The first Congregational Church of Atlanta was founded in 1867 by Rev. Frederick Ayer and wife, of Wisconsin, the former of whom has entered into his rest, but the latter is still living at a ripe old age in her native State. The church grew out of the Storrs School, the pioneer educational institution of Georgia for the colored race, and was a response to the conscious need of a more enlightened Christianity.
The chapel of the Storrs School was its first place of worship, but there was soon felt a need for a regular meeting house. By the aid of the American Missionary Association and of the C. C. B. S., a handsome and substantial structure was built at the corner of Courtland avenue and Houston street. The $2,000 contributed by the people for this building represented no little sacrifice. All of the work on the building was done by colored men, and the neat, slate-covered brick structure, most appropriate in architectural design, is an ornament to that elegant portion of the city in which it is prominently located. A well-appointed eight-room parsonage stands hard by the church, built by students of Atlanta University. The funds for the erection of the parsonage came in part from a benevolent Northern lady, but the greater part was contributed in pennies and nickels and dimes by the people themselves. The church building and parsonage are located in a community settled chiefly by white people. Once they made vigorous protest, but since they found it is not a "shouting" church, no complaint is heard. They often listen to the services from their verandas, and not a few worship with us from time to time, and express themselves highly pleased.
The church has been blessed in having such an excellent line of pastors from New England. The first was Rev. C. W. Francis, now a pastor in Connecticut. Then came Revs. E. E. Rogers, C. W. Southgate, S. S. Ashley, C. W. Hawley, Evarts Kent, and S. H. Robinson. All of these brethren are remembered for their sterling character and their faithful labors. The present pastor finds living monuments to the toil of every one of them. They have written their names individually on the hearts of the people.
This church has not had an easy road to travel. At first it was despised by the whites and misunderstood by the blacks—despised because of its doctrine of equality; misunderstood because of its newness in these parts. But it was not to be kept back by hatred on the one hand, nor by ignorance on the other. True and tried spirits rallied to its standard, and to-day, in a large measure, it has overcome these things. It bravely stood out for an enlightened Christianity, and its Sunday-school supplied workers for every other school in the city. It espoused the cause of temperance, and has been always an uncompromising foe to strong drink. It held up the standard of Christian citizenship and has stood for an upright Christian life and has been rigid yet loving in its discipline.
Its members make themselves felt in the practical occupations of the community. A sociological investigation reveals some interesting facts. They are engaged in about fifty different occupations; 85 are housewives, 85 are in the schools studying, 31 are household servants, 28 are teachers, 19 are porters, 9 are waiters, 4 are grocerymen, 5 are postmen, 7 are professional nurses, 4 are shoemakers, 2 are blacksmiths, 2 are politicians, 3 are seamstresses, 4 are washerwomen, 4 are postal clerks, 3 are Government clerks at Washington, 12 are tailors, 3 are janitors, 2 are draymen, 2 are carpenters, 3 are barbers, 3 are carriage drivers, 3 are carriagemakers, 2 are cotton samplers, 2 are professional cooks, while the following occupations are represented by one each: upholster, elevator conductor, stonemason, piano tuner, sleeping car porter, dairyman, dentist, bricklayer, restaurant proprietor, photographer, ice cream maker, insurance agent, coal dealer, baker, jewelry clerk, bridge builder, packer, hackman, editor and postmaster (of South Atlanta). May they not say, as Paul: "These hands ministered unto my necessities"?
This church has furnished not a few excellent men who are doing conspicuous service. Among these are Prof. R. R. Wright, president State College, Savannah, Ga.; Rev. J. E. Smith, pastor First Congregational Church, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Rev. George V. Clark, pastor Congregational Church, Charleston, S. C.; Rev. John W. Whittaker, pastor Central Congregational Church, New Orleans, La.; Mr. Butler R. Wilson, attorney at law, Boston, Mass.; Rev. E. J. Penny, chaplain Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, Tuskegee, Ala., and others.
The present pastor is the first of his race to be honored with the pastorate of this church. He is a product of the American Missionary Association, having received his college training at Fisk University. He began his labors here immediately upon the completion of his theological course at the Yale Divinity School, in 1894. With his coming the church entered upon a distinct era of its life. Not without some misgivings on the part of many, the church bravely launched out to assume self-support. For some time it had been without a regular pastor, and the flock was divided and scattered. After three years the membership has been doubled and the contributions trebled. Last year it contributed a share of the "Jubilee Fund" of the American Missionary Association. The church is now united and progressive. There is a growing Christian Endeavor Society, a Working Men's Club for financial aid, a Woman's Aid Society for general church work, a Young Men's League for increasing the attendance at the Sunday evening services (printed bulletins of the services being distributed weekly). The church issues the Parish Visitor, a monthly church paper which forms a bond of interest by unifying the various forces of the church.
The prayer meetings are well attended and the Sunday-school is thriving. New members are received at every communion. The week of prayer is followed by a large number of conversions. The membership now numbers 403, making this the largest Congregational Church in the South. Great stress is laid on the quality of the membership, but quantity is not despised, and within the next seven years it is the aspiration of the church to enroll a thousand members. With a continuance of the spirit of unity and work, why, under God, should not this end be realized? The possibilities of a thoroughly organized Congregational Church of a thousand members in a community like this are untold.