At this time, as he was a slave, he was removed by his master to the
State of Alabama, where he has remained until this writing. In April,
1855, he made a public profession of faith in Christ and united with
the people of God by baptism. Shortly after this he felt impressed with
a call to enter the work of the gospel ministry. This call he tried to
obey as far as his condition and fitness would allow. “The work,” he
says, “was exceeding difficult, as we were not allowed to know books
and might receive only oral instruction on religious subjects.” When
a very young man he married his first wife, with whom he lived for
twenty-six years--till her death.
At the close of the war he located at Lowndesboro, where he went
immediately to work to organize a colored Baptist church. Success
attended his ministry and many were brought to faith in Christ. In 1867
he succeeded in organizing the colored Baptist church in Lowndesboro.
On June 27, 1868, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry,
since which time he has baptized 1,000 persons into the Lowndesboro
church and 500 at White Hall.
When the Alabama District Association was organized in 1871, he was
elected moderator, and is moderator at this time. He was a leader
in the organization of the Baptist State Convention, over which he
presided from 1876 to 1886. He is one of the originators, stockholders,
and trustees of the Selma University, and is now, and from the
beginning of the University, has been the chairman of the board of
trustees. He is a man dearly beloved.
In recognition of his Christian manliness, his faithful labors, and
his knowledge of the word of God, the above named university in 1890
conferred upon him the honorary title of D. D.
He is studious, industrious, devout, urbane; and though he is now about
68 years of age, he is still so full of sunshine as to be acceptable to
youth as he is to old age. His present wife heartily joins him in every
good word and work.
He has succeeded in accumulating considerable property, and is greatly
to be praised for the care he has bestowed upon the culture of his
sons. He has been among the chief financial supports of all the worthy
measures of the denomination. He is very sociable, and possesses rare
powers as a preacher. No man in Alabama has so much power over the
Alabama Baptists as Dr. Tyler; his works as well as words make him the
beloved.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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