
memorable one
OF the local celebrations the most notable
will take place on Friday at the First Bryan
Baptist church, on Bryan street That
church will then celebrate the centennial
anniversary Of its organization by Rev.
Andrew Bryan, on Jan. 20, l7sS. The day
will be observed by the ordination OF three
ministers and five deacons. and at night
public services will be held Besides the
local clergy there will be visiting ministers.
Rev. j. NJ. Sims will read a history of the
church from its organization, and remarks
and eXhortatons will be made by the pas
stor, Rev. U. l.. Houston, and others who
are TO be present.
PIONEER BAPTIST
Rev. Andrew Bryan, who organized the
church, had remarkable history lie was
born slave at a place called Goose creek,
about sixteen miles from Charleston, ). G.,
in what year is not known. His master,
Jonathan Bryan, Esq, INDUCED him in I'M
common liberties. After his masters death
Andrew purchased his freedom of the heirs.
Long before that event, however, he was
baptized into the church by George Leile,
sometimes called George Sharp, but more
commonly called by his brethren and
friends Brother George who preached at
Brampton and y amacraw. Shortly after
his baptism Andrew began to exhOrt his
colOred brethren and friends, and a few
whites who assembled to hear him. Ed
ward Davis Esq. permitted him and his
hearers to erect a rough wooden building on
his land at Yamacraw, then in the suburbs
Of Savannah. OF this building the little
congregation was in short time
dIsposseSsed. 1t was urged that
under a pretense of religion they
were plotting mischief and insurrectlon.
Andrew Bryan and his brother Samson,
who was converted about a year after him,
together with about fifty of their followers,
were severely whipped and kept i'll prison.
BY the aid of a number of very respectable
and influential advocates and patrons they
were finally released, and Chief Justice
Oshourne gave them permission to continue
their worship any time between sunrise and
sunset The benevolent Jonathan Bryan
avn thar, fl,a Of a a
called Brampton, three miles from Savan-
nah, now owned 10y DR.. Read.
ORGANIZED A CHURCH.
Not long after Andrew commenced his
ministry and his converts began to increase
they were visited by an aged Baptist min
ter, Thomas Barton, who, on a credible pro
fession of their faith, baptized eighteen of
their number To those were added forty
five more under the ministry of Rev. Abra
ham Marshall of Kiokee, in Columbia
county, who paid them visit on Jan. 20,
1888, and formed them into a church. He
ordained Andre,y Bryan as their pastor.
This church at first consisted of about eighty
members. and so rapid was its increase that
in four years it numbered 235 and besides
these there were $50 who had been received
as converted followers many OF whom had
not received the permission of their owners
to be baptized.
bryan continued III IIe pastoral OIIlce
until his death, which was in October, 1872.
He was supposed to be about 30 years of
age. His remains were inferred with pecu-
liar marks of respect.
Such was the beginning of the First Afri
can Baptist church in Savannah. The site
where the present edifce stands was given
to the church by the city. Toward the close
of the year they began to build place of
worship, which by the assistance of a num-
ha,. of at,n ont of Il MT
denominations was finished i'll due time.
1t was a frame building 42x40 feet, and
stood the storms of many years until it
was torn down to give place to the present
structure in 1878.
The history of the church is full of inter
est, which will be brought out at the meet
IL on Friday night.