The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-08-01

OF snot and shell.
In October, 1861, he left Charleston
In boat and boarded one of the
blockade fleet off Charleston, and
served in the navy one year. He
joined the land forces July 5, 1868, and
was promoted March %, to first
sergeant Of company I, United States
colored troops, under G. A. Dow, first
lieutenant and adjutant. While in
the service he rad only two important
ngagements-one at Johns Island,
5. c., and the other at Oulustee, Fla.
While yet boy around his masters
home the children of his mistress
taught him to spell "baker," and be
prided himself that in the knowledge
of that word he was fairly we'll in
formed in the language. Yet the only
substantial schooling he ever received
was while in the army. The govern
ment employed northern man to
teach the men of the regiment. He
I studied under that teacher six months
and was mustered out of the army the
25th day of April, 1866, at Charleston.
The subject was converted to Christ
JuIA 1864. on Morris Island. Was
the first Sunday in July,
\. A. Mergentsen, pastor Of
z Baptist church of Hilton
:, whittier he went soon after
@. Was licensed to preach the
by Rev. Mergentsen in Septem-
the same year, and ordained to
ministry by Rev. Sam Boulds OF
Vannah, moderator of Mt. Olive
BAPTIST association, assisted by Revs.
Alexander Harris, ". j. Campbell of
Savannah, and Rev. r. Mifflin of OAR
len, Ga. Was appointed missionary
by the Mt. Olive ASSOCIATION and tray
eled within its bounds during the
years 1874 and rs. Afterwards was
called to take charge of the First Bap-
fist church on st. GATHERINGS Island,
Mcintosh county, Ca, which he held
successfully for two years. From
there he went to pastorage the Pinkey
House Baptist church in Bryant
county, Ca. where he remained SIX
years. Next was called to the charge
of the Mt. Olive Baptist church In
Chatham county, March Is, 1877, and
labored with that people four years.
1t was while yet at Hilton Head, he
conceived the idea of God, that, sit is
not good for man to be Alone" and
therefore took unto himself his better
half, then Miss Rebecca Meyers of
st. Helena, s. G. He was married In
the year 1868, January II, by Rev.
w. S. Phillips, the white pastor of the
church at that place.
The First African Baptist church
was organized on the 9th day of jan
uary, 1867 by order of motion made
by brother John Morrison. Rev. Frank
Harris, missionary from the Zion as
soclation organized 1t upon the above
date, The church had no permanent
place of meeting, and met in various
places, such as the Deacons could from
time to time secure, until Mr.. e.
Dart gave them the piece of ground
where the church now stands. The
building was erected, and on the goth
day of June 1869 Rev. w. j. Campbell
thenItemporary pastor, with Rev. A.
Burk of Darien, and Rev. Barnett of
the white church, dedicated the bnild-
ing to the service of God. In 1873 the
church decided to call a permanent
pastor, and In conference assembled,
called the Rev. A. Burk, who was
their first permanent pastor. He served
until his death, September 1875.
After the death of Rev. Burk, the
vacancy was filled temporarily by Rev.
John Williams, missionary from the
Mt. Olive Baptist association. for one
year, when he resigned. Rev. Tony
Sweetwine then took charge and
served six months, at the expiration of
which the church again decided to call
a permanent pastor. So that, on the
first Sunday in August, 1877, by reso-
| Iu6iOn. il called Rev, John Williams.