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BISHOP ISAAC LANE. LL.D. 
 
 ( AT EIGHTY-TWO YEARS OF AGE) 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY 
 
 Bishop Isaac Lane, LL.D. 
 
 SHORT HISTORY OF THE C. M. E. CHURCH 
 IN AMERICA AND OF METHODISM 
 
 3 
 
 Printed for the Author 
 
 Publishing House of the M. E. Church, South 
 
 Nashville, Tenn, 
 
 1916 
 
COPYRIGHT, I916 
 
 BY 
 
 ISAAC LANE 
 
DEDICATION 
 
 To the many hundreds of young men and young women of my 
 Church and race who need encouragement and inspiration; 
 to my Church in general, and the ministers in partic- 
 ular, whom I have served as pastor, presiding 
 elder, and bishop for a period covering 
 more than sixty years; and to the 
 reading public in general 
 
 THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 
 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In writing this little book the purpose of the au- 
 thor is to narrate in a brief manner the most impor- 
 tant events in his own life, give a short biographical 
 sketch of the early bishops of the Colored Method- 
 ist Episcopal Church in America who were his con- 
 temporaries, and at the same time point out some of 
 the conditions and circumstances attendant upon the 
 organization of his Church. The author has set his 
 hands to this task, using such manuscripts and docu- 
 ments as he has in his possession and relying very 
 largely upon his own memory for much material 
 which he has used freely. He was a witness, if not 
 a party, to every important movement in the Church 
 from its very organization to the present time. 
 What contribution he has made to its progress and 
 development he is perfectly willing for others to es- 
 timate and record, but suffice it for him to say that 
 he has done what he could for his Church and for 
 the race. 
 
 In this work the author has had the encourage- 
 ment of a great many ministers and laymen who 
 have insisted upon his putting in permanent form 
 some of the historical data that he has used so often 
 in his sermons, addresses, and lectures. This he has 
 felt free to do. 
 
 While selecting the material for this book the 
 author has kept constantly in mind two classes of 
 
 5 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 persons who may read it — viz. : ( I ) The young men 
 of the Church who should be acquainted with the 
 struggles of their Church in its infancy, the ambi- 
 tion of the founders (their sacrifices, failures, and 
 successes), and who w r ant to get a clear understand- 
 ing of the special mission of their Church in the 
 world, its purpose and its polity. (2) The other 
 class of persons whom the author has held in mind 
 is the reading public at large. I refer to that great 
 body of intelligent men and women who want infor- 
 mation concerning the Colored Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in America, along with the other great ec- 
 clesiastical organizations having for their purpose 
 the saving of the people. The author realizes that it 
 is very difficult for many well-meaning persons to 
 understand why there was ever a demand made for 
 the organization of the Colored Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in America, and still more difficult for many 
 to understand its relation to other Methodist 
 Churches, and especially to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South. A studious effort, it appears, has 
 been made to impress the world that this Church was 
 "set up and off" contrary to the wishes and desires 
 of the members. Our records show that such was 
 not the case. Several of our Annual Conferences 
 formally and openly petitioned for an independent 
 body regularly organized and properly manned, and 
 it was upon these petitions and in keeping with them 
 that the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, took 
 action. 
 
 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 If the author has accomplished nothing more than 
 to show how the Colored Methodist Episcopal 
 Church was organized, and to set forth its necessity 
 and the great service it has rendered mankind during 
 these forty-five years of its splendid history, he feels 
 amply repaid for all the efforts he has put forth. 
 
 7 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Introduction 13 
 
 Chapter I. 
 
 The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America Or- 
 ganized 17 
 
 Chapter II. 
 
 How and by Whom the Colored Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in America Was Organized 23 
 
 Chapter III. 
 Origin of Methodism in England and in America 2.7 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Organized 33 
 
 Chapter V. 
 
 The African Methodist Episcopal and the African Method- 
 ist Episcopal Zion Churches — Priority Still an Open 
 Question — How Zion Was Organized; Its Growth 37 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 The African Methodist Episcopal Church 44 
 
 Chapter VII. 
 The Story of My Early Life 47 
 
 Chapter VIII. 
 My Early Life in the Ministry 52 
 
 Chapter IX. 
 The Early Days of Freedom 56 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Chapter X. Page 
 Our First General Conference 60 
 
 Chapter XI. 
 
 The Second General Conference of the Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal Church in America 65 
 
 Chapter XII. 
 My Early Experiences as a Bishop 70 
 
 Chapter XIII. 
 
 The Third General Conference of the Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal Church in America 81 
 
 Chapter XIV. 
 
 The Period from 1874 to 1880, Including the Fourth Gen- 
 eral Conference 84 
 
 Chapter XV. 
 
 My Work Following the Fifth and Sixth General Confer- 
 ences 89 
 
 Chapter XVI. 
 
 The Seventh General Conference of the Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal Church and Some Transpiring Events 94 
 
 Chapter XVII. 
 
 The Great Need of a Denominational School — My Inspira- 
 tion and Earl} r Efforts — Founding of Lane College 97 
 
 Chapter XVIII. 
 A Year of Great Trial and Severe Affliction 109 
 
 Chapter XIX. 
 
 My Labor as a Church Expansionist — Working in the Mis- 
 sion Field 118 
 
 10 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Chapter XX. Page 
 Church Activities in Recent Years 124 
 
 Chapter XXI. 
 
 The Thirteenth General Conference of the Colored Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church in America 130 
 
 Chapter XXII. 
 Death of Mrs. Frances A. Lane 133 
 
 Chapter XXIII. 
 
 Biographical Sketches of the Bishops of the Colored Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church in America 143 
 
 Chapter XXIV. 
 Excerpts from a Sermon on "Faith" 183 
 
 Chapter XXV. 
 
 Extracts from an Address on "Holiness" Delivered before 
 an Annual Conference 187 
 
 Chapter XXVI. 
 
 A Dissertation on "Why Baptize Children ?" 189 
 
 II 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Bishop Isaac Lane, LL.D., at Sixty Years of Age 19 
 
 Trinity Church, Augusta, Ga 67 
 
 Residence of Bishop Isaac Lane 75 
 
 Old Main Hall, Lane College 99 
 
 Girls' Hall, Lane College 105 
 
 Boys' Dormitory, Lane College 11 1 
 
 New Main Hall, Lane College 115 
 
 Lane Tabernacle, St. Louis, Mo 121 
 
 Front View of New Buildings at Lane College 125 
 
 Mrs. Frances Ann Boyce Lane 135 
 
 Bishop W. H. Miles 145 
 
 Bishop J. A. Beebe 149 
 
 Bishop L. H. Holsey, D.D 153 
 
 Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Long Smith Lane 157 
 
 Bishop R. S. Williams, D.D 161 
 
 Bishop Elias Cottrell, D.D 165 
 
 Bishop C. H. Phillips, LL.D 169 
 
 Bishop M. F. Jamison, D.D 173 
 
 Bishop R. A. Carter, D.D 177 
 
 Bishop N. C. Cleaves, D.D 181 
 
 12 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It is with a sense of peculiar joy that I introduce 
 to the reading public Bishop Isaac Lane, D.D., 
 LL.D., as an author. The joy in doing the pleasant 
 task is not due to my ability to do it well, but to a 
 desire I have always cherished to be in some way 
 associated with the life and deeds of great men. The 
 privilege I esteem very highly because of the very 
 helpful acquaintance I have had with the author, the 
 powerful influence of his saintly life upon me, the 
 unblemished life he has lived among the people, and 
 the large service he has rendered his Church and 
 race in particular and humanity in general. 
 
 The author is a bishop of the Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, having been elected in 1873 a ^ 
 Augusta, Ga., and remained in active service until 
 May, 19 1 4, when, upon his own request, he was 
 granted relief from episcopal responsibilities. 
 
 Bishop Lane is a rare product and gives value and 
 nobility to the age that produced him. Born in slav- 
 ery, deprived of educational advantages, surrounded 
 by untoward conditions to hinder the progress in- 
 spired by the determination of his own soul, he has 
 pushed his way from gross ignorance to a plane of 
 intelligence inferior to none of like surroundings 
 and superior to many of more favorable advantages ; 
 he has pushed his way from abject slavery to the 
 highest peak in the esteem and confidence of the best 
 people of both races. 
 
 13 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 As a man he has embodied and exemplified the 
 virtues of a noble manhood — industri-ous, frugal, 
 and rigidly honest; polite and courteous to every- 
 body; humble but not cringing, respectful but not 
 subservient ; noble in purpose, lofty in aim, and per- 
 severing in worthy efforts. 
 
 As a Christian he has given evidence of genuine 
 repentance, sound conversion, and regeneration un- 
 questioned. His loving heart, gentle and forgiving 
 spirit, broad humanitarian sympathies, loyalty to 
 truth and justice, and unswerving devotion to the 
 right stand him yonder upon a pinnacle, pure and 
 white, sun-crowned, with his head and heart lifted 
 to God. 
 
 As a preacher he is soundly orthodox, sublime in 
 his conception of God and his eternal attributes, firm 
 in his faith of the ultimate triumph of righteousness. 
 He is deep and profound in thought, logical in rea- 
 soning, persuasive in argument, and powerful in 
 delivery. 
 
 As a bishop he has been abundant in labors, safe 
 in his leadership, and wise and honest in his manage- 
 ment of the affairs of the Church. His services have 
 been unselfish, untiring, and abundantly fruitful. 
 He founded Lane College and has contributed much 
 in energy, time, money, and sacrifice to its growth 
 and perpetuity. No man in his Church has done 
 more to upbuild and expand the kingdom than has 
 the intrepid Bishop Lane. During the forty-one 
 years of his active service as a bishop there was 
 
 14 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 never a cloud or suspicion over his moral character, 
 and his official conduct has never been called in ques- 
 tion. He is still respected, honored, and revered. 
 
 He has been a close student of men, books, and 
 conditions and is fitted by study, travel, and wide 
 experience to talk or write in a most interesting 
 manner. For years he has been importuned by peo- 
 ple of both races to write a book, and after years of 
 hesitancy he has finally yielded to the wishes of his 
 many admirers. 
 
 This book will be found interesting for its simple, 
 direct, and easy style. The contents are both infor- 
 mational and inspirational. In a style all his own, 
 the author recites interesting incidents and experi- 
 ences in his own life with a humility that is charm- 
 ing. If the reader finds himself wishing for more 
 than is told, it will be due to disinclination of the 
 author to write fully about himself. He gives also 
 the origin of Methodism in England and in America 
 and then narrates interesting facts concerning the be- 
 ginning of the various bodies of Methodists. With 
 becoming brevity he discusses essential items of the 
 General Conferences of his own Church, gives a brief 
 sketch of each of the bishops, and furnishes extracts 
 from some of his sermons and lectures. 
 
 With a noble and unselfish purpose, the book is 
 sent forth in the name of Christ. May the blessings 
 of heaven rest upon all who may read its pages ! 
 
 J. Arthur Hamlett. 
 
 Jackson, Tenn., August 27, 1916. 
 15 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 America Organized. 
 
