The corner stone of the First Baptist Church, colored, corner Morgan and Wilmington streets, correctly bears the inscription 1812, a span of almost 130 years. The census of 1810 gave Raleigh only a total population of 376. Of this number 368 were colored. Standing upon that site six score years ago you faced the rear of Casso's tavern, the first hotel in Raleigh, with its out houses immediately in front view. The State house, a brick structure, stood in the center of Union Square, now called Capitol Square. It was probably then the only brick building in the village. Not a church had been erected although Raleigh was then twenty years old. The State House itself supplied the only public hall and was freely used for all purposes. In Union Square was suspended a bell, not unlike the ordinary farm bells until recently in general use. Each evening at ten o'clock this bell was rung by the city watch (police were unknown), as ten was the curfew hour when honest people were expected to be abed.Early in 1812 a congregation gathered in the State House in response to the summons of the bell. The occasion was a sermon by Robert T. Daniel. Mr. Daniel was then in his prime, thirty-nine years old. While a resident of Chatham County he was converted and baptized by Isaac Hicks at Holly Springs in Wake County In 1802. He soon gave himself wholeheartedly to the ministry and the cause of missions domestic and foreign. He was not an educated man even as the term then implied but he was deeply versed in the Scriptures. His fame as a forceful speaker was widespread. The earnestness of the messenger, the unity, tenderness and force of his character, endowed him with an eloquence which arrested and held the attention of any audience. The text Elder Daniel chose on that memorable occasion in the old State House has not been preserved. From the character of the man we may well conjecture that his theme was repentance, the new birth and a regenerate fellowship. Any way the result of that meeting was the organization of this church with just twenty-three members of whom fourteen were colored. Of the nine white people only four were men. Two of these were named as deacons and one of them, Hardy Sanders, appears to have died a few months thereafter. Evidently the colored were slaves for no surnames appear in the record. The membership included no wealth but was from the working class. Six or more years elapsed apparently before the little congregation owned a house of worship. Finally at the cost of $600.00 a church was built on South Person Street, between Hargett and Martin. A few years later in 1822 permission was granted to move the church to Moore Square, then shaded by a growth of magnificent oaks. Hence the public square in front of the present city market was called Baptist Grove and remains so known to the older inhabitants even unto this day. In this humble house of worship amid the giant oaks the Baptist Association met in October, 1823, with eighteen preachers in attendance. The Raleigh Register of that date reports "Much spiritual comfort was derived from these exercises."
According to the census of 1820 the population of Raleigh was 2,633 and there was scarcely any increase for the next decade up to 1830. Mr. Daniel resigning in 1826 left the total membership of the church 224 and of these 157, more than two-thirds of the total, were colored. A plain little house, no modern comforts, the only lights a few feeble candles. The sermon itself was to the hearers truly an event, a message from on high, received with thanksgiving. The prayers were fervent petitions and paeans of praise. What sweeter music than when the little company, united in a common bond of fellowship, in light of the tallow candles they brought with them, sang their favorite hymn "On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand." In 1821, by resolution of the association held at Rogers Cross Roads, a church formed in 1750 hence the oldest Baptist church in Wake County, Elder Daniel was employed as agent for the North Carolina Philanthropic Baptist Missionary Society, a successor of the Philanthropic Baptist Missionary Society of 1805 with Needham Whitfield as president, which societies were parents of the Baptist State Convention formed at Greenville in 1830. Elder Daniel spent his last years preaching in Mississippi and died in 1840 while temporarily in Tennessee.
One at least who ministered to this little flock nearly a century ago was spared to a wonderful old age. As a boy I recall the Rev. Wm. Hill Jordan, his white hair, his loving eye, his tender heart and clear mind. He must have been past his ninetieth year when some forty-five years ago meeting a friend on the street in Oxford he remarked that the Lord had graciously spared him to pass another milestone. "Well, Brother Jordan, how did you celebrate your birthday?" Quick came the response, "I passed the day alone in the woods in fasting and in prayer." The communion in the forest solitude of this venerable saint pictures in your imaginations Moses on lonely Sinai; Elijah in the recesses of the cavern hearing the still small voice and the Master alone in the wilderness meditating His great commission.
