At Auburn, in Lee, was the Rev. Thomas Glenn, a man respected and
trusted no less by his white neighbors than by his own people for his
genuine piety and honorable life.
In Barbour and Bullock, Revs. Jerry Shorter, M. Coleman, William McCoo
and Deacon J. E. Timothy possessed the spirit of leadership, and moved
forward in the work of organization upon the appearance of liberty.
Rev. E. Thornton soon appears.
GREENVILLE, BUTLER COUNTY.
In this town and county the Rev. Stewart Adams is the pioneer. In 1872
or 1873, he was appointed missionary under the American Baptist Home
Mission Society, and was thus enabled to extend his operations, which
resulted in the organization of one of the first associations (Union).
SELMA.
Somewhere between 1840-45, a colored church was organized in Selma,
the first colored leader of which was a Mr. Samuel Phillips, a man who
obtained his liberty (so the late Mr. A. Goldsby reported) by some
service he rendered the country in the Mexican war. A. Goldsby and
Charles White (late treasurer of our Convention) were principal persons
in the organization.
* * * * *
So much has been said to show the ante-liberty growths. It seems
fitting to close this chapter with the appearance of freedom as the
writer saw it.
From the days of my earliest recollection, freedom’s shadowy forms
moved before the eyes of the Southern slave. He felt or thought that
he felt--he saw or thought he saw--the touch and visage of approaching
liberty. In subdued tones it was whispered upon ears that could be
trusted, that slavery, with all its accompanying horrors, was soon
to be a thing of the past. Praying bands were organized and met in
distant groves to pray for liberty. Gathered beneath the sighing trees
and nightly skies, they whispered their agonies upon the ears of the
Almighty--whispered _lowly_, lest the passing winds should bear their
petitions to the ears of the overseer or master. And often--as with
Daniel and his companions in Babylon--the God who reveals secrets to
them that love him, uncovered before our minds coming events, which
caused us to laugh and cry. But we kept these things in our hearts, and
it was a wonder to all around that the slave could sing in his furnace
of hot afflictions. God, in unfolding hope, was with us in the fire,
and so we were sustained.
DREAM TELLING.
They fall to dreaming: Contending armies are seen in battle, and the
one favorable to the liberty of the slave is seen to prevail. Old trees
appear to wither and disappear before trees of new sort.
The war cloud bursts and the slave mingles his prayers with the roar of
the booming cannon, tarrying on his knees while the American soldiery
contend in mortal strife. It was understood to mean liberty. At last
the deadly struggle ceased, and emancipation was declared. It was only
the dawning, and therefore the light was dim.
THE BITTER BUD.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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