MORGAN'S HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE Page 236
Presbyterian Church, of Washington, D. C., was without a preacher; Bishop D. A. Payne permitted him to serve the church, as a supply, for eighteen months. He organized the first school for freedom in the Navy Yard, by permission of Admiral Dalghren. He joined the Baltimore Annual Conference in April, 1862, and was appointed to the E. Street and Alexander Mission. This mission was the first work of the church made possible by the war. When organized it was necessary to be guarded by United States soldiers, which the Provost Marshall, General Gregory, freely gave; and, even then, upon more than one occasion, bricks were thrown against the shutters of the windows.
In 1863 he was sent as pastor to Georgetown, D. C. This was a good church and excellent congregation, but they had been burdened with a debt for some time, about three hundred dollars, all of which was raised during his first term.
In 1866 he was sent to the Big Baltimore charge, where he did a good work for the Master and church.
In 1867 he was sent back from the conference, but resigned to take charge of a proposed Annual Conference School at Fredericktown, Md., which the Baltimore Annual Conference was patronizing. He was, during this year, employed by the Freedmen's Society to organize schools throughout the State. In this work he did much good by lecturing the new made freedmen on their duties to themselves and families.
In 1868 the General Conference met at Washington city. He was elected the chief secretary, and during the conference he was elected by acclamation the editor of the Christian Recorder, which position he filled with honor to himself and church.
He received the degree of A. M. from Avery College, under the presidency of Dr H. H. Garnet, in 1870.
The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by Wilberforce University, in 187-.
The General Conferences of 1872, 1876 and 1880 re-elected him editor of the Christian Recorder. He has been editor longer than any colored man in the United States. He is the master of Negro editors, and wields the most facile pen of any colored man in the country. He has written poetry and prose for the New York Independent, which is a compliment alike to him and his church.
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