Low, Rev. Green, of Livingston, is one of the most matter-of-fact sort of men with whom the writer has ever had any business. No man can beat him wearing his whole heart right on his face. He is uncovered, outspoken and fearless, and yet all seems so natural, so honest and so kind, until what would otherwise appear hard and ungenial, is really enjoyable. Mr. Low is among the leaders of the Bethlehem Association.
Miss A. L. Bowman, Missionary, Birmingham, Ala.
McAlpine, Rev. W. H., at present teacher of Ministers’ and Deacons’ Institute, under the appointment of the Southern Baptist Mission Board, was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, June, 1847. At the age of three years, he, his mother and a younger brother were brought to this state by a “Negro speculator,” who sold them to a Rev. Robert McAlpine, of Coosa county. At the age of 8 years and on the occasion of the death of this Presbyterian minister, he became the property (?) of Dr. McAlpine, with whom he remained till the close of the war. In this family he was the nurse of the white children for about ten years. As Mrs. Dr. McAlpine was very anxious and cautious as to the quality of the first moulding influences touching the childhood of her children, and as the schools around were hardly up to her ideal, she had her children instructed at home. As the nurse’s position placed him and kept him in constant association with the children, and as he was possessed of a literary turn of mind, he soon began to imbibe a knowledge of letters, advancing into reading, writing, grammar, geography and arithmetic. From 1855 to 1874 he saw nothing of his mother, and for sixteen years of this time did not know where she was. Naturally this incident started a train of serious reflections touching the facts and hopes of human life. About the year 1864 or 1865 he was converted to Christianity and some time after was baptized into the Talladega Church (white) by his friend, Dr. Renfroe. At the close of the war Mr. McAlpine first worked at the carpenters’ trade, which he left for school teaching. In the winter of 1866 he entered the Talladega College, supporting himself by laboring during the morning and evening hours—before the opening and after the close of the school. In 1873 he severed his connection with this institution, having been aroused to undertake the establishment of a similar institution for his own denomination. In 1871 he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, and accepted a call to the pastorate of the Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, Talladega, which he resigned in 1875 in order to give his whole time to his school project.
To no man in Alabama has been committed trusts more varied and more weighty. While connected with the Talladega College he occupied the position of State canvasser under the appointment of Mr. Cravath. He has been pastor at Talladega, Jacksonville, Marion and Anniston, and president of Selma University. His special excellence is not of that mental style which gives birth to fine psychological and metaphysical discernments and distinctiveness: it is that sort of mental something which strikes with broad side and ponderous weight. The breadth of his rear head would seem to indicate that all his faculties are driven forward by a force that starts from a broad base. The writer first met Dr. McAlpine in Mobile, in November, 1874, the year following that in which he brought forward, at the Tuscaloosa session of the Convention, his school idea. My first impression of him was that he was a man of special mission, and I immediately sympathized with him and with the school project, throwing myself fully into line with his plans.
In referring to his childhood life, and while talking with reference to the power of secret prayer, he once remarked to the writer: “Upon one occasion, though without my knowledge, Dr. McAlpine had resolved to punish me for a trivial matter on my part which had caused him some displeasure. I had gone to feed the horses, and in the crib I was on my knees at prayer. The doctor had followed me with his whip. I was not aware of his presence or purpose, and hence as he did not speak I got through with my prayer and fed my horse and returned to the house. I learned afterward that my prayer had subdued him, and that he had expressed himself as being ashamed of his purpose.”
Alluding once to some mistakes he had made, he observed: “We grow wiser as we grow older.” He has been happily married twice. By his last wife he has a large family of beautiful and promising children. The Rivers family, into which he married, are a people of very sterling qualities, and no doubt these happy associations have conduced to his success in all regards.
The act of the University in conferring upon him the honorary title of D. D. is evidence of the high esteem in which he is held by the trustees and faculty of the school. He is now theological instructor in the school and is supported by the Southern Board.
McAlpine, F. Percy, son of J. D. and Jane McAlpine, was born August 1, 1865, in Forkland, Ala. He entered the world amid that good heritage which can come only of the exemplary life of parents. Though his early life was spent on the farm, his youthful days were blessed with some educational facilities, which his discerning, appreciative mind turned to good advantage. After completing primary grades in his home schools, he, against the wish of his mother and protest of brothers, entered the State Normal School at Marion, Ala., with only $15 to begin the course of study prescribed. The next year he entered Selma University, studying during the school session and teaching in summer till 1888, when his mother, his only support since the death of his father, fell asleep. He says of this time of struggle:
“I owe a lasting debt of gratitude to President Purce, who never left me without an encouragement which it was possible for him to bestow.”