Lawson, Rev. A. J., of Camden, son of Mr. A. and Mrs. Julia Lawson, is doing a good work at Camden. His chief educational advantages have come of the Camden schools, and what he has accomplished in the way of letters, is evidence of his vigilance and application with reference to the opportunities which came to his hand. He was baptized by Rev. David Small, of Clark county, in 1886, two years after which time he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry at Camden by order of the Camden Church, which was then under the pastoral care of Rev. J. W. White. His labors are well spoken of by his brethren. Lawson, Rev. A., of Union Springs, the pastor of Mount Pleasant Church, now about 45 years of age, is one of the leading men of the “Old Pine Grove Association.” Like most of the men of his time, his education has been hindered. However, he is a very clear-headed man and, having a large following, has done much good in Bullock county. Leavens, Rev. Charles, the man who led to the erection of the brick structure in which the St. Louis Street Church now worships, was of Virginia nativity, and was born about 1805. The writer is of the opinion that no man in Alabama did so much in pioneer days to organize the Negro Baptists in the State as Mr. Leavens. At the close of the war he was not ordained, but was the most enterprising, pushing, sanguine and influential man in his church. Naturally, therefore, the work of guiding the flock fell upon his shoulders. As he could not get ordination of his white brethren, he sought it in New Orleans. Finding himself now possessed with the commission of a gospel minister, he sought to touch and commission men for the other cities and towns of the State. The Rev. Philip Gambrell was ordained about the same time. Calling in this man’s services and assistance, Mr. Leavens ordained Messrs. P. Murrell, of Tuscaloosa; J. Bleavens, of Selma; James Caldwell, of Demopolis; the writer, and a great company of others, who went out into the various sections of the State to organize the people into churches. Of course, as might have been expected, he sometimes put out the wrong man, but it was a time to do and dare. His excuse for hasty action was: “This is a peculiar time whose peculiar circumstances call for bold methods.” His chief questions to applicants were: “Can you and do you read the Bible? Do you believe it, pray about it, and practice its teachings? Are you a good, whole Baptist? Are you a republican?” Leach, Rev. James, of Birmingham, son of Alfred and Elizabeth Leach, was born July 16, 1832, in Marengo county, Ala. In 1846 he was baptized by the Rev. Mr. Fox, of Uniontown, and on November 26, 1867, in the African Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa, he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. P. Murrell, P. Bowler and James Caldwell.