 Shifting scenes and events brought on by the 
 War between the States forced the recently emanci- 
 pated Negro to face new conditions and to live a 
 new life. Slavery was abolished, but all of its at- 
 tending evils did not pass with it. The South had 
 been devastated, her wealth destroyed, and her re- 
 sources depleted. The Southern white man had 
 not only suffered the sting of defeat on the battle 
 field, but his wealth had been destroyed, and he 
 began to realize that he and his family must erect 
 and support hereafter a lower standard of living 
 than what they had enjoyed before. He could no 
 longer order the slaves to do his bidding. His 
 sons, who had been indulged in idleness and who had 
 acquired a great averseness to labor and been taught 
 by the awful system of slavery to look down upon 
 work as menial and beneath the dignity of a "gen- 
 tleman," were then forced to till the soil and do all 
 manner of work with their hands. Naturally the 
 Southern white man, smarting under the sting of 
 defeat of arms, dejected in spirit because of a lower 
 standard of living forced upon him and his family 
 as a result of the war, was in no frame of mind to 
 sympathize with the colored man, although the Ne- 
 
 2 I? 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 gro's condition was most trying. What the white 
 man had lost under arms he now attempted to gain 
 through the courts and legislation, and thus the Ne- 
 gro had new fields to enter and new battles to fight. 
 Homeless and penniless, he was turned out upon 
 the world without shelter and food; yet the Negro 
 resolved, by the help of God, to find a way or make 
 one. He did not find it, but he made one. 
 
 In the social and economic life of the Southern 
 white people a break had come, and it ran all the 
 way through the whole social fabric. The Method- 
 ists and Baptists, the Presbyterians and Episcopa- 
 lians, all had Negro contingents, and the new condi- 
 tions in the South made imperative an adjustment 
 in matters of Church and religious affairs to corre- 
 spond with those which had taken place already in 
 the civic and political life. It was of mutual advan- 
 tage to both the white man and the Negro for a 
 separation to take place; and, fortunately for the 
 good of the cause, both were able to see it and work 
 in harmony for the same end. 
 
 When the Civil War broke out there were two 
 hundred and six thousand colored people who sus- 
 tained the relation of quasi members to the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, South. I say advisedly that 
 the colored people were, after a manner, members 
 of the Southern Methodist Church, in that religious 
 services were provided for them, they were enrolled 
 as members, and, with certain restrictions, they were 
 permitted to have their own meetings. After eman- 
 
 18 
 
BISHOP ISAAC LANE, LL.D. 
 (At sixty years of age.) 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 cipation it can be easily seen that this relation was 
 not satisfactory, and at once a movement was inau- 
 gurated to give the Negroes a separate and independ- 
 ent organization that would be regular and orderly 
 in every way. We were severely, criticized and ma- 
 ligned because we did not rebel and secede. Other 
 independent Negro Methodist Churches had rebelled 
 and seceded, and because we chose to be regular 
 and orderly we were charged with being sympathiz- 
 ers with slavery. In many places we were called 
 Democrats and the like. 
 
 With a view to our permanent separation, before 
 our ministers had obtained their credentials from the 
 Annual Conferences of the white Church, and be- 
 fore we had been organized into Annual Confer- 
 ences of our own, we had respectfully requested to 
 be given a separate and independent Church organ- 
 ization. The bishops of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, helped in every way the perfecting 
 of the organization; and so, after three years of 
 labor and much prayer and supplication, our Church 
 was organized in Jackson, Tenn., December 15-21, 
 1870, and thus began the only regular independent 
 Negro Methodist Church organization in all the 
 world. 
 
 This Church has grown until to-day it has about 
 two hundred thousand members, eight bishops, 
 eleven general officers, with the following depart- 
 ments properly officered and manned — viz.: Boards 
 of Missions, Church Extension, Ministerial Relief 
 
 21 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Society, Epworth League, Education, and Publica- 
 tion of Church and Sunday School Literature. 
 These departments are seeking to help in fostering 
 the many interests of the Church and in developing 
 the intellectual, moral, and spiritual life of her con- 
 stituency. Being the youngest daughter of the 
 Methodist family, "to her much has been given, and 
 of her much is required." 
 
 The Church has property whose value runs into 
 millions of dollars. Lane College, Paine College, 
 Mississippi Industrial College, Miles Memorial Col- 
 lege, and Phillips College are the leading institutions 
 of learning. 
 
 The greatest asset of the Church is the loyalty of 
 its members and the consecration of its ministers. 
 These "servants of God" are willing to suffer for 
 the advancement of the "Church our blessed Re- 
 deemer bought with his own precious blood." 
 
 22 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 How and by Whom the Colored Methodist 
 
 Episcopal Church in America Was 
 
 Organized. 
 
 In order to throw more light on this subject, we 
 give below the address of the bishops that was sent 
 out in 1873. It is worthy of a careful reading, in 
 that it throws much light on how the Colored Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church was organized: 
 
 To the Members of the Colored Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church in America. 
 
 We esteem it our duty and privilege most earnest- 
 ly to recommend to you, as members of our Church, 
 our form of discipline, which has been founded on 
 the line of a long series of years, as also on the 
 observations and remarks we have made on ancient 
 and modern Churches. 
 
 We wish to see this little publication in the house 
 of every Methodist, and the more so as it contains 
 the Articles of Religion maintained more or less, 
 in part or in whole, by every reformed Church in 
 the world. 
 
 Far from wishing you to be ignorant of any of 
 our doctrines or part of our discipline, we desire 
 you to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the 
 whole. You ought, next to the Word of God, to 
 procure the articles and canons of the Church to 
 which you belong. 
 
 We deem it proper in this place to give you a 
 brief account of the organization of our Connec- 
 tion: 
 
 23 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 From the introduction of Methodism on this con- 
 tinent we have ever constituted a part of the great 
 Methodist family, first as members of the Method- 
 ist Episcopal Church in America and also after the 
 change took place by which we were known as the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States; 
 and when the division took place, in 1844, which we 
 regard as a legal and constitutional division of the 
 Church, we formed a part of that division called 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, which rela- 
 tion we have continued to sustain until the organi- 
 zation of our Church took place at the General Con- 
 ference held at Jackson, Tenn., which began its ses- 
 sion December 15, 1870, which day was spent in 
 prayer and supplication to the Almighty, that his 
 blessings might rest upon us ; and on the following 
 day the regular business of the session began, Bish- 
 op Robert Paine, D.D., of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, in the chair. 
 
 The circumstances which led to our separate and 
 distinct organization were as follows : 
 
 When the General Conference of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South, met in New Orleans in 
 April, 1866, the Conference found that by revolu- 
 tion and the fortunes of war a change had taken 
 place in our political and social relations which made 
 it necessary that a change should also be made in 
 the ecclesiastical relations, and provision was made 
 for our organization into separate congregations, 
 districts, and Annual Conferences, if we desired it, 
 and that two or more Annual Conferences should be 
 formed, if it was our wish and met the approbation 
 of the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South ; we should have a General Conference organ- 
 ization like that of the General Conference of the 
 
 24 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as deacons and 
 elders ; and, should a General Conference be organ- 
 ized and suitable men be elected to the office of 
 bishop, that the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, would ordain and set them apart as 
 chief pastors among us. 
 
 At the General Conference of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, South, at Memphis, Tenn., in May, 
 1870, it was found that five Annual Conferences had 
 been formed among us and that an almost universal 
 desire had been expressed on our part that we might 
 be organized into a separate and distinct Church, 
 which was acquiesced in by the bishops of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, South, and recommended to 
 said Conference in their address. Whereupon, by 
 our request, the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, together with Rev. A. L. P. Green, 
 Samuel Watson, D.D., Edmund W. Sehon, Thomas 
 Whitehead, D.D., R. J. Morgan, D.D., and Thomas 
 Taylor, D.D., were appointed by said Conference to 
 aid in organizing our General Conference at the time 
 and place above specified ; and at the succeeding ses- 
 sions of our Annual Conferences delegates were 
 elected to attend our General Conference, in accord- 
 ance with the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South. 
 
 It was further determined by the acts of the Gen- 
 eral Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, in 1866 that, should the time arrive when we 
 should be formed into a separate and distinct organ- 
 ization, all property which was intended for the use 
 and benefit of people of color held by trustees of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church should be transferred 
 to trustees appointed by us, to be held forever for 
 our use and benefit. 
 
 25 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 It will be seen from the facts in the case that our 
 record is clear and that we have descended regular- 
 ly from the very fathers of Methodism and that our 
 organization is both legal and constitutional. 
 
 We remain your very affectionate brethren and 
 pastors, who labor night and day, both in public and 
 private, for your good. William H. Miles, 
 
 Joseph A. Beebe, 
 Lucius H. Holsey, 
 Isaac Lane. 
 26 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Origin of Methodism in England and in 
 America. 
 
 The early history of Methodism makes interest- 
 ing reading matter. It began in the year 1729 in 
 the University of Oxford, England. It was here 
 that John Wesley, George Whitefield, Charles Wes- 
 ley, and a few others, while students, banded them- 
 selves together for their own intellectual and spirit- 
 ual improvement. They were so systematic about 
 all things that the less serious-minded students of 
 the University in derision gave them the name of 
 Methodists. * 
 
 The name was so appropriate that we find no 
 record of its ever being resented by the Wesleys or 
 any of their followers ; and now, after the name has 
 been glorified by more than a century of splendid 
 achievements, there is no stigma or reflection in it 
 as seen or felt by any one. 
 
 The organizations were known first as Societies 
 and continued by that name for more than fifty 
 years. The first Methodist Society was organized 
 in London, England, in 1739 by Mr. Wesley. Like 
 all other great movements, it had a small beginning. 
 There were about ten persons who formed it, but 
 soon a great revival spread over all Britain, so that 
 shortly thereafter there were hundreds who joined 
 the little band of earnest believers. It is a subject 
 that has been commented upon frequently that in the 
 
 27 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 midst of spiritual darkness God raised up three 
 servants the equals of whom the world had not seen 
 since the days of the apostles — viz. : John Wesley, 
 the bishop, a man of great spiritual power, unusual 
 executive ability, a ripe scholar and parliamentarian ; 
 George Whitefield, the preacher; and Charles Wes- 
 ley, the poet. To these men more than to any others 
 Methodism is indebted for its existence. 
 
 Methodism began with experimental religion in 
 the heart, and by spontaneous energies it project- 
 ed itself in every direction by leaps and bounds. 
 Through its class meetings, love feasts, and prayer 
 meetings it propagated itself until its power was felt 
 far and near. Mr. Wesley's own experience as he 
 told it set the work on fire, and soon the fire which 
 "strangely" warmed his heart was felt in the hearts 
 of men the country over. But Methodism that was 
 sweeping over England was not to be confined to 
 that country. It soon spread to America, where it 
 found plenty of material on which to glow and burn. 
 
 Methodism in America. 
 
 The first Methodist Society in America was or- 
 ganized by Philip Embury, a local preacher, in the 
 city of New York in 1766. Barbara Heck, a Chris- 
 tian woman, was the prime mover in the work ; and 
 so a woman was in the lead in the formation of this 
 Church, and it is a fact worthy of noting that wom- 
 an has been used largely by Methodism ever since in 
 forwarding its good work. The first Methodist 
 
 28 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 church was built in John Street, New York, in 1 768. 
 Thus began an organization that has spread from 
 one end of our country to the other, and the world 
 is better by reason of its influence and good work. 
 
