"New Orleans Correspondence," The Christian Recorder, Mar. 16, 1867, p. 2 · Freedmen's Bureau Project

Title

"New Orleans Correspondence," The Christian Recorder, Mar. 16, 1867, p. 2

Date

03-16-1867

Creator

Edmonia Highgate

Description

In this article in The Christian Recorder (the newspaper of the African Methodist Episcopal Church), teacher Edmonia Highgate describes a recent quarterly meeting on the subject of education held at St. James' Chapel.

Source

Center for Research Libraries

Transcript

Miscellaneous.
NEW ORLEANS CORRESPONDENCE .
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MR. EDITOR:-After an absence of several months we have returned to the Cresent City, to find much that is encouraging in the great missionary work in this department. We attended a very interesting quarterly meeting at St. James' Chapel a few Sabbaths since. Rev. John Turner, the able and pure-minded pastor preached a sermon, which, for powerfully deep, soul-searching thought, we have seldom heard equaled. What makes Brother Turner a blessing to this place is, that his daily life is proof of his pulpit doctrine. A series of meetings were held preparatory to the Quarterly occasion, which have continued to increase in religious importance. Over sixty benighted souls have been converted to the Savior, and more than a hundred persons have united recently with this branch of the Christian Church. One most gratifying feature is, that the Baptist congregations and that of Soule's Chapel have been largely represented in this revival. When we remember that the latter is under Dr. Newman's influence, it is a notable fact that a number of those members have joined St. James Chapel. There has been no sectarian faction excited, owing to the admirable management of Elder Turner in this effort for the ingathering of souls. He held a very important quarterly meeting at Baton Rouge in Bro. Dwight's new church. There was much that indicated quiet progress in spite of every species of opposition. Immediately subsequent our Superintendent of Missions was at Thibedeaux. The Quarterly Conference, which is composed of 55 members, was attended by 53, all of whom are fine looking men, most of whom are of more than mediocre native talent. Some eight of these brethren were licensed as exhorters, and two as local preachers. We are pleased to notice that Dr. Cromwell has been elected Superintendent of St. James Chapel Sabbath-school; which numbers over a hundred and seventy pupils and twenty teachers and is "the Banner School" in numbers, general interest, and a determination, "to keep up with the times." Dr. J.B. Smith of Boston, has been doing excellent service here at the Baptist church of which Rev. Charles Satchel is pastor. The Doctor is laboring efficiently in the Sabbath school, and we hope that the exertions of so gifted a minister may be long continued here, for the work in this city is of greater magnitude than is usually estimated. We are creditably informed that Dr. Chapman of the New York Baptist Home Mission Society, is conducting a theological school for colored students. It is a worthy project and we understand, it is appreciated by those who feel called to promulgate the doctrine of immersion in the waste places of the South. We are interrupted here by a gentleman from the Brook haven Mission of Laurence County, Miss. He states that the presiding elder has organized a church there of 113 members owning church property to the amount of $1500, with a Sabbath school of 106 pupils and 10 teacher. This mission has sadly needed a Bible and this brother tells me that Mrs. Rev. John Turner and sister A.M. Cripps, of this city has glad dened his heart by presenting his people with a good pulpit Bible. The first of the ladies named is very enterprising. She called, with Miss E.G. Highgate at the St. Louis Hotel upon Mad Highgate at the St. Louis Hotel upon Mad Ristori, the great Italian tragedienne! These ladies were very cordially received by this greathearted personage, who is as much a woman as she is an actress. She said, in exquisite French that she was in sympathy with all who were or had been oppressed. That she felt kindly toward the freedmen, and that she knew that it would be some time before they would be enabled to rise as they ought to, because of the prejudice. She asked what the relation of these ladies was to the freed ones. When she was asked to head a subscription for the establishment of an A.M.E. Free School, she said she would be glad to do so after she had consulted with her husband. Could you have seen her lovely countenance, with its varying shades of expression, you would have thought it grander than any of our famed paintings. When she clasped her hands in real womanly emotion and said in English, "Yes, liberty for all," there was on her face an oration sublimer than Philip ever uttered! Her two beautiful children are greatly like their mother.
While we were waiting in the elegant public reception room, we overheard a gentleman and lady evidently Southerners, in conversation. He said to her, "A negro has been appointed to a first-class clerkship in the Treasury Department in Washington." "Ah, what does that mean?" said Madam, "Why," answered he, "a certain class of politicians in this country are determined to make the negro kill himself." Therefore they elevate him to such heights that he will be sure to prove his incapacity to hold his position and will himself settle his own status!" Very wise, thought we, but is it true?
We have good news for you in our next.

E. GOODELE H.-----.

NEW ORLEANS , Feb. 25th, 1867.