g faith in God,--this Church has grown to magnificent
proportions. Her name has gone to the ends of the earth. In the
Ecumenical Council of the Methodists in London, 1881, its
representatives made a splendid impression; and their addresses and
papers took high rank.

This Church has taught the Negro how to govern and how to submit to
government. It has kept its membership under the influence of
wholesome discipline, and for its beneficent influence upon the morals
of the race, it deserves the praise and thanks of mankind.[129]

FOOTNOTES:

[129] We have to thank the Rev. B. W. Arnett, B.D., the Financial
Secretary, for the valuable statistics used in this chapter. He is an
intelligent, energetic, and faithful minister of the Gospel, and a
credit to his Church and race.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

FOUNDING OF THE M. E. CHURCH OF AMERICA IN 1768.--NEGRO SERVANTS
AND SLAVES AMONG THE FIRST CONTRIBUTORS TO THE ERECTION OF THE
FIRST CHAPEL IN NEW YORK.--THE REV. HARRY HOSIER THE FIRST NEGRO
PREACHER IN THE M. E. CHURCH IN AMERICA.--HIS REMARKABLE
ELOQUENCE AS A PULPIT ORATOR.--EARLY PROHIBITION AGAINST
SLAVE-HOLDING IN THE M. E. CHURCH.--STRENGTH OF THE CHURCHES AND
SUNDAY-SCHOOLS OF THE COLORED MEMBERS IN THE M. E. CHURCH.--THE
REV. MARSHALL W. TAYLOR, D.D.--HIS ANCESTORS.--HIS EARLY LIFE AND
STRUGGLES FOR AN EDUCATION.--HE TEACHES SCHOOL IN KENTUCKY.--HIS
EXPERIENCES AS A TEACHER.--IS ORDAINED TO THE GOSPEL MINISTRY AND
BECOMES A PREACHER AND MISSIONARY TEACHER.--HIS SETTLEMENT AS
PASTOR IN INDIANA AND OHIO.--IS GIVEN THE TITLE OF DOCTOR OF
DIVINITY BY THE TENNESSEE COLLEGE.--HIS INFLUENCE AS A LEADER,
AND HIS STANDING AS A PREACHER.

Phillip Embury, Barbara Heck, and Capt. Thomas Webb were the germ from
which, in the good providence of God, has sprung the Methodist
Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The first chapel was
erected upon leased ground on John Street, New York City, in 1768. The
ground was purchased in 1770. Subscriptions were asked and received
from all classes of people for the building, from the mayor of the
city down to African female servants known only by their Christian
names. Here the Colored people became first identified with American
Methodism. From this stock have sprung all who have been subsequently
connected with it. Meetings were held, prior to the erection of John
Street