and he came to the American
settlement for instruction and baptism. Without being asked, he
related his experience to the church.

"When me bin Sa' lone," he began, "me see all man go to church
house--me go too--me be very bad man too--suppose a man can cus
(curse) me--me can cus im too--suppose a man can fight me--me can
fight im too.--Well, me go to church house--the man speak, and one
word catch my heart (and at the same time laying his hand on his
breast)--I go to my home--my heart be very heavy--and trouble me
too--night time come--me fear me can't go to my bed for sleep--my
heart trouble me so--something tell me go pray to God--me fall down to
pray--no--my heart be too bad--I can't pray--I think so--I go die
now--suppose I die--I go to hell--me be very bad man--pass all turrer
(other) man--God be angry with me--soon I die--suppose man cus me this
time--me can't cus him no more--suppose man fight me--me can't fight
him no more--all the time my heart trouble me--all day--all night me
can't sleep--by and by my heart grow too big--me fall down this
time--now me can pray--me say Lord--have massey. Then light come in my
heart--make me glad--make me light--make me love the Son of God--make
me love everybody."

John was baptized the 20th of March, 1825. The church neatly dressed
him, gave him an extra suit, about $10.50, 3 Bibles and 2 hymn books
and sent him on his way rejoicing.[82]

The impetus received by the church was amazing. The membership by 1825
had increased to 60 or 70 and two or three pious emigrants were
assisting in the work. This same year, Lott Cary directed the building
of a substantial meeting house which would have been completed
immediately if nails and boards could have been procured.[83] In a
letter from Monrovia,[84] dated April 24, 1826, he wrote a brother in
Norfolk: "We dedicated our meeting house last October; it was four
weeks from the time we raised it to the time it was dedicated. It is
quite a comfortable house, 30 x 20 feet, and ceiled inside nearly up
to the plates, with a decent pulpit and seats. I feel very grateful to
you for your services, and to the brethren and friends for their
liberal contribution."[85]

This progress of the church might, at first blush, seem to say that
everything was in a state of tranquility and peace. This is far from
being the case. In the face of the record of Lott Cary as a Christian,
a pastor, a representative of the Richmond African Baptist Missionar