 The First Annual Conference. 
 
 Robert Strawbridge, Richard Boardman, Joseph 
 Pilmore, Francis Asbury, and Richard Wright were 
 all prominent workers in establishing the early 
 Methodist Churches in this country. Francis As- 
 bury soon became the most influential man in Amer- 
 ican Methodism because of his zeal and power as a 
 gospel preacher. The first Annual Conference was 
 held in Philadelphia in 1773. There were then but 
 ten traveling preachers, six circuits, and eleven hun- 
 dred and sixty members. Thomas Rankin, an hon- 
 ored minister of much influence and power, presided 
 over the deliberations of the Conference. The busi- 
 ness was very simple, and the session was brief. 
 The most important work done was the agreement 
 on the part of the preachers to abide by the doctrines 
 and discipline of John Wesley. These Conferences 
 were held each year at different places until Decem- 
 ber 25, when the last one was held in Baltimore in 
 Lovely Lane Chapel. This session brought to a 
 close the era of Wesleyan Methodism in America 
 and at the same time prepared the way for the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church. At this time there were 
 eighty-three traveling preachers and fourteen thou- 
 sand nine hundred and eighty-six members. 
 
 29 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 In 1784 the Methodist Episcopal Church was for- 
 mally organized. Thomas Coke, an assistant of Mr. 
 Wesley in England, was sent over for the purpose 
 of consummating the organization. Thomas Coke, 
 LL.D., and Francis Asbury were elected the first 
 bishops by the Conference (called the Christmas 
 Conference), which met December 25, 1784, and 
 continued in session until January 2, 1785. This or- 
 ganization now gave greater prestige to the Church 
 as a Church. They had been called Societies, and 
 now they were to be known as Churches. They had 
 been considered members of the Established Church 
 of England; now they were to be considered as a 
 separate and independent organization. Mr. Wes- 
 ley himself continued during his lifetime a regular 
 presbyter in the Church of England and gave Dr. 
 Coke authority to exercise the office of a bishop in 
 America, calling him a superintendent, which is only 
 another name for bishop. Mr. Wesley also directed 
 Dr. Coke to ordain Francis Asbury to the same of- 
 fice; and thus began the episcopacy which has been 
 kept up through all of these years in the various 
 branches of American Methodism. 
 
 The First Methodist General Conference. 
 
 The first Methodist General Conference convened 
 in Baltimore, Md., November 1, 1792. The Con- 
 ference directed that the next General Conference 
 should meet after an interval of four years. Al- 
 
 30 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 though recognizing its full ecclesiastical authority, 
 the members bound themselves not to make any 
 changes in the doctrine and polity of Methodism as 
 enunciated by Mr. Wesley or in any of the recog- 
 nized rules observed by the Methodists in the past, 
 unless the new measure received a two-thirds ma- 
 jority vote. The 'presiding elder's term of office in 
 any district was limited to four years, which rules 
 have been followed in practice ever since. 
 
 After the organization of the first General Con- 
 ference of the Methodist Church, the others were 
 held regularly, and the ordinary routine of work 
 was done from time to time as the welfare of the 
 organization demanded. The question of slave- 
 holding disturbed the peace and quietude of the 
 Church as well as that of the State. The more 
 prominent this question became in the halls of leg- 
 islation, the more serious it became in the Church. 
 So finally, in 1840, the question of slaveholding 
 became an issue claiming much prominence in the 
 General Conference. This storm that threatened 
 the unity of the Methodist Church was brooding 
 over the organization, without much hope of its be- 
 ing arrested or turned back. So at the very next 
 General Conference, held in New York City May 
 1 to June 10, a Plan of Separation with the South 
 was adopted. A fuller report of the separation is 
 given in another chapter of this book. 
 
 In 1856 Bishop Burns, of Liberia, was ordained 
 the first colored bishop in the Methodist Episcopal 
 
 3i 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Church. He was a missionary bishop and as such 
 exercised the duties of his office only in Africa. 
 
 This great Church has grown until to-day her 
 membership is three million six hundred and fifty 
 thousand five hundred, with eighteen thousand nine 
 hundred and fifty ministers and thirty thousand 
 churches. Of these, there are more than three hun- 
 dred thousand Negro members, who are represented 
 in every sphere of service in the gift of the Church, 
 save that of bishop as a general superintendent. 
 Besides secretaries of the various departments and 
 editors of official organs, Negroes preside over and 
 teach in some of the best schools supported by this 
 Church for Negro people. In these positions of 
 honor and trust they have reflected credit upon the 
 Church and the race to which they belong. 
 
 The proposed organic union of the Methodist 
 Churches, and especially the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 at this particular time (1916) is receiving consider- 
 able attention. How this union, when consummat- 
 ed, will affect the status of the Negro membership 
 is a question that is as interesting as it is speculative. 
 It will be recalled that colored Conferences were 
 established in this Church in 1852, and by i860 prac- 
 tically all of the colored Churches belonged to the 
 distinctive Negro Annual Conferences, and this sys- 
 tem remains to this day; so the contact is not so 
 frequent or so close as to be objectionable even to 
 the most prejudiced of their fellow Churchmen. 
 
 3 2 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 Organized. 
 
 There were perhaps several causes leading up to 
 the separation of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, from the Methodist Episcopal Church, but 
 slavery was the one that furnished the background 
 for the most of them. It was the one that could not 
 be held in check or averted. The following resolu- 
 tion, offered by Griffith and Davis, two delegates to 
 the General Conference of 1844, is self-explana- 
 tory and indicates the nature of the trouble that was 
 brooding and the one on account of which the great 
 Church was to be divided. (See General Confer- 
 ence Journal, May 23, 1844.) 
 
 Whereas the Rev. James O. Andrew, one of the 
 bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has be- 
 come connected with slavery, as communicated in 
 his statement in his reply to the inquiry of the Com- 
 mittee on Episcopacy, which reply is embodied in 
 their Report No. 3, offered yesterday ; and whereas 
 it has been, from the origin of said Church, the 
 settled policy and the invariable usage to elect no 
 person to the office of bishop who was embarrassed 
 with this "great evil," as under such circumstances 
 it would be impossible for a bishop to exercise the 
 function and perform the duties assigned to a gen- 
 eral superintendent with acceptance in that large 
 portion of his charge in which slavery does not ex- 
 ist; and whereas Bishop Andrew, himself nominated 
 by our brethren of the slaveholding population, was, 
 nevertheless, free from all personal connection with 
 3 33 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 slavery; and whereas this is, of all periods in our 
 history as a Church, the one least favorable to such 
 an innovation upon the practice and usage of Meth- 
 odism as to confide a part of the itinerant general 
 superintendency to a slaveholder; therefore 
 
 Resolved, That the Rev. James O. Andrew be 
 and is hereby affectionately requested to resign his 
 office as one of the bishops of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church. 
 
 There were other documents of a more concilia- 
 tory nature introduced, but they served only as oil 
 poured upon the flames already kindled. The dele- 
 gates from the Southern States were already deter- 
 mined as to their course, and those from the North- 
 ern and Eastern States were equally determined in 
 their course. All were able to see that a separation 
 was inevitable. A Plan of Separation was adopted, 
 and soon the movement for a separate and independ- 
 ent organization was set on foot. This plan left the 
 initiative and the final decision with the delegates 
 from the Southern States, and they were not very 
 slow in acting. A general convention was called to 
 meet the next year in Louisville, Ky. 
 
 The Louisville Conventio 
 
 n. 
 
 The Church in the South and Southwest, in her 
 Quarterly and Annual Conferences, approved the 
 course of* their delegates in the General Conference 
 and declared her conviction that a separate organi- 
 zation was necessary to her existence and prosper- 
 ity. Delegates representing fifteen Annual Confer- 
 
 34 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 ences assembled in Louisville, Ky., in accordance 
 with the call, May i, 1845. Bishops Joshua Soule 
 James O. Andrew presided, and Rev. T. N. Ralston 
 and Rev. T. O. Summers were elected Secretaries. 
 The following resolutions were adopted, with only 
 three dissenting voices : 
 
 Be it resolved by the delegates of the several An- 
 nual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 in the slaveholding States in general convention as- 
 sembled, That it is right, expedient, and necessary 
 to erect the Annual Conferences represented in this 
 convention into a distinct ecclesiastical connection 
 separate from the jurisdiction of the General Con- 
 ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church as at 
 present constituted ; and accordingly we, the dele- 
 gates of the Annual Conferences, by the General 
 Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 entirely dissolved ; and that a separate ecclesiastical 
 connection under the provisional Plan of Separa- 
 tion aforesaid and based upon the Discipline of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, comprehending the 
 doctrines and entire moral, ecclesiastical, and eco- 
 nomic rules and regulations of said Discipline, ex- 
 cept in so far as verbal alterations may be necessary 
 to a distinct organization, and to be known by the 
 style and title of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. 
 
 Resolved, That we cannot abandon or compro- 
 mise the principle of action upon which we proceed 
 to a separate organization in the South; neverthe- 
 less, cherishing a sincere desire to maintain Chris- 
 tian union and fraternal intercourse with the Church 
 (North), we shall always be ready, kindly and re- 
 spectfullv, to entertain dulv and carefully consider 
 
 35' 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 any proposition or plan having for its object the 
 union of the two great bodies in the North and 
 South, whether such proposed union be jurisdic- 
 tional or connectional. 
 
 Bishops Soule and Andrew were requested to 
 unite with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 "upon the basis of the Plan of Separation." Bishop 
 Soule at once gave the convention to understand 
 that he felt bound to carry out the plan of episcopal 
 visitation as outlined by the bishops in New York, 
 while Bishop Andrew connected himself with, and 
 was recognized as a bishop of, the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, South. On May i, 1846, the first Gen- 
 eral Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, was convened in Petersburg, Va., Bishops 
 Soule and Andrew presiding. General officers were 
 elected, and the newly formed Church was provided 
 with all the officers necessary for the proper care of 
 every phase and department of the Church work. 
 
 Thus began a Church that has grown in member- 
 ship and wealth until to-day it is recognized as one 
 of the world-wide powers for the establishing of 
 righteousness in the hearts of men. This Church 
 has upward of two million members, three large 
 and flourishing Publishing Houses, a complete sys- 
 tem of colleges and universities, sixteen bishops, 
 fourteen general officers, and Church property val- 
 ued at millions of dollars. In the Methodist family 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, takes sec- 
 ond rank with the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 36 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 The African Methodist Episcopal and the 
 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church- 
 es — Priority Still an Open Question — How 
 Zion Was Organized; Its Growth. 
 
