Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-08-17
The Negro in the Congrega-
tional Churches of America

(By Rev. Abraham Lincoln DeMond
pastor First Congregational church,
Buxton, 1owa.)
After the planting of the first COL
ored Congregational churches in the
south they continued to spread
throughout all the southern states.
The great cities have become the
strongholds of our faith and polity.
Charleston. Atlanta, Chattanooga.
Memphis. Savannah, Wilmington.
New Orleans. Montgomery, Mobile.
Birmingham, Raleigh, Louisville, An
tiersonville, Washington, Charlotte,
Nashville and Dallas have all un-
furled the banner Of Congregational
ism over church. chapel or school
house But the Negro Congregational
churches were not confined to the
south or the New England states. The
FIRST step westward was in the organ
ization of Mt. Zion Congregational
church in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1864 A
oclored Congregational church was or.
ganized by Rev, ]. D. Petticrew at Los
Angeles California, In 1900. The
Union Congregational church Of Des
Moines was organized in 1903. being
the first coloretf church Of our de-
nomination in the state. The First
Congregational church of Buxton,
Iowa, started through the efforts Of
Rev. H. w. Porter. under the auspices
Of the Iowa Home Missionary Society.
lifts again the bright standard of Con.
gregationalism among the thousands
OF colored people gathered in that
busy little city Of the mighty middle
west We can say today that we have
colored Congregational churches from
Maine to Georgia, from South Caro-
line to California and from Des
Moines, Iowa to Dallas, Texas. The
most rapid normal growth of our
churches was in the years from 1870
to 1876 when most OF the larger
churches in the cities were establish.
ed. The greatest season Of special
growth was in 1894 and 1895 when
large number Of Methodist churches
in North Carolina and Georgia came
over into our fellowship, bringing
heir ministers with them. The Con.
gregational church at CHARLOTTE. N. c.
with it's beautiful brick building Is a
proof of the zeal and good work Of
those churches. The Peoples CongTe.
gational church of Washington, D. c..
Is another example Of church OF
Methodist birth but Congregational
life. They have built an attractive
house OF worship and gathered large
congregation. The Plymouth church
of Washington and the Central church
OF New Orleans were Of like origin.
MANY of the members that have
come into the Congregational church.
es have been guided by the mission.
aries sent among them, and number
are students and graduates OF Congre-
gational schools, colleges and univer'
stiles. Especially was this true OF the
early Southern churches when our de
nomination: was new, unknown and
untried, In later years its grown has
been by the usual means OF cnurch
development. the faithful presentation
OF Gods word by earnest pastors and
cooperation in soul saving by the
offers and members.
Reyiyals in Congregational church
es are now OF frequent occurrence
In no other way has the charge ol
cold formality in our churches been
successfully answered as In the reviv
ais of the churches, where hundreds
have been led to Christ. our members
have known the JOY OF real cervice
and we have added to the church
such as might be saved" In connec
tion with these special seasons OF spir
itual ur1ift and power much cred1
should be given Rev. James Wharton
an English Evangelist who came II
America to engage in religious worE
among the colored people. He gath
cred his first congregation on the lie
wee at New Orleans, where, with
hand.bell to announce his services
and cotton bale for a pulpit, NJ
preached in the open air to all wht
would listen. He soon began givlnt
his entire time to evanselistic worl
in the colored Congregational church
es going from city to city during tn'
winter and returning to England II
the Spring. Rev. Wharton has al
! ready given a quarter OF century u
this noble cause and results have beer
seen in spiritually strengthened
! churches. thousands Of converts ant
| many additions to our denomination