From Arkansas.
For the Christian Recorder.
Mr. Editor: You have not heard from us for several months, not because we have lost interest, for we have always stood among the active workers of the Church, but we have been very busy. The last time we wrote you from the South we were in the State of Tennessee.
In the month of October last year Bishop Brown ordered us to strike our tent and move to Arkansas. With the knapsack of faith and the musket of truth we came and engaged in the contest, taking charge of Little Rock.
The Little Rock Conference is composed of some of the noblest and most energetic men in the Church. They work, sing and fight against Satan like men of war, determined to conquer although they die in the battle. Elder J. T. Jenifer, so well known throughout our widespread connection as a pioneer of African Methodism, erected a new church edifice at Little Rock, a monument that can never be forgotten, and to be admired by unborn generations. Bishop Brown and J. F. A. Sisson, P. E., contributed their share towards the construction of this model of beauty. H. H. Petigrew, P. E., John A. Jones, S. A. Patten and R. A. Sinquefield are the pioneers of African Methodism in this State, and their labors have been given entirely to the Christian Church. Their affectionate and kind-hearted spirits draw every one near to them in the fullest confidence, and none can but love and cherish them.
The Conference is divided into eleven districts and is cared for by good and faithful presiding elders who are not afraid of the truth, though dark and gloomy clouds oppose them on every hand. We have several churches in course of construction in this State which will be ornaments when completed.
In Little Rock the work is in a prosperous condition. We are preparing to hold the Conference on the 9th of November, 1876. Bishop T. M. Ward is now with us on his way to the South Arkansas Conference. Our church is not yet completed, and we are about four thousand dollars in debt; but, thank the Lord, we were successful in paying off $1200 this year. We have 483 members, who say that they are determined to succeed. We have 229 scholars in the Sunday School and 25 officers and teachers. We have not done much for the Recorder, but we intend to fall into line. “Hold the fort, for we are coming!” (“Yes, but hurry up!”)
King Cotton has a powerful influence in this State, and the same is true of another king—Alcohol. There are 113 rum shops in Pine Bluff and 108 in Little Rock. Thousands of people are inquiring for the byways to hell, and, comparatively speaking, very few are inquiring the way to heaven. Over $1,000,000 are spent in this State annually for rum and tobacco.
On September 25th we visited the Conference of Tennessee, held in Pulaski, where we met many smiling faces and hearts and enjoyed a hearty shake of many hands.
A. H. NEWTON.
Little Rock, Ark., October 18, 1876.
Algiers, La.
Algiers is situated on the north bank of the Mississippi River, about one hundred miles distant from the Gulf. It is connected with New Orleans by ferry boats, which run every five or ten minutes. There is not much enterprise here, as all the business is done in the city. It is not a separate parish from the city, as one mayor controls the affairs of both places. Beelzebub has his headquarters here, and his court and his orders take the premium. The Sabbath is not respected. Mechanics labor and stevedores flock and flutter about the ships. You will find human beings as thick on the ballroom floor on Sunday as fleas on a dog’s head. And this is only a substitute for the wickedness indulged in here on the Sabbath. But our Church is progressing. We have just had a glorious revival. Our forces were drawn up in line in pitched battle with the devil and artillery of hell. After a heavy conflict for several weeks the battle subsided. When the smoke was over we picked up thirty souls happily converted to God. Bishop Ward was with us about eight weeks ago. He organized a new mission work in this city. He threw two or three bombshells against the forces of Catholicism, crippled, wounded and captured several of their troops, and moved on down the line, leaving the boys to push the battle to the gate.
A. H. NEWTON.
June 21, 1877.
Word from Algiers, La.
For the Christian Recorder.
Mr. Editor: Elder A. H. Newton has charge of the branch of African Methodism of Algiers, La. When Elder Newton arrived in Algiers he found the church in an almost hopeless condition, there being but ten members belonging to the fold, and as far as Sabbath School was concerned, they hardly knew what it meant. The majority of the people of color are Catholics. There are three Catholic churches to one Methodist church, therefore he had to labor under great disadvantages, but with King Jesus as his Captain, the Bible as his shield, he fought the battle bravely and gained the victory. Our church now is in a prosperous condition. We are doing a good work. Instead of ten members we have ten times ten, and they are coming to the fold every day. We have the finest Sabbath School in the State of Louisiana. There are one hundred and seventy-five members, and still they come. Our superintendent, Prof. J. H. Corbin, is alive to our Sabbath School. He is pious, kind and educated. The children all love him, and in no Sunday School throughout our entire connection could you find a better superintendent than he. He is also the principal of the colored school of Algiers. Our musical director, Prof. S. W. Otts, is also one of our bright stars. He makes the walls of Zion ring with melodies from the “Gospel Songs.” Miss O. B. Flowers, the assistant principal of the colored school of this city is also a noble worker in our Sabbath School. As a teacher she is interesting, and she is also the embodiment of Christian forbearance. We have a very intelligent corps of teachers, and, altogether, our school is progressing quite rapidly. When Elder Newton came to Algiers there was not a book in the Sabbath School library, not even a Testament; but with the help of God we have been enabled to get Testaments, Bibles and Catechisms, and we also have an organ. All this has been done in three months. In another three months we have hopes of as much more being accomplished. Our agent for the Christian Recorder is Mrs. Lula L. Newton. She sells as many papers as are sent her, and could sell as many more if she had them. The people take quite an interest in the paper, simply because it is edited and published by our own color.
For the last week we have had a practical effort, six souls have been added to our number and we have prospects of as many more. Algiers bids fair of becoming one of the strongholds of the connection. In the city of New Orleans, Bishop Ward (blessings on his venerable head!) has organized a new mission, which the elder in charge—Elder Cargile—with the help of the Lord and good management, is making a good charge. The people in this city are very wicked, some of them, although in a Christian land and among Christian people, are worse than heathen. They have never read the Bible. The Bishop, knowing this, organized the mission in the most wicked portion of the city, and it is progressing finely.
ADA A. NEWTON.
April 4, 1877.
Word from Algiers, La.
For the Christian Recorder.
Mr. Editor: I am glad to say that our church is gaining ground. Christians are a unit in this place in laboring for the building of Christ’s kingdom. Meetings are being held everywhere, with very marked results. Elder James Madison is carrying on a great work in St. James. He seems to be determined that every valley shall be filled and every hill made low. I think that he is the right man in the right place. The Elder visited my Sabbath School and addressed the children. He expressed himself as highly pleased with the progress of the church and school.
Elder Lazarus Gardiner, of St. Peter’s Chapel, is scattering Gospel seed and contending against the assaults of sin, at the head of noble-hearted workers for the success of African Methodism in this State. They have paid five hundred dollars on their new church and have arranged for the payment of another five hundred when due. The Elder is up and a-doing. God speed him on his journey!
Dr. George W. Bryant is sounding the Gospel trumpet from the battlements of Zion at the Union Bethel. He is master of the situation. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid unto them that are lost. The Baptist church is also doing a great work in this place. I was at a union meeting at the Rev. James Chaig’s church, a Baptist brother, and the Spirit of the Lord God filled the house. It was densely packed. The conference of glad voices giving praise to God was a heaven below. Brother Benjamin Buchannon also held a union meeting last Sabbath, which was a complete success. Fully three thousand people were present. The church and the yard were literally packed. God bless these brethren! May they live long and continue as instruments in the hands of God, enemies to ignorance and friends to holiness! J. H. Scie, P. E., is on the scout, I presume, although I have not heard from Elder Thomas. And Elder Burch I can give no account of, as I have no news from their district since Conference.
A. H. NEWTON.
June 5, 1877.