CONTENTS.

        PREFACE

• CHAPTER I.
  Baptism of Andrew Bryan and Three Females, by Rev. George Liele--Mr. Brian's early Exhortations at Brampton--His Meeting-House at Yamacraw, upon Edward Davis's Land--Early History of Baptists in this Section--The Orphan House of Mr. Whitefield--Nicholas Bedgegood--An Attempt to organize a Baptist Church--Conversion of Sampson Bryan--Rev. Thomas Burton--His Baptism--Mr. Bryan's Converts--Plantation Societies formed--Abram Marshall--His Baptizing other Converts --Organizes the Church--Ordains Andrew Bryan--Persecutions of the Church--Whipping Mr. Bryan, his Brother, and other Members--Jonathan Bryan intercedes for them--Chief-Justice Osbourne gives them Permission to worship--Church removed to Brampton--Mr. Bryan's Ordination questioned--Decision by the Georgia Association --Preaching on Lot of Thomas Gibbons--Church removed back to the City--Purchase of Lot--Building a Church Edifice thereon--Removing into the Same
  
  

• CHAPTER II.
  Conversion of Thomas Polhill and Wife--Attempt to organize a White Baptist Body--Conversion of Native Africans--The Church as a Member of the Georgia Association--Soundness against Unity with P?obaptists--Incidents of her Baptisms--Marriage Relations of the Members
  
  

• CHAPTER III.
  Petition to Mayor and Aldermen not granted--Major D. B. Mitchell of the Militia--Permitted by him to Meet--Trustees selected--Property deeded to them in Trust--Sampson Bryan--First Deacon's Death--Organization of the Newington Church--Rev. Henry Holcombe--His Call to Savannah--His Work--Organization of the Savannah River Association--Constitution of Two more Colored Churches--Henry Cunningham and Henry Francis--Their Ordination as Pastors
  
  

• CHAPTER IV.
  Sunday Services--Condition of Night Services--Beating of the Guard-House Drum--Times of Communion--Mixed Membership--Andrew Marshall's Conversion and Baptism--Mr. Bryan's Feebleness--His Character, given by Dr. Holcombe--Andrew Marshall called as his Assistant--Evans Grate as a Preacher--Mr. Bryan's Peculiar Services as a Pastor--His Death--His Honorable Burial--Rev. Dr. Kollock--Rev. Johnson, of the Savannah Baptist Church--Death reported to the Association--Resolution of that Body
  
  

• CHAPTER V.
  Rev. Evans Grate supplying the Church--Call of Rev. Mr. Marshall as Pastor--Organization of Sunbury Association--Adam Johnson and Josiah Lloyd First Delegates--Mr. Marshall's Doctrines--His Troubles--His Friends--Sentenced to be whipped--Names of Influential Members of that Day--Adam Anderson and Joseph Clay as Clerks--Grace Hague
  
  

• CHAPTER VI.
  Evans Grate and Adam Sheftall as Delegates in 1822--The Church designated as African--First Colored Sunday-School--Dr. Alexander Campbell--His Preaching in this Church--The Division it caused--Mr. Marshall withdrawing with the Majority--Adam Johnson Leader of the Minority--The Troubles before the Association--Their Action--Mr. Marshall silenced--Buying the Old Church on Franklin Square--Church called Rev. T. Anderson as Pastor--Readmitted into the Association--Her new Designation
  
  

• CHAPTER VII.
  The Claim for Originality--The First Negro Baptist Church in America--Wanderings and Settlement--Orthodox Faith of the Church under Mr. Bryan--Number and Designation not by the Church--Submission to procure License to preach--Intent of our White Ministers shown by Resolutions of the Association--The Church powerless to insist upon her Rights--The Church's Demands upon Mr. Marshall--His Confession--They, having no Jurisdiction over him, accepted the Confession as a Satisfaction--Mr. Marshall's Claim to the Property--Trustees decide against him--Rev. Anderson's Resignation--Rev. Stephen McQueen called--His Service for Five Years--Rev. J. B. Devoux's Succession, Service, Resignation--Call of Rev. I. Roberts, Fifth Pastor from the Second Church--Service, Resignation--Rev. Brister Lawton succeeds--Call of Four new Deacons
  
  

• CHAPTER VIII.
  Adam Johnson as a Deacon--Andrew Neyle--Call and Ordination of G. Frazer--Numeration and Taxation of Churches--Frazer desiring to resign--Ordination of U. L. Houston--Southern Baptist Convention of 1861--Resignation of Mr. Frazer--Rev. Houston called to the Pastorate--The Church in the War--New-Year of 1863--Last Meeting with the Sunbury Association--Freedom--Pastor and Officers introduced to General Sherman--Secretary Stanton--President Lincoln--Sheltering Refugees--Assassination of Mr. Lincoln--The Shock--Recovery and Hope
  
  

• CHAPTER IX.
  Zion Baptist Association--Position of the Church therein First--Choosing a Title--Ordination of Rev. A. Neyle to the Ministry--The Pastor elected to the State Legislature--Church procuring a Charter--Deacon A. Harris--Conspiracy in the Church--Usurping the Pastorate--The Question before the Association--Their Decision--An ex parte Council in Savannah--Their Decision--The Church's Action thereon
  
  

• CHAPTER X.
  Appointing Brother Green to Protest against Harris--Troubles in the Courts--Counsel Employed--Green's Case before the Mayor--Harris enjoined by the Court--Branch of the Church at Woodstock organized--Last Communion Service--Resolutions against Harris--Houston's Recall as Pastor--Simms received into Membership--Meeting of Male Members--Harris's Injunction removed--Attempts to Preach--Policemen called in--Fasting and Prayer--Houston and Simms in Prison
  
  

• CHAPTER XI.
  Regular Church Services resumed--Resolutions Relative to the Late Troubles--Parties expelled--Troubles resumed in the Association--Houston elected Moderator--Committee reports Relative to this Church--Several Elder Brethren withdraw--Causes of their Action--Old Church Building taken Down--Committees to erect a New Building--Building commenced--Corner-stone laid by the Masonic Fraternity
  
  

• CHAPTER XII.
  Work of Building--Modes of Raising Funds--List of Subscribers and Workers--Financial Embarrassments--Trustees effect Loans--Benevolent Societies' Assistance--Zeal of Pastor and Officers--Financial Investigation and Report--Building completed--Request for Convention--Dedication--Centennial Anniversary Services--Branches from this Oldest Church--Present Officers
  
  

• COVENANT, CONSTITUTION, AND BY-LAWS
  
  

• BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE PASTORS

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