Evidences of Progress Among Colored People

by G. F. Richings

The connection of which this church is the mother has fourteen Bishops, eleven general secretaries of departments, 4,365 itinerants, and 15,885 local preachers, full membership, 543,604, probationers, 35,287; total membership, 599,141. Church edifices, 4,575, valuation, $8,650,155; parsonages, 1,650, value, $75,950; schools, colleges and universities, 41, value of buildings and grounds, $756,475; grand total valuation of property, $9,482,580.

What hath God not wrought!

Is not this the fulfilment of that prophecy, "And Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hand unto God?"

Verily it would seem so.

Dr. C. T. Shaffer, the builder of Bethel Church, has a very interesting history. I am only sorry that space will not admit of a full account of his life. He is a splendid type of manhood that shows what can be done by push and energy. Dr. Shaffer is a native of Ohio; in his younger days he learned and worked at the plastering trade and in that way earned money enough to educate himself and a younger sister. He graduated at Berea College. He also had the honor of serving his country as a soldier in our late war. As a pastor, he has held the largest and best appointments in the connection. While he was pastor of different churches in Philadelphia, he took advantage of the opportunity and read medicine, graduating with honor in a class of 208 in 1888 from the Jefferson Medical College, Phila. He has never engaged in the practice of his profession, although it would pay him far better than church work, but he feels called upon to serve his church. At the present time he is general corresponding secretary and treasurer of the church extension department. This department of church work he created and has been twice elected to fill his present position.

Before closing this chapter I wish to mention the names of the general officers of the A. M. E. Church, in order that my readers who may not be familiar with the great work of the "African Methodist Episcopal Church" may form some idea what a work is being done, also a better knowledge of the men who stand at the head of the connection. I only wish I had the space to give a short history of each of the men whose names will be mentioned. To begin with, the church has fourteen Bishops, who are all able men, and we head our list with the senior Bishop, H. M. Turner, D. D., LL. D., who is a native of South Carolina. He was never a slave. I regard Bishop Turner as one of the most remarkable men I have ever met. He was the first colored man appointed a commissioned officer by President Lincoln, his appointment was as Chaplain of the First United States Infantry during the late war. When mustered out he was recommissioned a Chaplain in the regular service of the United States Army by President Johnson. He has been a member of the Georgia Constitutional Convention, and has served two terms as a member of the Georgia Legislature, was twice appointed to positions of honor by President Grant. He now represents the Liberian Government in the United States. He at one time was the manager of the publishing department of the A. M. E. Church, and was consecrated a Bishop in 1880. So it is very easy to see that Bishop Turner has led a busy and useful life. I have been personally acquainted with the Bishop for years, and I am only one of thousands who know him to love him. In the State of Georgia, where Bishop Turner resides, I found him very much thought of by the leading white people.

Bishop W. J. Gaines, D.D., is a native of Georgia and at one time was owned by that famous Toombs family. His first work in the church was in a very humble way, that of member. As a preacher he did a great deal for the church in Georgia. He wrote a book on African Methodism in the South that was both interesting and useful. It was through the efforts of Bishop Gaines that Morris Brown College was established at Atlanta. He was elected as Bishop in 1888.

Bishop B. W. Arnett, D.D., is a native of Pennsylvania and is entirely a self-made man. He, like Bishop Turner, has held some high positions of honor. He was at one time a member of the Ohio Legislature and while serving his district in that capacity he introduced a bill, known as the Arnett Bill, that wiped out the old and infamous black laws that were a disgrace to the State of Ohio. Just before he was elected Bishop in 1888, he served the church as financial secretary. He is the father of several very intelligent sons. Is also very active in Christian Endeavor work.