Evidences of Progress Among Colored PeopleRichings, G. F.
History
Evidences of Progress Among Colored People
Richings, G. F.
African Americans
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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