 Which of these organizations, the African Meth- 
 odist Episcopal or the African Methodist Episco- 
 pal Zion Church, is the older is yet an open ques- 
 tion. The irregular manner in which they were or- 
 ganized makes it very difficult to determine with 
 any degree of satisfaction when they as organiza- 
 tions were born. The Zionists insist on the year 
 1796 as the beginning of their Church. If we take 
 this date as their starting point as a denomination, 
 we shall have to recognize this Church as the oldest 
 of the separate and independent Church organiza- 
 tions among the Negro people of this country. Be 
 that as it may, there is no doubt that "Mother Zion 
 Church," in New York, was organized and estab- 
 lished in 1796; but the Zion Church as anything 
 like a connection was not organized until 1828. The 
 members who afterwards became members of the 
 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church remained 
 with the mother Church, the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, until about this time. This can be easily 
 inferred from the following address, drafted Febru- 
 ary 22, 1820, by a committee consisting of John 
 Dungy, James Varick, Charles Anderson, and Wil- 
 liam Miller and sent by them to the members and 
 
 37 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 bishops of the Philadelphia and New York Annual 
 Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 This address is taken from the history as given by 
 Bishop J. J. Moore, of the African Methodist Epis- 
 copal Zion Church: 
 
 To the Bishops and Preachers of the Philadelphia 
 and New York Annual Conferences of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, Assembled. 
 
 Respected Brethren: We, the official members of 
 the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and 
 Asbury Church of New York, of the Wesley 
 Church of Philadelphia, of Zion Church of New 
 Haven, Conn., and of Zion Church of Long Is- 
 land, in consolidation forming a Methodist body, 
 beg leave to present to your honorable body an ad- 
 dress on a subject to us of great importance and, 
 we trust, not a matter of indifference to you. In 
 the first place, permit us to humbly and sincerely 
 tender our thanks for what you have done for us in 
 the kind service you have rendered us when m our 
 infant state. We trust that the great Head of the 
 Church in his goodness may continue to reward you 
 for your labors among us, you who have been the 
 instruments in bringing us from darkness to light, 
 from the power of sin and Satan to God. Permit 
 us further to say that when the Methodist Society 
 in America was small the Africans enjoyed com- 
 fortable privileges among their white brethren, but 
 as the white element increased the Africans were 
 pressed back. Therefore it was thought necessary 
 for them to have separate places of worship, giving 
 the African a better opportunity of full religious 
 enjoyment and privileges. It is well known that our 
 
 38 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 number has greatly increased within the last few 
 years. Many are still coming into the fold of Christ. 
 Among us preachers have been raised up whose la- 
 bors God has blessed. But hitherto they have been 
 too limited in their ministerial privileges. They 
 have not had the opportunity of traveling as we 
 think God designs that they should have, at least 
 to reach our own race in the evangelical work of the 
 Christian Church. There is no provision in the 
 mother Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 for us in the itinerant work, that colored preachers 
 may go forth and dispense the Word of Life 
 among our own race. And now it seems that the 
 time has come when something should be done for 
 the improvement of the colored brethren in the min- 
 istry. But how shall this be accomplished? We 
 have not the least expectation that the African 
 preachers will be admitted to a seat and vote with 
 their white brethren in ecclesiastical assemblages. 
 [This is not what they ought to have expected 
 among Christian brethren, who could not fail to 
 understand the divine lesson on its being a sin to 
 have respect of person; and if simply on account of 
 clothing, much more a sin on account of race or 
 color. James ii. 9, 10.] 
 
 We do not desire to unite with the R. Allen party, 
 being dissatisfied with their general manner of 
 procedure. The brethren in the city of New York, 
 after due consideration, have concluded to form an 
 itinerant plan and establish an Annual Conference 
 for the African Methodist Episcopal Zion preachers, 
 under the patronage of the white bishops of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. We believe that such 
 an arrangement effected would tend greatly to pro- 
 mote the spiritual interest of our people generally; 
 
 39 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 our preachers would receive more encouragement in 
 their ministerial labors. If we should commence 
 this important work of forming said itinerant plan 
 and establishing an African Annual Conference un- 
 der the supervision of the bishops of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, the two Societies, the Zion and 
 Asbury Churches in New York City, with the Phil- 
 adelphia Society, with their connectional title, shall 
 be the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in 
 America. We have also selected a portion of the 
 Discipline of the mother Church (the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church) for our government, with the 
 necessary modifications to meet the circumstances 
 of our organization. To this we beg leave to refer 
 you for perusal. After you have considered our 
 case, should our proceedings meet your approval, 
 and should you decide to comply with our wishes, 
 we will stand ready to receive such advice or in- 
 structions as you may think proper to give us 
 through our reverend father in the Lord, Bishop 
 McKendree or any other whom the Conference may 
 see fit to select. On the subject of ordination to 
 eldership, of which our preachers have all been 
 deprived, we might have obtained it from other 
 sources; but we preferred to follow the advice of 
 Bishop McKendree, given to us in New York, to 
 wait until the meeting of your Annual Conference 
 in this and the New York District; then we could 
 fully understand what the mother Church could do 
 for us in the matter. In consequence of some un- 
 easiness in the minds of some of our brethren or 
 members in New York City, we have been under 
 the necessity of electing three of our deacons to 
 the office of elders and some of the preachers to the 
 office of deacons. We hereby show our people that 
 
 40 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 their preachers can be properly authorized to admin- 
 ister the ordinances of God's Church. We believe 
 it has had the desired effect of settling the minds 
 of our brethren and advancing the work of the 
 Lord. We expect our first yearly Conference to be 
 held in the city of New York on the 24th day of 
 June next, at which time we hope to have the happi- 
 ness of hearing that our reverend father, Bishop 
 William McKendree, presided and took juris- 
 diction of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion 
 Church. With this hope we rest, awaiting your 
 answer, meanwhile praying that the great Shepherd 
 and Bishop of souls may guide you in your deliber- 
 ations, in ours, and in all other cases ; that your con- 
 clusions may be pleasing in his sight and tend to 
 advance the kingdom of Christ among the African 
 race. 
 
 N. B. — Should the above address be sanctioned 
 by your honorable body, and should you be pleased 
 to act upon it immediately, you will forward it on 
 to the New York Annual Conference for their con- 
 sideration and action. Should the time appointed 
 by us for the sitting of the Annual Conference be 
 inconvenient to the person who might be appointed 
 to organize the same, we are willing to change the 
 time a few days sooner or later, provided you will 
 please give us timely notice for such change. But 
 should you see fit not to favor the address in any 
 respect, you will have the goodness to return it to 
 the bearer. 
 
 Signed in behalf of the official members of both 
 Societies, at a special meeting called for that pur- 
 pose, March 23, 1821, in the city of New York. 
 
 James Varick, Chairman; 
 
 George Collins, Secretary. 
 41 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 The foregoing address being prepared, Rev. Abra- 
 ham Thompson and Leven Smith were appointed a 
 committee to present it to the official brethren of the 
 Society at Philadelphia (the Wesley). They pre- 
 sented the same, and it was approved by them. 
 Brothers Thompson and Smith then conveyed it to 
 the Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, convened at Milford, Del. The Conference 
 received it and acted upon it. In 1822 James Var- 
 ick, Abraham Thompson, Christopher Rush, and 
 James Smith were appointed a committee to wait 
 upon Bishop McKendree, who refused to ordain the 
 preachers or recognize them. These men were or- 
 dained shortly thereafter by James Covell, Sylvester 
 Hutchinson, and W. M. Stillwell. During this same 
 year an extra session of the Conference was called, 
 and James Varick was elected superintendent of the 
 whole connection. 
 
 Z ion's First General Conference. 
 
 In 1828 the first General Conference of the Af- 
 rican Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was held in 
 Zion Church, New York City. There were twelve 
 preachers present, with James Varick presiding. 
 The Rev. Christopher Rush was elected superin- 
 tendent, or bishop, for "the first time."* At first the 
 bishops of this Church were elected annually; after- 
 wards they were elected for a term of four years. 
 
 *Moore's "History of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion 
 Church," page 100. 
 
 42 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 This continued until 1880, when the bishops were 
 elected for life or during good behavior. Since 
 then this great Church has had a remarkable growth. 
 It now has twelve bishops, two hundred and eighty- 
 nine thousand members, two thousand two hundred 
 and four organizations, with Church property val- 
 ued at more than five million dollars. This Church 
 has a full set of general officers, a publication de- 
 partment, and much valuable school property. Liv- 
 ingstone College, at Salisbury, N. C, is its leading 
 institution of learning. 
 
 43 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The African Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The African Methodist Episcopal Church (Beth- 
 el) is the largest Negro Methodist Church in the 
 world. Its history runs back as far as 1784, al- 
 though as a Church organization we must take as 
 the time of its birth the convening of the "Friend 
 of Manhood Christianity" in Philadelphia, April 9, 
 1816. The following persons were members of the 
 convention : 
 
 The first General Conference of this infant of 
 God was held in the city of Philadelphia in 18 16. 
 There we find in this body the following princes in 
 heart: Rev. Richard Allen, Jacob Tapisco, Clayton 
 Durham, James Champion, and Thomas Webster, 
 of Philadelphia, Pa. ; Daniel Coker, Richard Wil- 
 liams, Henry Harden, Stephen Hill, Edward Wil- 
 liamson, and Nicholson Gailliard, of Baltimore, 
 Md. ; Peter Spencer, of Wilmington, Del. ; Jacob 
 Marsh, Edward Jackson., and William Andrew, of 
 Attleborough, Pa. ; and Peter Cuff, of Salem, N. J. 
 
 Bishop B. W. Arnett, of the African Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, gives the following account of 
 the work of the first General Conference of this 
 Church : 
 
 Richard Allen was elected to preside over the 
 body; Rev. Daniel Coker was elected Vice Chair- 
 man; Richard Allen, Jr., was elected Secretary. 
 
 The convention resolved "that we will favor an 
 44 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 independent Church organization." The committee 
 appointed for this purpose reported the first Disci- 
 pline of the Church. It was the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church doctrine and government, except the 
 presiding eldership. 
 
 The convention elected, under the new form of 
 government, two bishops, Richard Allen and Daniel 
 Coker. Richard Allen was not present when the 
 election took place ; but the next morning when the 
 journal was read he arose and informed the conven- 
 tion that he was sensible of the honor conferred on 
 him, as well as the duties that would be expected of 
 him, but, with a sense of his duty to his Church and 
 the fitness of things, he was of the opinion that two 
 bishops were too many for the organization to start 
 with. One bishop was enough at this time, he said. 
 He stated that he would resign his office and let the 
 convention say which should hold over. 
 
 This speech created some hard feelings on the 
 part of the Baltimore delegation, who were in favor 
 of Daniel Coker. The Philadelphians were in favor 
 of Richard Allen. So the whole matter relating to 
 the election of bishops was reconsidered, and a new 
 election was held, when Richard Allen was elected ; 
 and on the nth day of April, 1816, he was ordained 
 by the imposition of hands of five ordained elders in 
 the Church of God. The convention, after it had 
 made arrangements for the meeting of the Annual 
 Conference at Baltimore, adjourned, after complet- 
 ing one of the most important events of the age, 
 when we consider the effects it has had upon the 
 development of Negro manhood. 
 
