The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-25
REV. EMANUEL X. LOVE DEAD.
He Was One of the Best Known Col
ored Men In the south.

oreu Men IN tne SOuth.
Rev E. K. Love pastor Of the First
African Baptist Church, and one of the
best known colored men in Georgia, died
yesterday morning at his home on Ebert
Square from pneumonia. He had
been critically Ill for some days.
During the night when 1t was
seen that he could not live, word was
sent to many of his people, and there
were over 200 at the house when he died,
among them were several colored pas
tors from other cities Rev. Love died
at O'Clock, and the scene around the
house was most remarkable one when
the announcement of his death was made.
Rev. Love was nearly 50 years old. He
leaves wife, daughter, aged mother, two
brothers, two neDhews and other rela-
tives. He has been engaged in pastoral
work in Savannah fifteen years. AS
leader of the colored Bapusts in the state,
he had for long time held high posi-
ton. He was president Of The State Bap-
list Convention, which will convene in Sa-
vannah June 6, and was at one time also
president of the National Baptist ConVen-
ton. Besides his numerous printed ser
mons and large number of articles as
an editor and contributions as a writer
for magazines, he had written book,
The History of the First African Bap-
list Church" He was once selected by
the American Baptist Publication Society
as one of the editors Of the Sunday school
periodicals which they publish for the en-
tire country.
He was the founder and father of the
Central City Baptist College in Macon
for the colored Baprists of the state. tie
selected the grounds of POO acres, and IN
augurated a movement TO raise $4,000 10
pay for the property.
The funeral exercises will take place
Friday morning at II o'clock from the
church. The participants Will be leading
men from all parts of Georgia and other
states 1t will probably be one of the
largest funerals among the colored peo-
pie ever Witnessed IN Savannah.
Rev. Love was born in Berry county,
near Marion, Ala, in 1850. He was a slave
and was reared on a farm. His parents
were poor and uneducated. They were
unable to educate him. He had desire t.
get an education. He was converted in the
spring of 1868 and baptized in July of the
same year. He was baptized in the after
noon and tried to preach that night. He
was soon afterwards given permission 70
preach and won distinction in the country
places as a preacher. He soon left the
farm and became a ditcher. In 1871 he en-
tered Lincoln University, having stu led
for six years privately, getting instruction
from white persons en- farms who Were
kind enough to give it to him, where he
studied for five or six months. When his
money gave out he was compelled to leave
school, and went to ditchlng. The church
TO which he belonged, In 1872, decided that
he should go 10 a theological school ana
prepare for the ministry. He entered the
/ Augusta Institute. from which he gradual
ed in 1877. He taught as assistant teacher
g. val re school
the venerable DR.. Joseph T. Rob
ert. long since deceased. He was
ordained to the ministry in 1873,
at the Harmony Baptist Church, by re-
| quest of his church at Marion, Ala, af-
terward returning to Augusta to finish
his studies. He was later appointed mis-
| siouary for Georgia un6er the home mis-
! sion board, of New York. and the Geor-
sia mission board (white), and served
until 1879, when he resigned to take charge
Of the First African Baptist Church, at
! Thomasville There he rebuilt the house
Of worship and baptized $50 converts. In
! 1881, he resigned to take charge of the
Sunday School mission work of Georgia,
| under the American Bap-:st Publication
Society Of Philadelphia In this work he
| continued four years winning great dis
! tinction as an efficient missionary
In 1885 he took charge of the First Afri-
can Baptist Church of Savannah. This
church is probably the most famous in the
world among negroes. Rev. Love was
| a young man, being only 80 years Old
when he was called. There were fears that
he would not succeed. The church had
never had young pastor. 1t had been &C
| custorned to old men, whose age the peo-
pie would respect as well as their position.
The history Of bis pastorate is well
known TO all the people of his race and the
people of Savannah.