The pastorate of Rev. Amos Johnston Battle (1839-1844) marked a new chapter in the history of Raleigh Baptists. The mere mention of his name gives a glimpse into the dawn of Baptist work In North Carolina. His wife, Margaret Parker, and his mother, Mary Palmer Johnston, at once suggest Paul Palmer organizing Shiloh Church in 1727 and John Parker worshipping with his little flock on the banks of the Meherrin. Not only this but he was the grandson Of Elisha Battle of whom Dr. J. P. Huffham wrote "No other private citizen of his time was so honored and loved by the people." Elisha Battle joined the Falls of Tar River Church in 1764, twenty years after its organization. For half a century be was the leading citizen of the wealthy county of Edgecombe, representing his county with his friend Willie Jones from neighboring Halifax County in the State Convention of 1776 which rejected the Constitution of the United States and in the convention that year which wrote the Constitution of North Carolina. He appeared frequently in Raleigh later as the representative from Edgecomoe. He was a founder of the town of Tarboro. For twenty-eight years he was deacon of the church and long served as moderator of the old Kehukee Association which was the first body of the kind in the United States, so historians tell us, to take official action in behalf of missions to the heathen and to formulate permanent plans for support of missions.
Elisha Battle's son Joel had six sons each of whom graduated from the University of North Carolina and later achieved distinction and his three daughters married men of State-wide prominence. Amos was the second son, born in 1806. After finishing his education and entering actively into business he found it necessary to make a horseback trip from Tarboro to the territory of Florida to look after land he had purchased there. Travelling thus through Georgia he stopped at a little wayside church to rest his horse. Services were in progress. When Amos remounted the miracle had been wrought in his heart. On his way back he stopped at the same meeting house, sought the pastor whose sermon he had heard through the open window, and by him was baptized. Arriving home he quickly abandoned his business, entered the ministry and devoted all his time and means to the Lord's cause.
His pastorate (1839) of the little church in Moore Square gave it an expanded influence. This pastor's elder brother was Judge William H. Battle, for thirty years a Superior court judge, later from 1852 to 1868 a justice of the State Supreme Court, and the father of Dr. Kemp P. Battle, of Chapel Hill, and the late Richard H. Battle, of Raleigh. Another younger brother, Richard M. Battle, was an outstanding citizen and an early officer of the North Carolina Home insurance Company here. One of his sisters had married Dr. Charles Phillips of the State University; another was the wife of Raleigh's physician, Dr. W. H. McKee, whose home with fenced-in spacious lot stood on the corner of Wilmington and Martin streets. Speaking of Dr. McKee, who was grandfather of the present Dr. John McKee and James McKee, he was thrown from his carriage and suffered a fractured leg but the broken leg did not prevent him from being at my grand-father's house that same night and successfully ushering my father into this world. Another sister, Catherine Ann, widow of Dr. John Wesley Lewis, became a zealous member of this church shortly before the advent of the beloved wife of Governor W. A. Graham in 1845.
In 1839 Rev. Mr. Battle secured by deed from Willie Jones the lot corner of Morgan and Wilmington streets, and there a house of worship was erected at great personal sacrifice. In fact largely with his own means Mr. Battle erected two brick houses at Wake Forest College and built the church at Raleigh. It has been said that while pastor here he was imprisoned for the church's debt, but the records show that in March, 1841, an execution was issued against him by Charles Dewey, cashier of the bank, for $1,750.00 but the sheriff's return thereon states that the money was paid at the bank. The late William G. Upchurch, who died in 1906, at the age of ninety-three, told friends that Rev. Mr. Battle was arrested but never imprisoned. Mr. Upchurch bought part of the church lot in 1841 and lived there next to the church sixty-five years until his death. His descendants exceed a hundred now and are numerous in this city. The same year Mr. Battle did make an assignment for his creditors from which it appears not only that there was $400.00 due him on salary but he had spent $3,300.00 building the church. Under this deed of trust the property was foreclosed in 1844 and for 400.00 conveyed to Madison B. Royster, Thompson Purham, James D. Nunn and Joseph J. Biggs "in trust for the use and benefit of the New Baptist Church in Raleigh of the faith and order of the Baptist Association." Of these four trustees Madison Royster left no sons; James D. Nunn died childless and willed his property to this church, Major J. J. Biggs' children are In Baltimore but the descendants of Thompson Parham are still active in the same church. Amos J. Battle died in 1870, his latter days clouded by financial troubles but the Raleigh Baptists can never pay to him the debt they owe. Under his ministry, too, Charles Skinner, perhaps the wealthiest and most liberal layman of his day, in this state, was baptized. He was father of Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Skinner.
