The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-10-14


 MT. Miller is a graduate of Fisk uni- versity and of the Yale Divinity school of the class of 1895. He was born a slave in 1855. He early conceived the idea of getting an education and al the age of thirteen, as soon as he was at liberty to do so, he began learning the alphabet. His entire education was acquired through his own efforts. Through his efficient work the church of which he is at present pastor since 1885 has grown and prospered until at present 1t has a membership of 200. It was also through his efforts that the present church edifice was constructed. MT. Miller is at present besides being pastor of the Dixwell avenue church, editor and proprietor of the Connecticut Banner, a paper published in this city in the interest of the colored race.
 MT. Miller spoke from the text Psalms 26:3: '"The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad" The ser mon was as follows:
 As we meet here to-day to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of our church, as an ecclesiastical organiza- tion, it is eminently proper and fitting, and may prove interesting to the men1- bers of this church and congregation and friends present to listen to brief history of our society, whose beginning, as might be supposed, was small, and it's early struggles commendable. We are indebted for the facts presented in our historical sketch, largely to Cap tain Daniel Lathrop of Shelton, Ct, who was for many years church clerk, and whose father, Deacon Luke Lathrop, was for many years a leading spirit in the society.
 One thing is very noticeable in the history of the church, as will be seen, and that is the frequent changes in it's pastorates.
 The church evidently has always stood up for high type of intelligence and moral character, and some of its
 ministers having been graduates of some of the best schools of learning in the world, American or European. Among those who were educated abroad the most conspicuous are Rev. J. W. c. Pennington, D. D., pure, full blOOltu FAIliSnliJ "hOHO peSLOlolC " oS only six months, for which he was paid $S6, and Rev. Francis Cardoza, B. D., a native of Charleston, s. C., who was educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was settled over this church in 1863, during the late civil war, and who, at it's close, with much reluctance on the part of the people was dismissed in '65, in order that he might go south and work as an educator among his recently
 emancipated brethren, who. just emerg- l ing from the house of bondage, stood in
 great need of the service, which his eminent ability placed him in a position l to render.
 I will not be able to enter minutely | into the history of every servant of God, who has wrought in this organi- zation fri m it's incipiency down to the ! present, but shall endeavor to bring in some of the more salient points, in the hope that we may take new courage and press forward in the work which
 still calls upon us for our exertion, and self-sacrifice, as servants of the most
 high God.
 | So far as we can ascertain from off
 cial records on February S, 1920 what was afterwards called "The African
 United Episcopal Society" was organ ized. and it's meetings were held when | ever the doors of friends were opened tc
 receive it's members. who were then. as 1 far as we can learn, as follows: Fred
 Brinsley, Bias Stanley, Augustus Thom, ! as. John Johnson. Thomas Dixton
 Abram Oson. Tom Lanson, Prince Coop CT, Benjamin Hampton, Scipio Angus. tus. William Pardee, Minneas Lyman. l We have with us to-day some of the | descendants of these original member:
 of this organization-Mrs Adeline Lan, l son Snyder of S2 Bradley street, the