 In defense of the work of this convention, we 
 quote further from the works of Bishop B. W. 
 Arnett, of that Church: 
 
 45 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 If Mr. Wesley had a right to ordain Dr. Coke, 
 by the same rule Absalom Jones might ordain Rich- 
 ard Allen, and the ordination must be equally valid. 
 And if "three elders and one deacon" or "three eld- 
 ers" can "ordain a bishop" to answer the purpose, 
 by the same party the ordination of the Rev. Rich- 
 ard Allen must be equal, in point of virtue, as any 
 now among Methodists. Therefore why not emit 
 and transmit as much sanctity among those on whom 
 he may lay his hands as any other Methodist bishop, 
 according to the doctrine of episcopacy, provided 
 he be as holy in heart, walking with God, whereby 
 he may do it in the power of faith under the sancti- 
 fying influence of the grace of God. 
 
 No one has ever doubted the real strength of 
 Richard Allen's character or his devotion to racial 
 ideals. From 1816 Bishop Richard Allen continued 
 as the only bishop of the Church until 1828, when 
 Rev. Morris Brown was elected as the second bish- 
 op of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. As 
 the Church grew in strength of organization it grew 
 in members, until to-day the Church has a splendid 
 organization, with fifteen bishops, over seven thou- 
 sand organizations, and more than five hundred 
 thousand members. It has Church property valued 
 at more than ten million dollars. Wilberforce and 
 Morris Brown Universities are its leading institu- 
 tions of learning. 
 
 46 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 The Story of My Early Life. 
 
 I have delayed for some time the writing of this 
 little book, in which I hope to set forth the principal 
 events of my life, in a studious effort to put it in as 
 brief a form as possible. Covering a period of 
 more than sixty years of public service, the difficulty 
 of selecting the material can be easily seen. 
 
 I was born March 3, 1834, in the Western division 
 of the State of Tennessee, in Madison County, five 
 miles north of the city of Jackson, where I grew up 
 to manhood. I was reared almost motherless and 
 fatherless, having no parental care and guidance 
 given me. I had an early conception of God, and 
 somehow I was inspired to be religious. I sought 
 religion when quite young; but I did not embrace 
 faith until I was twenty-one years of age, that being 
 the nth day of September, 1854. It was then that 
 I was happily converted and set out to serve God. 
 Three or four months after my conversion I was 
 called to preach. I joined the Methodist Church in 
 Jackson, Tenn., October 21, 1854, where I retained 
 my membership until the Civil War was over. It 
 was then that I joined Salem Church, out about five 
 miles from Jackson. I was licensed to exhort in 
 November, 1856. This was the beginning of my 
 public ministerial life. Being born in obscurity, out 
 in the country, five miles from town, on a large 
 
 47 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 farm, I thought that no good could come from one 
 raised with these environments and under these un- 
 favorable conditions. To begin with, one can see 
 clearly that my way was dark ; but with the gift that 
 God gave me, I began to work and continued un- 
 til I was brought into notice by the people among 
 whom I lived. 
 
 My early life was spent on the farm ; and, like the 
 majority of the members of my race of that day, I 
 was denied all the advantages of early training such 
 as would prepare me for public service. I shared 
 in all the evils common to slaves during those dark 
 and bitter days. Pen will never be able to record, 
 tongue will never describe the trials, the sufferings, 
 and the heartaches of those days. Truly, slavery 
 furnishes the blackest chapter in the history of the 
 American republic and is the greatest and foulest 
 crime of the nation. 
 
 I learned to read and write under the greatest 
 difficulties. I was not only deprived of a teacher, 
 but I was not allowed the use of a book or a pencil. 
 I had to learn the best I could. I soon found out 
 what a great advantage it was to read and write, 
 and I applied myself diligently to them as opportu- 
 nities could be made. After the Civil War I estab- 
 lished regular hours for the studying and the read- 
 ing of God's Word, and these I have kept all of 
 these years. I coveted the morning hours the most, 
 although in the evening, when the hours for work 
 were over, I would read and meditate until my can- 
 
 48 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 dlelight or pine torch would fail me or my body 
 would succumb to fatigue and I would fall asleep. 
 The Bible, Binney's "Theological Compend," 
 Clarke's "Commentaries," Watson's "Bible Diction- 
 ary," and Ralston's "Elements of Divinity" were 
 among the first books that I studied. These books 
 I read with a fascination from which I have not 
 escaped to this day. 
 
 My First Marriage and Early Experiences. 
 
 When I was nineteen years and ten months old 
 I was married to Miss Frances Ann Boyce, a young 
 woman of eighteen years, who had attracted consid- 
 erable attention because of her industry, modesty, 
 neatness in dress, and ladylike bearing. She was 
 not a converted Christian, and I was exceedingly 
 anxious for her to have the joy and love that had 
 come into my life when I was brought from dark- 
 ness into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ. I at 
 once began to pray that my mother and wife could 
 enjoy the gift of grace unto salvation. There were 
 three large families on the plantation on which I 
 lived, and we held prayer meetings every Saturday 
 night. Many persons professed faith in Christ in 
 our meetings, and one of these was my wife. It 
 was remarkable to me how she was converted. We 
 were singing an old plantation melody, and these 
 were the words: "God has done delivered Daniel; 
 why not deliver me?" 
 
 At night I would hold family prayer with my 
 4 49 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 wife and mother; and in those prayers the good 
 Lord blessed my labors, and they were brought into 
 the Church. They joined New Salem Church with 
 me. 
 
 To us were born eleven children, who lived to 
 reach manhood and womanhood. Many were the 
 trials I had to pass through to rear them ; but I es- 
 tablished the custom of praying three times a day on 
 bended knees alone and in secret, and God did not 
 fail to hear me. This custom I still observe. When 
 I had no closet in which to enter, I made one of my 
 hands, for I wanted to be a good man. I desired 
 not only to live right before the people of the com- 
 munity, but before my wife and children as well as 
 before my God. The natural gifts that God gave 
 me when called upon to lead prayer service soon 
 brought me to the front ; and as practice makes per- 
 fect, the more I was called upon to pray, sing, and 
 exhort, the greater was the number who professed 
 faith in Christ. This caused my fame to spread 
 throughout the community, and a great many sin- 
 ners and wicked men were brought to Christ. Soon 
 my reputation as a preacher having power with 
 God and influence with man went abroad among 
 both white and colored people. This was the period 
 between the years 1856 and 1861. When the Civil 
 War broke out, the white people were very hard on 
 the Negroes. They did not want them to meet in 
 any kind of gatherings, save that for preaching and 
 praying. Ofttimes this was offensive and called for 
 
 50 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 the greatest vigilance on the part of the slave own- 
 ers. The only time blood was drawn from my body 
 after I was a man was on the occasion of our hold- 
 ing prayer meeting. As all well know, the Negroes 
 were praying to the Almighty to be set free, and the 
 white people were praying to the Lord that they be 
 held in bondage. So for three years there was 
 much supplication. The whole country was in hos- 
 tility. The North was arrayed against the South, 
 and the South was pitted against the North, and the 
 Lord only knows how the Negroes were made to 
 suffer during those trying days. Those were times 
 that tried the very hearts of men. It has been a 
 wonder to me how I made it through so well with 
 my home affairs. I had a large family to support, 
 but a painstaking, devoted, and true wife. To me 
 she was a true helpmeet. Her honor and word were 
 above gold and silver. She enjoyed the fullest con- 
 fidence and profoundest respect of all who knew her. 
 For purity of life, personal honor, and integrity no 
 woman ever surpassed her. 
 
 5i 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 My Early Life in the Ministry. 
 
 Shortly after my conversion I was overcome 
 with a feeling that I ought to preach. I strove for 
 months to get rid of it, but without success. I 
 went to a man in whose piety and Christian virtue 
 I had much confidence and made known to him my 
 struggle and the feeling that was then strong upon 
 me. He gave me his sympathy and directed me to 
 a certain preacher for counsel and aid ; but this man 
 did not believe in Negroes preaching, and he gave 
 me no encouragement. I next sought the advice of 
 a colored man whom the Methodists had helped. 
 He was a pure Christian man, and he told me that 
 if God had really called me to preach he surely knew 
 his own business better than man and advised me not 
 to trouble myself, but trust God. I did trust him; 
 and soon thereafter the inspiration came, and I firm- 
 ly decided to enter upon the work of a minister. 
 
 I sent in my petition to a Quarterly Conference 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for 
 license to preach. The Conference did not grant 
 my request, but gave me license to exhort instead. 
 The committee explained that the Church did not 
 believe it proper to grant license to Negroes to 
 preach. Rev. George Harris was the presiding eld- 
 er, and Rev. A. R. Wilson was the preacher in 
 charge of the local Church. Rev. Wilson was my 
 
 52 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 personal friend up to the time of his death, and he 
 took a lively interest in my career and my work. In 
 the early days of my ministry I regarded him as a 
 great and good man, and during all the years of 
 our acquaintance thereafter the esteem in which I 
 held him when I was a young man did not suffer in 
 any way. 
 
 During the Civil War the attitude of the South- 
 ern Methodist Church toward granting license to 
 Negroes to preach had undergone some changes, 
 and so I appeared again for license to preach. 
 This time I was sent before the Quarterly Confer- 
 ence presided over by Elder William H. Lee. After 
 asking many questions bearing upon almost every 
 phase of the doctrines of Christ and the Church, I 
 was granted license to preach. I recall many of the 
 questions that were asked and the answers that I 
 gave. I shall never forget the occasion and the keen 
 interest every one seemed to feel in the examination 
 I was called upon to take. I give below a few of 
 the questions and the answers that provoked consid- 
 erable interest and discussion — viz. : 
 
 Question. Are all men sinners? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 0. What Scriptural proof or reference have you 
 to offer? 
 
 A. '-For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall 
 all be made alive." 
 
 Q. Is conviction a voluntary act or an involuntary 
 one? 
 
 A. Involuntary. 
 
 53 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Q. Can you give a Scriptural reference ? 
 
 A. "The grace that brings salvation has appeared 
 unto all men, teaching them godliness." 
 
 Q. What is the difference between justification 
 and repentance? 
 
 A. Justification is the work done for me, while 
 regeneration is the work done in me. The former 
 takes place in the courts of heaven, while the latter 
 takes place in the human heart. 
 
 These questions, together with others somewhat 
 similar, being satisfactorily answered, I was granted 
 license to preach, and I felt a freedom that I had 
 not enjoyed before. 
 
 I have already spoken of the prayer meetings and 
 the splendid opportunity they afforded in exercising 
 the gifts that God had given me and the deepening 
 of the work of grace in our hearts. These meetings 
 proved to be a great preparation for the work that 
 I was called upon to do after I had entered fully 
 into the work of the Christian ministry. Being 
 licensed to preach, I was frequently called upon to 
 preach and exhort, especially on Sunday afternoons, 
 not only to my people, but the white people also 
 would come out in large numbers to hear me. At 
 first I was very much embarrassed to preach before 
 such large crowds, because I realized fully that I 
 was without education and had but little opportunity 
 of learning anything. But God helped me wonder- 
 fully and blessed my work. 
 