The brick church the Rev. Mr. Battle built continued to be used until during the first pastorate of Rev. Thos. E. Skinner, the site corner Edenton and Salisbury streets, was bought in 1856; deeded to Alfred Williams, Thos E. Skinner, A. M. Lewis and Rubert M. Jones, trustees, and the present church erected and dedicated in 1858. Dr. Skinner often said he could not have secured the property from James H. Cook but for the aid rendered him by the doctor's colored servant, Jim Atkins.
At the close of the Civil War, Dr. Henry N. Tupper, and others from the north in 1865 began their religious work among the colored people here and colored Baptist congregation, commonly known as Tupper's Church, corner of Bount and Cabarrus streets, was organized but the colored members of the old First Church of Raleigh, under Dr. Thos. E. Skinner and Dr. Thos. H. Pritchard remained in the fellowship of the church in which the colored for a long period constituted a majority of the membership. I have heard my father say that he had a Sunday-school class of colored about this period. However, the question was debated whether it would not be better for the work if a separate church was organized or rather whether the old first Baptist Church should not become two churches instead of one. Finally a delegation headed by Henry Jett in June 1868 presented their idea of the advisability of separate churches and letters were granted them on motion of the late Peter F. Pescud while Dr. Pritchard was pastor. Mr. Pescud was the first Sunday-school superintendent and originated the idea of school picnics when the entire membership in 1845 was entertained on the lawn of Mrs. Parrish, now the Gatling home. Property had been bought March 1, 1867, from W. Robert Andrews and deed was made to Jones Calvin Strickland, Richard Shepherd, Isaac Vass and James Shepherd, trustees of First Colored Baptist Church of the City of Raleigh. The lot faced 102 feet on the extension of Salisbury Street, between North and Johnson streets, and cost $612.00. The church built there was standing in the recollection of many now living. The Salisbury Street property was owned by that church for forty years until January 17, 1907, when it was sold to B. F. Montague for $2,500.00. Meanwhile seeking a better location the church bought in 1899 from B. M. Moore the lot 65 X 61 feet at the northwest corner of Blount and Hargett streets but in 1897 it was wisely sold to the City of Raleigh for a fire station for which purpose it is being used. No church was built on it.
The trustees, Jas. D. Nunn, W. W. Vass, Thos. H. Briggs, J. G. Williams and A. M. Lewis, of the First Baptist Church, September 17, 1859, had sold the Morgan Street site to Right Rev. P. N. Lynch, D.D., Roman Catholic Bishop, of Charleston, S. C., and his successors and it was used by the Catholics until after Rev. James B. White, then pastor of the Catholic Church here, bought in 1879 from Pulaski Cowper the property where the cathedral now stands facing Hillsboro, McDowell and Edenton streets. The old church corner of Morgan and Wilmington streets, being considered unsafe was torn down and the lot was vacant when April 18, 1896, Bishop Lee Haide, of the Catholic Church, for $2,000.00 deeded it to Allen Lane, Brodie Rogers, Henderson Crosson, Richard Plummer and Booker Hardie, trustees of First Baptist Church, colored, of Raleigh, N. C. The corner stone was laid in 1904 while Rev. W. T. Coleman was pastor.
From 1867 to this day the First Baptist Church, colored, has had only seven pastors, a tribute to the worth of both pastor and people. Rev. J. S. Worlds, or "Brother World" as he was called, served as pastor twenty-two years, 1874 to 1902, with an intermission of six years, and he was well known throughout this city. His aged widow is still living here. During the eighties Elihu White, a Quaker of Perquimans County, was U. S. collector of internal revenue and moved to Raleigh. There being no Friends Church here, he and his family, including: two beautiful little daughters, were faithful attendants here. Prior to calling Dr. J. W. Carter and while the church was seeking a pastor, Mr. White was discussing the matter with some of the deacons. His little daughter being an interested listener broke in with the remark, "Well, what is the matter with Brother World?" J. J. World had a remarkable career. Born In Harnett County, this State, a slave he went to Michigan when a boy, attended school there and learned a mechanics trade. After working in Detroit he went to Toledo, Ohio, married in that city and later became pastor of a church there. At the close of the war in company with Rev. Garland White, a chaplain in the army, World returned to his native state, preaching first in Halifax County, then in Tarboro from whence he came to Raleigh in 1874 as pastor of the First Church. His character and uncompromising stand for righteousness won the respect of all.
