P. S.—Since writing the above Mr. Hutchins has been abundant in labors in building houses of worship at different points. Great physical strength is proving to be a very convenient instrumentality under the powers of a strong mind.
Jackson, Rev. A. C., the son of Roderick and Ellen Jackson, was born in Pickens county, Alabama, December 13, 1848. He was baptized into the African Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, Ala., by the late Rev. Prince Murrell.
He was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry at the request of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, by Revs. J. R. Capers (one of the most worthy organizers of the Alabama work), Henry Wood and N. G. Scurlock. The writer first met Brother Jackson in Mobile, in 1875, in company with Rev. P. Murrell. His Birmingham work was crowned with success. Beside what he did in the matter of increasing the membership, he laid at the hand of his successor in the pastorate of the Sixteenth Street Church about $3,000 worth of salable land and the present church site. He is accepted by his brethren as being an honest, earnest, industrious, studious man, especially noted for his hospitality to his brethren. Beside the pastorate above mentioned, he has been a builder and leader of other churches. He is now president of the Sunday School Convention of the Mt. Pilgrim Association and chairman of the Ministers’ Conference of Birmingham. He has had sore trials, but in all his changes his love for Jesus has been manifest to all.
Jackson, Rev. John W., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church of Eufaula, was born at Whitesville, Ga., about thirty years ago.
Educational Advantages.—He has enjoyed only such advantages as the free public schools of Atlanta, Ga., afforded him, but because of his native talent and studious application to the study of books, and his association with men of thought, he is possessed of a fair education. His unassuming manner and happy, brotherly spirit win and hold for him the love of his brethren in the ministry as well as the tender, confiding respect of his flock.
He was led to faith in Christ in his sixteenth year. In December, 1890, he was installed into the work and office of the gospel ministry by a council, in which Revs. W. H. Tilman and E. J. Fisher, of Atlanta, Ga., officiated. He was called to labor in Alabama May, 1892. The Eufaula Church, of which he is pastor, was organized about the year 1867, and is therefore one among the oldest churches in the State. This church began on the river bank in a little board shanty, but they now worship in a nice large frame building on a main street of the city. Mr. Jackson follows in this pastorate Revs. J. Shorter, J. Q. A. Wilhite, G. W. Berry, Mr. Forbes, and Mr. Bassett; and he feels gratified with the assurance that he leads a church from which have gone forth some of the best people in the country. “Be thou strong, therefore, and show thyself a man.”
Jackson, Rev. Dennis, of Tuscumbia, is an honest, industrious man who has a large place in the love of his brethren.
James, Rev. Lewis D., son of James and Priscilla James, was born in Sumter county, Ala., December 24, 1859. Baptized by Rev. A. Gordon, of Gainesville, Ala., in August, 1875. Had limited educational advantages in youth, but has since his manhood increased his stock of information by study, in which labor he has been aided by Prof. E. D. Lord and Dr. A. F. Owens, of Mobile, and Dr. Pettiford, of Birmingham.
He was ordained to take charge of the Bethel Church at Warrior, Ala., October, 1888, by Revs. A. C. Jackson, J. W. White, A. D. Jemison and W. R. Pettiford, D. D. His brethren of the Mount Pilgrim Association have laid on him various positions of honor, such as president of the Sunday School Convention, district missionary, etc.
James, Rev. Van B., pastor at Avondale, is a brother of Rev. L. D. James. He is a progressive, industrious young man, whose breast is filled with longings for a higher life for his people. His preaching is characterized by thought rather than by emotion. In all the interests of the devotion he shows himself substantially concerned.