 From the time I was licensed to exhort up to 
 1865 I held meetings for our people. We had glo- 
 
 54 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 rious times, and many converts would rise and "tell 
 of Jesus and his love." These meetings made our 
 country famous for Methodism during the war. At 
 some places we had stormy times. The old days of 
 the beginning of the Wesleyan Movement in Eng- 
 land, in Ireland, and in Wales had their reflex in 
 these. Many times my life was in great danger, 
 and the white people were constantly being reviled 
 and reprimanded because they had encouraged me 
 in preaching. The persecutors went so far as to 
 burn down the church houses in which I had 
 preached to my people. But I had gone too far in 
 the work to be stopped by such methods. Too many 
 people, both white and colored, believed in me to be 
 sidetracked by any such methods ; for at this time 
 not only Methodists, but Christian people of all 
 denominations, upheld me and sought to give en- 
 couragement. One good old Presbyterian brother 
 said to me after I had preached in his church: 
 "Brother Lane, keep on preaching the gospel, and 
 we will keep on building church houses until the 
 trumpet blows. Let them burn down. We will 
 build, and you shall preach." 
 
 55 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 The Early Days of Freedom. 
 
 The Emancipation Proclamation that had been 
 prepared by President Abraham Lincoln in the 
 month of July, of the year 1862, was not issued un- 
 til January 1 of the year 1863. It did not go into 
 effect at this time, as we all know, but its influence 
 was felt at once the country over. A studious effort 
 was made on the part of a good many people to keep 
 the issuance of this proclamation a profound secret 
 to the Negroes. But it could not be done. There 
 was too much excitement for such a clever piece of 
 work to be done with any degree of success, and 
 there were too many Negroes who were able to read 
 and understand the trend of affairs to be misled by 
 any subterfuge that might be resorted to by the sym- 
 pathizers of the Lost Cause. The Confederacy was 
 doomed, and this proclamation was the death knell 
 to slavery on the American continent. The moral 
 effect was wonderful. Strong men who had put all 
 their faith in the supremacy of the Confederate 
 army now began to weaken and became despaired 
 of success. The slaves saw it, and it required great 
 effort on their part to suppress their feelings of 
 rejoicing. 
 
 After Lee had surrendered and the Confederacy 
 had gone to pieces and Jefferson Davis had become a 
 refugee, our owners called us together and told us 
 
 56 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 we were free and had to take care of ourselves. 
 There I was with a large, dependent family to sup- 
 port. I had no money, no education, no mother nor 
 father to whom to look for help in any form. Our 
 former owners prophesied that half of us would 
 starve, but not so. It must be admitted, however, 
 that we had a hard time, and it seemed at times 
 that the prophecy would come true; but the harder 
 the time, the harder we worked and the more we 
 endured. For six months we lived on nothing but 
 bread, milk, and water. We had a time to keep 
 alive ; but by praying all the time, with faith in God, 
 and believing that he would provide for his own, we 
 saved enough to get the next year not only bread, 
 milk, and water, but meat also. 
 
 The next year my family fared much better, and 
 I was able to devote more time to the work of the 
 ministry. I took an active part in the Church and 
 soon gained the confidence and respect of both white 
 and colored people. At our own request, our Church 
 was organized as an independent society, and we 
 took the name of the Colored Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in America. In 1866 we had a Conference 
 of our own in Jackson, Tenn., known as the Ten- 
 nessee, North Alabama, and North Mississippi An- 
 nual Conference. I was elected and ordained dea- 
 con one day, and on the next day I was elected and 
 ordained elder. At the close of this Conference I 
 was appointed the presiding elder of the Jackson 
 District of the above-named Annual Conference, 
 
 57 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 which position I held for four years. Meanwhile 
 we found that the territory and membership em- 
 braced by this Annual Conference were entirely 
 too large ; and so later on out of this Conference we 
 organized the Tennessee, North Alabama, North 
 Mississippi, and West Tennessee Annual Confer- 
 ences. 
 
 As I won the confidence and respect of the peo- 
 ple I grew into prominence in the Church. At the 
 session of the Tennessee Annual Conference that 
 convened in Brownsville, Tenn., I was elected the 
 leader of the Tennessee delegation to the first Gen- 
 eral Conference of the Colored Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in America. Bishop David S. Doggett, 
 D.D., of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 presided over the deliberations of this Conference 
 and gave service that was highly satisfactory to all 
 the brethren. It is difficult for any one who was 
 not present to understand and appreciate the attitude 
 of the Southern Methodist Church, as exemplified 
 through its bishops and other leaders, toward the 
 colored work. It is far more difficult to explain it. 
 There was a fraternal sympathy, a mutual good 
 will, a kindly interest that made the relation cor- 
 dial and highly helpful. 
 
 The Jackson District was a prominent appoint- 
 ment. As the elder I was given an assessment in the 
 way of a salary of four hundred dollars per year. 
 As a matter of fact, I was paid all the way from 
 one hundred and fiftv to two hundred dollars a year 
 
 58 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 during the four years I served in this capacity. 
 Having served the time limit, I was afterwards as- 
 signed to the work as pastor of Liberty Colored 
 Methodist Episcopal Church at Jackson, Tenn., and 
 served that congregation for a little more than a 
 year for the handsome salary of one hundred and 
 seventy-five dollars! My family was large and 
 growing, and I had to do much work on the farm 
 in order to support my family properly. Neverthe- 
 less, during my pastorate I was successful in in- 
 creasing the membership of this Church from seven- 
 ty to three hundred members. These were great 
 days for me in the ministry. I preached with much 
 freedom and great power. My conversion and con- 
 duct showed to the people that I was sincere in my 
 purpose and earnest in my efforts, and men seemed 
 to realize that I was called of God. All of these 
 things gave me the confidence and respect of the 
 people, and I gradually grew into prominence and 
 general favor. 
 
 59 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 Our First General Conference. 
 
 As early as the fall of 1877 several of the An- 
 nual Conferences of the future Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal Church were organized, and by the spring 
 of 1870 the number had been greatly increased. 
 The General Conference had been called to assemble 
 in the fall of 1870, and there was much interest dis- 
 played in the affairs of the new organization. I 
 shall always remember the session of the Tennessee 
 Annual Conference that convened at Brownsville, 
 Tenn., and was presided over by Bishop David S. 
 Doggett, D.D., of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. The day before the convening of the Con- 
 ference my wife's mother received a stroke of pa- 
 ralysis and fell dead. I received the message and 
 had to return home to be with my loved ones during 
 those sad hours. I rode all the way from Browns- 
 ville to Jackson on horseback. After giving all the 
 comfort and consolation possible, I returned to the 
 Conference room with a heavy heart. I was in- 
 formed that the brethren, during my absence, had 
 selected me as one of the delegates to the forthcom- 
 ing session of the General Conference. I felt very 
 keenly the confidence thus expressed and the honor 
 conferred and sought by my conduct to prove wor- 
 thy of it. I had labored earnestly, and this recogni- 
 tion was a source of comfort to me. 
 
 60 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 In reading of the work of those early days let us 
 remember that conditions were unlike the conditions 
 of to-day in many respects. The people were great- 
 ly scattered and were constantly moving from one 
 place to another. This was necessarily true because 
 of the unsettled condition of everything in the coun- 
 try. It was no easy task to keep up with the people 
 and safeguard the interests of the Church. 
 
 On December 15, 1870, the first General Confer- 
 ence of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 America assembled in Jackson, Tenn. This was an 
 interesting gathering of men. Among the more 
 prominent persons who made up this Conference, as 
 I recall, were Revs. Worden P. Churchill, Joseph 
 Crouch, Benjamin Bullard, R. T. White, John W. 
 Lane, Esquire Bobo, Isaac H. Anderson, R. H. 
 Vanderhorst, and Lucius H. Holsey. W. H. Miles 
 was a reserve delegate from the Kentucky Annual 
 Conference. Among the active laymen there were 
 Henry Hammond, James Graves, Augustus Bostick, 
 and Wesley Ware. These men were the leaders in 
 doing the early legislation of the Church. Decem- 
 ber 15, the first day of the Conference, was spent 
 in prayer. I shall never forget the scenes of that 
 day. A great work was to be done, and all seemed 
 to realize the necessity of divine help and guidance. 
 It was a precedent worthy of the men and the oc- 
 casion and one that the succeeding General Confer- 
 ences might do well to emulate. The white breth- 
 ren commissioned by the Church to help us in everv 
 
 61 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 way necessary were there praying with us, that no 
 mistake be made in the important work before us. 
 During that service a great spiritual wave swept 
 over us as we lingered at the throne of grace. 
 Bishop George F. Pierce, D.D., presided over this 
 Conference; while the Rev. James A. Heard, of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was the Secre- 
 tary pro tern. Bishop Pierce then requested Dr. A. 
 L. P. Green, of Nashville, Tenn., to read the action 
 of the General Conferences bearing upon our re- 
 quest to them for a separate organization and their 
 action with respect to the same. These documents 
 made clear the fact that the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, was anxious to help in every way 
 possible to establish our Church and give us the 
 advantage of their experience and knowledge. Aft- 
 er listening to the reading of these documents, the 
 brethren set their hands to the work before them. 
 
 The organization was made permanent by the 
 election of Rev. J. A. Heard, Secretary, and the Rev. 
 L. J. Scurlock, Assistant Secretary. A majority of 
 the delegates elected being present, the Conference 
 proceeded to business. Besides the various com- 
 mittees that were appointed, the following work 
 was done in a manner highly creditable to the 
 Church and the delegates: The Rules of Order as 
 set forth in the "Manual of Discipline" of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, South, were adopted for 
 the government of the Conference. The Conference 
 chose as the name of their Church the Colored Meth- 
 
 62 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 odist Episcopal Church in America. It adopted, in 
 the main, the Book of Discipline of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South, with such changes as ne- 
 cessity required, as the Book of Discipline of the 
 new Church. It elected the Rev. William Henry 
 Miles, a reserve delegate from the Kentucky Annual 
 Conference, and the Rev. Richard H. Vanderhorst, 
 of Charleston, S. C, as the first bishops of the Col- 
 ored Methodist Episcopal Church in America. It 
 created and established a Publication House, locat- 
 ing the same in Memphis, Tenn., with the Rev. L. J. 
 Scurlock as Agent. It established the Christian In- 
 dex as its official organ and elected the Rev. Samuel 
 Watson as its first editor. It established and fixed 
 the boundaries of the nine Annual Conferences al- 
 ready organized, prorated the amount of funds to 
 be raised by the Annual Conferences, and adjourned 
 to meet four years from that date or at the call of 
 the Senior Bishop, W. H. Miles. Without prece- 
 dent or experience, the leaders entered upon their 
 duties with a deep sense of their responsibilities and 
 obligations. The polity of the Church had to be 
 established, its relation to all other bodies had to be 
 defined, and the protection of its interests had to be 
 secured. It can be easily seen that these things were 
 enough to fill the hands of the leaders to overflow- 
 ing; and we venture the assertion that, had they not 
 been men of action and of great vision, thev would 
 have failed in their first attempts. Be it said to the 
 credit of the General Conference that both of the 
 
 63 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 bishops elected were men of strong personal char- 
 acter and much executive ability. Rev. William H. 
 Miles was a great preacher and a strong executive, 
 while the Rev. R. H. Vanderhorst had won a wide 
 reputation as a great evangelist and a matchless or- 
 ator. These men with much ceremony were or- 
 dained bishops of the Colored Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in America by Bishops Robert Paine and 
 Holland N. McTyeire, of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, and were consecrated to this holy 
 office December 19, 1870. Both being endowed with 
 great physical parts, they gave promise of many 
 years of usefulness to their Church. But not so. 
 The duties were too onerous, the work was entirely 
 too heavy, and the physical and mental strain was 
 too great for them to live long. In July, 1872, 
 Bishop R. H. Vanderhorst died, after serving the 
 Church only eighteen months as a chief pastor. His 
 passing was a subject of much grief and disappoint- 
 ment to the entire Church. Befitting memorial serv- 
 ices were held throughout the connection to his hon- 
 or and memory. The death of Bishop Vanderhorst 
 multiplied the duties devolving upon the shoulders 
 of Bishop Miles and forced the convening of the 
 General Conference one year earlier than had been 
 planned. 
 