The present generation has scant conception of the situation which existed in Raleigh forty-five or fifty years ago. Vice openly flourished in forms which would be tolerated nowhere today. Streets there were in the heart of the city down which no woman could walk and preserve a stainless name. There were from thirty to forty licensed saloons; a grog shop for less than every three hundred of population. Not many if any years had passed since these places were opened on Sunday and their hours were still unrestricted. In 1881 prohibition was submitted to a vote of the State and defeated but the campaign had served to arouse the people and concentrate attention upon the evil Local option elections became popular throughout the State, J. J. World took no uncertain stand on temperance. He possessed natural eloquence and exerted a strong Influence. The year 1886 furnished the most exciting election on the question of license or no-license Raleigh had known. The no-license forces led by the ministers determined to drive the saloons out at Raleigh. Prayer meetings and rallies were held. The temperance forces adopted blue for their color while the license advocates wore red badges. The Shaw University students organized a colored brass band and wearing blue sashes paraded through the streets. Crowds were drawn by the music, then a speaker would mount a wagon or goods box arid make an appeal for temperance. Fisticuffs were not unknown and sometimes the band was rocked and insulted but the contest moved bravely on. The election was to be held June 7, 1886, and the preceding week the advocates of license planned to stage a big demonstration. Up Fayettevllle Street came their band wagon, all bedecked with red streamers and drawn by four beautiful horses powerful enough to keep the wagon from miring in the mud bogs of our principal thoroughfare. Then followed the speaking in old Metropolitan Hall. All the virtue was not on one side for good and respectable citizens favored license and were against running the saloons out of Raleigh township into the country districts. A popular State officer took a conspicuous part in the meeting. Among the speakers was a certain brilliant and gifted Raleigh attorney, a man of great personal distinction, but in his speech he made a break, a display of bad taste and worse judgment, which proved a boomerang. He denounced World and other colored preachers of Raleigh for alleged coercion of their congregations. He appealed to the Negroes not to let these preachers intimidate them and take away their personal liberty. The late N. B. Broughton, who led the temperance forces, was quick to see the error of the license speaker and to take advantage of the opportunity it offered. Accordingly a big rally was held in the same hall the Sunday afternoon preceding the election. The late Lee R. Wyatt presided. In the selection of speakers Mr. Broughton and his committee out generated their opponents. Judge Robert P. Dick had resided In Raleigh while an Associate Justice of our Supreme Court, but upon his appointment as United States Judge made his home in Greensboro. He was a son of State Superior Court Judge John M. Dick who had shown the breadth and independence of his character by unsuccessfully moving in the legislature of 1830 an amendment to the general law so as to permit the education of the slaves In Guilford County. Well, Judge Robert Dick readily consented to come to Raleigh and make the address mentioned. While here he was the guest of the late Seymour Whiting. Judge Dick's speech was an able logical presentation of the temperance question. He was followed by Rev, J. C. Price, of Salisbury, one of the greatest colored orators this State has produced. He did not fail to come to the defense of the Christian ministry. His reply to the onslaught which had been made on World and his fellow workers literally swept the audience. The lawyer's fatal break did the work. Raleigh voted against license by a majority of sixty while on the same day the wets carried Durham and Asheville and won In Charlotte by more than four hundred majority. It was in that campaign that an affable German saloon keeper made his famous remark to Dr. Skinner concerning a certain prominent member of Dr. Skinner's flock, "He prays mit you but he drinks mit me,"
Time does not permit further reminiscences. Both churches and their membership are the direct heirs of all the glorious achievements and noble traditions of the Raleigh Baptists. The chain stretching one hundred and twenty years is without a missing link. The lineage is unbroken since fourteen colored and nine white confederated in their consecration. United all remained for fifty-six years. The subsequent two churches are but branches of this same parent tree, of equal antiquity; all bound by the same ties. Together our forefathers served their generation. Together they fought a good fight; they finished their course; they kept the faith. Their heritage Is priceless. May the legacy be treasured by generations yet unborn.
O Noble pioneers! Who wrought through long and weary years
We reap with thankful hearts today what you have sown in tears.
We know yoor happy spirits. In the blessful realms above.
Are looking down upon us now in tenderness and love.
===========[From the Biblical Recorder, October 28, 1931, pp. 4, 10. On-line edition. Scanned and formatted bu Jim Duvall.]
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