 64 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 The Second General Conference of the Col- 
 ored Methodist Episcopal Church 
 in America. 
 
 On Wednesday, March 19, 1873, a called session 
 of the General Conference of the Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal Church in America convened in Trinity 
 Church, Augusta, Ga. It will be noted that the Con- 
 ference met in March instead of in August. This 
 was done so as to provide for the holding of the 
 spring Annual Conferences and the summer district 
 meetings that meant so much to the new organiza- 
 tion. During these days of organization all of these 
 meetings needed episcopal supervision and direction. 
 
 Since the adjournment of the last General Con- 
 ference Bishop Vanderhorst had passed away, and 
 the work had grown to such magnitude and impor- 
 tance that the demand for more bishops was imper- 
 ative. Besides the care of the work itself, there was 
 an estrangement between the other Methodist bodies 
 and the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 America that seriously threatened an open breach. 
 This came about by the other Churches occupying 
 property that legally and of right belonged to the 
 Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. It can be 
 easily seen that these problems and others that were 
 constantly arising would involve us in ecclesiastical 
 entanglement unless they were handled firmly and 
 wisely, and Bishop Miles desired the counsel and 
 5 65 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 advice of associates. It stands to the credit of the 
 leaders of our Church that, in a measure, these de- 
 nominational differences were adjusted in a Chris- 
 tian spirit, and the open breach was averted. It is 
 true that we lost some valuable Church property, 
 especially in the great cities of the South and East. 
 Some of the other Churches sent men from the 
 North, especially persons who had some experience 
 in public life, as politicians and the like, into the 
 South to corral the people in large cities and thus 
 persuade them to leave the Colored Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church and align themselves with the other 
 Churches. Because we did not have men to cope 
 with the situation, our organization lost heavily. 
 
 At this General Conference a goodly number of 
 the white brethren were on hand. They had come 
 to offer words of encouragement and advice and to 
 give assurances of their continued interest and good 
 will. They knew of many of our trials and hard- 
 ships and were in great sympathy with us. Among 
 these godly men I recall Bishop George F. Pierce, 
 D.D., Rev. Thomas Taylor, Dr. Sehon, Rev. J. E. 
 Evans, and Dr. Whitehead. Bishop Miles presided 
 over the deliberations of this Conference, and the 
 Rev. J. W. Bell, of Kentucky, was elected Secretary. 
 
 After the devotional exercises had been held and 
 the organization perfected, Bishop W. H. Miles read 
 the first episcopal address ever delivered to a Col- 
 ored Methodist Episcopal General Conference. It 
 was a masterly production and clearly showed that 
 
 66 
 
TRINITY CHURCH, AUGUSTA, GA. 
 Where Bishop Lane was consecrated to the office of bishop, March 23, 187^. 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 the author had a full grasp of the situation and a 
 clear comprehension of the problems before the 
 Church, as well as the true mission of our Method- 
 ism in the world. The Conference was so thorough- 
 ly in accord with the work of Bishop Miles that it 
 adopted all of his recommendations and elected three 
 bishops to help him superintend the work of our 
 rapidly growing organization. This election took 
 place after much prayer on the morning of March 
 19, 1873. On the first ballot the Rev. Joseph A. 
 Beebe, of North Carolina, and the Rev. L. H. Hol- 
 sey, of Georgia, each having received a majority of 
 the votes of the Conference, were declared bishops 
 elect of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 America by Bishop William Henry Miles. On the 
 third ballot Isaac Lane, of Tennessee, was elected 
 bishop, which election was duly announced bv the 
 presiding officer. The next Sunday, March 23, 
 Bishop George F. Pierce, D.D., of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South, preached the ordination 
 sermon and assisted otherwise in the ordination of 
 the bishops elect. This work was done in historic 
 old Trinity Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
 Augusta, Ga., where, since then, many notable gath- 
 erings of colored Methodists have been held. The 
 whole machinery of the Church was now put into 
 operation. The financial plan was improved upon, 
 the publication department took definite form, the 
 educational and missionary work was begun, and 
 the Church work gained in prestige and power. 
 
 69 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 My Early Experiences as a Bishop. 
 
 Having been elected bishop on the 19th day of 
 March and consecrated to that holy office on Sun- 
 day, the 23d of March, A.D. 1873, to S° out as a 
 bishop and preach the gospel and administer the 
 laws of the Church was no little embarrassment to 
 me. In those early days of the freedom of the race 
 the people were crude and had their own ideas of 
 religion, of the ministry, and especially of the bish- 
 ops. There was much curiosity attached to the com- 
 ing of a bishop. This situation had to be met and in 
 a way satisfied in order to reach the people in the 
 interest of the Church. 
 
 After our election and consecration, Bishop Miles 
 called us together, and then and there we allotted and 
 assigned the work for the year. I was called upon 
 to preside over the Northwest Texas, the East Tex- 
 as, and the Louisiana Annual Conferences. At that 
 time our entire connection was composed of mission 
 Conferences when compared with the work as it is 
 organized to-day, and my work was from every 
 viewpoint missionary. The territory was exceeding- 
 ly large, covering the present States of Texas, Okla- 
 homa, and Louisiana. As all know, this territory 
 was wholly undeveloped and sparsely settled by a 
 wild and adventurous people, who cared very little 
 for the Church, religion, and the ministry. Rail- 
 
 70 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 roads were very few, and most of the traveling had 
 to be done by stage, on horseback, by boat, or on 
 foot. To travel over this vast territory entailed 
 many hardships, deprivations, and much suffering. 
 Pen cannot describe, tongue can never tell, nor can 
 language express the mental anguish and the physi- 
 cal pain I endured on those perilous trips. I shall 
 never forget those early experiences. 
 
 Being without money with which to purchase the 
 necessary clothing, buy books, and the like, I was 
 much embarrassed. At that time the railroad fare 
 was five cents per mile, and my Conferences were 
 far apart. After providing for the protection and 
 care of my family, I started out to hold the District 
 Conferences. Bishop Miles had asked me to hold 
 some of these Conferences for him, and I did so. 
 My first Conference was held at Cumberland City, 
 Tenn. After calling the Conference to order, we 
 conducted our devotional service. I made a talk 
 based upon some portion of Scripture and then 
 called for the election of a secretary. In those days 
 it was a very difficult matter to secure the services 
 of one who could write and record with any degree 
 of intelligence the proceedings of our meetings. 
 Therefore much care was exercised in the selecting 
 of a competent secretary. This having been done, 
 the Conference settled down to work. I spoke to 
 the brethren on the duties of the presiding elder 
 and the pastors. A great congregation was there to 
 hear and see the newly elected bishop, and we had a 
 
 7i 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 splendid meeting. I returned home only to spend a 
 few days with my family, and then I was off to 
 Minden, La., the seat of the next District Confer- 
 ence that I was to hold. En route to Minden I 
 stopped at Water Valley, Miss., where I enjoyed the 
 hospitalities of friends for a few days, and then .1 
 continued my trip. In order to reach the Confer- 
 ence I had to travel seventy miles on horseback. 
 After getting there I was so tired and worn that I 
 could scarcely go. The brethren were there in large 
 numbers, and there was much uneasiness among 
 them as to the proper care of the work of the Con- 
 ference. I knew the attitude of the brethren, and I 
 went on bravely in His name. Before we had gone 
 far into the work of the Conference the brethren 
 began to see for themselves that the interest and 
 well-being of the Church were safe in my hands, 
 and they soon accorded me all the courtesies, respect, 
 and recognition due the presiding officer of their 
 Conference. We could not secure a competent sec- 
 retary, and I had to record the proceedings of the 
 Conference and preside also. This made the work 
 irksome and slow. After closing what was consid- 
 ered as one of the best Conferences ever held in 
 Minden, I returned home and made preparations for 
 the holding of my first Annual Conference. 
 
 < 
 
 My First Annual Conference. 
 
 My first Annual Conference was the West Texas 
 Annual Conference, which convened at Waxahachie, 
 
 72 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Ellis County, Tex., in 1873. En route to the seat 
 of the Conference my experiences were everything 
 but pleasant. I had only a small sum of money, 
 and while on a train a man robbed me of that. I 
 had to go through St. Louis and Sedalia, Mo., and 
 then via the St. Louis and Texas Central Railroad. 
 I reached the State line of Texas and Oklahoma 
 (then the Indian Territory). It was about sun- 
 down, and I had some sixty miles yet to go before 
 reaching Dallas, my destination. Here I found 
 Rev. A. J. Burrows hard at work. From Dallas I 
 went to Waxahachie, a small town about sixty miles 
 south of Dallas. 
 
 The Conference was well attended; but the year 
 had been a hard one for the brethren, and their re- 
 ports were very poor. The preachers had not re- 
 ceived very much in the way of support, and the 
 general interest of the Church had suffered likewise. 
 To indicate the nature of the support that was given, 
 I give one item that will be quite interesting to the 
 students of the conditions that prevailed during 
 those days. For the support of the bishop the Con- 
 ference had been asked to raise forty dollars, and 
 they reported having raised three and one-half dol- 
 lars. It was at this place that one of those unpleas- 
 ant events took place — viz., the African Methodist 
 Episcopal Church had gotten a hold among our 
 people and greatly divided them. As a result the 
 African Methodist Episcopal Church did not do 
 very much and made impossible the success we 
 
 73 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 would have had under favorable conditions. I lec- 
 tured and preached and exhorted and helped them in 
 every way I could and then left for my next ap- 
 pointment. 
 
 My Second Annual Conference. 
 
 My next Annual Conference took me to Hender- 
 son, Rusk County, Tex., a distance of over two 
 hundred miles. Of this, forty miles had to be trav- 
 eled on horseback. It was a long and painful trip. 
 Upon the advice of friends, I stopped with Brother 
 M.cElroy, a very aged man who was greatly afflicted 
 with the palsy. He could not do anything for my 
 comfort; but his wife, a young woman, did what 
 she could to make my stay pleasant. I found the 
 brethren much disappointed and disgruntled. For 
 years Bishop Miles had been using a white man as 
 the secretary of the Conference. The brethren had 
 learned that this white man could not be present, as 
 he had been called to attend court in a neighboring 
 town, and they were at a loss to know how the Con- 
 ference could be held without a competent secretary. 
 The delegates and ministers hesitated in coming into 
 the Conference room. We opened after the usual 
 manner and then sent for the brethren to come in, 
 as we were ready to begin the work of the Confer- 
 ence. We sang, read the Scriptures, exhorted, and 
 preached the best we could, and gradually the breth- 
 ren saw that we could have a good meeting if the 
 secretary was not there to make a record of our 
 
 74 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 transactions. With my personal assistance, we used 
 a layman and got along very well with the minutes 
 and the w T ork of keeping the journal. This was a 
 large Conference ; and although asked to raise three 
 hundred and eighty dollars for the support of the 
 bishop, they reported only fifty-seven dollars. 
 When we called the attention of the brethren to the 
 importance and necessity of raising the small amount 
 asked for the support of the bishops of the Church, 
 the brethren seemed to have been surprised to know 
 that they would be expected to bring money for the 
 bishops instead of the bishops sending money to 
 them. 
 
 My Third Annual Conference. 
 
 The Louisiana Annual Conference, which con- 
 vened in Homer, La., was the third Annual Confer- 
 ence I was called upon to hold. En route to Minden 
 I stopped over in Marshall, Tex., where I preached 
 to an audience of white and colored people. They 
 heard me gladly and gave me twenty dollars to help 
 in carrying forward the work in which I was en- 
 gaged. This made seventy-seven dollars that I had 
 received in the way of salary during the year. At 
 Homer we held the Conference under many diffi- 
 culties. Our work was not organized, the people 
 had not been trained, and there was apparent every- 
 where a want of unification of purpose and a con- 
 cert of action on the part of the workers. As a 
 result during the year the brethren had not accom- 
 
 77 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 plished what they might have done under more fa- 
 vorable conditions. Of the three hundred and eighty 
 dollars that the Conference was assessed, they had 
 raised only eighty dollars. I explained the system 
 of finance we were inaugurating, and the brethren 
 promised to do better another year. Let it be said 
 to their credit that they lived up to their new reso- 
 lutions. 
 
 With the adjournment of this Conference my 
 first year as a bishop came to a close. I had worked 
 hard during the year and had but little financial help. 
 On my salary the Church had paid me only one hun- 
 dred and sixty dollars and fifteen cents during the 
 year, and my expenses necessarily carried me far 
 into debt. My family was large and dependent, and 
 my responsibilities were many. In order to make 
 my episcopal tour I had borrowed two hundred dol- 
 lars. My note was about to fall due, and something 
 must be done to enable me to meet it. My wife and 
 children had a crop of cotton. This I sold, and with 
 the money I paid the debt and took up the note. I 
 then worked hard to replace this money. I cut 
 wood and hauled it to town and sold it, making 
 enough money thereby to buy such things as cloth- 
 ing and other provisions that were needed by my 
 family. This was a hard year for me and one that 
 I shall never forget. The labor, deprivations, and 
 hardships I endured were enough to bring tears to 
 my eyes. The young ministers of our Church, even 
 those serving missions to-dav, do not know our 
 
 78 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 suffering during those early pioneer days of our 
 Church. 
 
 In the early spring of 1874 I was called to Texas 
 on business for the Church, and after attending to 
 the work I attempted to return home. The high 
 waters prevented my returning ; and a white brother, 
 learning of my condition, gave me enough money to 
 pay my fare to Louisville, Ky., where Bishop Miles 
 had called us to our annual meeting. The General 
 Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, was in session in Louisville at this time, and 
 it was very necessary for us to meet in that city. I 
 reached Louisville at night and took a carriage for 
 the home of Bishop W. H. Miles. He was out of 
 the city, but his wife provided for me the best she 
 could. The next morning Bishop Miles and the 
 other bishops of our Church reached the city. We 
 had a short session and then adjourned in order to 
 visit the General Conference of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, South. The Conference gladly heard 
 our message and renewed their assurances of inter- 
 est, sympathy, and good will. The next day we had 
 our annual meeting. The bishops made their re- 
 ports, which showed steady progress and improve- 
 ment. We laid off the work for the next year the 
 best we could and discussed many of the perplexing 
 questions and problems that were still before the 
 Church. 
 
 Our General Conference was soon to meet, and 
 there were the usual things to be done prior to the 
 
 79 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 meeting of this body. The message had to be writ- 
 ten, the recommendations had to be agreed upon, 
 and general direction given to the advancement of 
 every interest of the Church. I had entertained the 
 hopes of getting some money at this meeting, but all 
 my hopes soon vanished when it became evident that 
 there was not a cent available for such purposes. 
 During the year I had received far less than my 
 expenses incurred in traveling over the connection. 
 The bishops agreed to my preaching en route home, 
 and by taking up collections I thus became able to 
 pay my fare home. This I did, arriving home after 
 an absence of six or eight weeks. Finding my wife 
 sick and despondent, I gave such comfort and help 
 as I could ; and I began at once to make preparation 
 for the care of my family during my absence in at- 
 tendance upon the General Conference and the An- 
 nual Conferences that were soon to be upon me. 
 This I did to the best of my ability. I cut and 
 hauled to town wood for sale and did such other job 
 work as I could get to do and at the same time 
 helped in every way I could with my crop. 
 
 80 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The Third General Conference of the Col- 
 ored Methodist Episcopal Church 
 in America. 
 
 The General Conference that convened in Louis- 
 ville, Ky., in August, 1874, was the third General 
 Conference of the Colored Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in America. At this time the country was 
 passing through a great financial crisis. On account 
 of the long drought, crops had failed, money was 
 scarce, and there was much suffering among the 
 people. In spite of these untoward conditions, the 
 General Conference was well attended. The breth- 
 ren soon got down to business. Although there was 
 to be no election of bishops, the interest in the gen- 
 eral work of the Church was not wanting. The re- 
 port of the bishops showed much improvement in 
 our organization. There were reported fifteen An- 
 nual Conferences, with a membership of six hundred 
 and seven traveling preachers and seventy-five thou- 
 sand communicants. Like the rest of us, the Senior 
 Bishop, William H. Miles, was impressed with the 
 importance and necessity of a better-prepared min- 
 istry as the one outstanding, crying need of the hour. 
 This one idea grew upon this great and good man 
 until finally he threw himself into the movement of 
 founding a great central school, with a. number of 
 smaller and more elementary schools that were to 
 6 81 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 serve as feeders. It became the one burning and all- 
 absorbing question upon his mind and heart. He 
 had laid his plans before the General Conference of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, just a few 
 weeks before and had been given some encourage- 
 ment from the bishops, general officers, and dele- 
 gates. One member of the Memphis Conference 
 gave one hundred dollars, while others gave smaller 
 amounts. The other bishops of the Church joined 
 the Senior Bishop in this work, the General Confer- 
 ence indorsed the movement, and upward of six- 
 teen thousand dollars was raised for this purpose. 
 Later on Bishop Miles traveled far and near, urg- 
 ing the importance of this work and making appeals 
 in its behalf. I remember many of his terse, trench- 
 ant sayings. Being a man of unusual ability, he 
 swayed his audiences by his convincing logic and 
 his matchless eloquence in his appeals. It is said 
 that no man could sit under the sound of his voice 
 without being thoroughly moved. The General 
 Conference took steps to carry out the plans of its 
 great leader. It adopted the Central University as 
 the name of the proposed school and decided upon 
 Louisville, Ky., as the site. It appointed Bishop 
 W. H. Miles as its Agent and urged the ministers 
 throughout the connection to take a collection for 
 the college, sending the same at once to the Agent. 
 It called upon our people and friends of the race 
 everywhere to assist in this great and laudable en- 
 terprise. 
 
 82 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 While the establishing of a system of schools was 
 the one outstanding question, there were other mat- 
 ters that received the attention of the Conference. 
 The salary of the Senior Bishop was placed at one 
 thousand dollars per year and his traveling expenses, 
 while the salaries of the other bishops were placed at 
 seven hundred and fifty dollars per year and their 
 traveling expenses. These amounts were prorated 
 among the various Annual Conferences and were 
 regarded in a way as assessments. While this mon- 
 ey was never raised, the action of the General Con- 
 ference made clear a plan that some day was to be 
 operative in the Church. 
 
 The Rev. E. B. Martin was the efficient Secretary 
 of this Conference and as such rendered signal serv- 
 ice to the Church. He afterwards became editor of 
 the Christian Index and pastor of Center Street Col- 
 ored Methodist Episcopal Church, at Louisville, Ky. 
 Martin's short and brilliant career in the Church 
 came to a sudden close because of family troubles 
 that he could not control and of conduct involving 
 his moral character. 
 
 83 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The Period from 1874 to 1880, Including the 
 Fourth General Conference. 
 
 I regard the period from 1874 to 1880 as one of 
 great transition. Everything was still in motion. 
 There was nothing that had become fixed and defi- 
 nite in form or mode. Every Church movement was 
 being tried and every plan inaugurated tested. It 
 is not surprising that many of these plans failed. 
 It is rather astonishing that so many of them suc- 
 ceeded. We were feeling very keenly the encroach- 
 ments that the other Churches were making upon us. 
 They constantly referred to us as a Southern 
 Church, a rebel Church, and the like, and those 
 names were very distasteful to our people. 
 
 As early as 1866 the African Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, through their bishops, urged our uniting with 
 them, claiming that there was no room in this coun- 
 try for another independent organization. A me- 
 morial in the form of a petition was sent to the 
 bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 during their General Conference that convened in 
 New Orleans, La. At once we made it known that 
 we preferred a separate organization of our own, 
 regularly established and organized after our own 
 ideas and notions. The bishops and General Con- 
 ference of the Southern Church readily agreed with 
 us, and the petition was most respectfully returned 
 
 84 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 with regrets that the present conditions would not 
 justify the granting of the petition as it had been 
 presented. 
 
 During this extraordinary period there were many 
 overtures made for organic union between oui 
 Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion 
 Church, and the colored members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church ; but no plan or basis of union 
 was ever worked out and submitted on which we 
 could agree, and this division has continued all these 
 years. 
 
 Our Publication House up to this time had not 
 proved a paying proposition. There was constantly 
 a deficit in the publishing of the Christian Index, 
 and now something had to be done to save it to the 
 Church. It had been moved from Memphis to Lou- 
 isville, and from Louisville to Memphis again, and 
 the deficit continued. What was to be done was still 
 the question. 
 
 Our educational movement had proved to be more 
 of a failure than our publishing department. Fifty 
 thousand dollars was needed to establish the con- 
 nectional school, and it was necessary to have ten 
 thousand dollars at once to save to the connection 
 the property already purchased by Bishop Miles. 
 This money could not be raised ; and Bishop Miles, 
 disappointed and greatly disheartened, decided to 
 abandon the educational work and leave the field 
 for others to cultivate. This was in 1878. 
 
 The period from 1874 to 1880 was not onlv a 
 85 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 period of great trial to the Church, when her plans 
 and policy were being tested ; but it was also a period 
 of much hard work, many disappointments, and 
 hardships for her bishops. Demands for their 
 services were constantly made, and the money nec- 
 essary to cover their expense in traveling over the 
 railroad from one point to another was not avail- 
 able. As we have already recorded, our salaries 
 were small, and rarely did any of the bishops receive 
 more than six hundred dollars per year in the way 
 of salary. In 1875 I received two hundred and sev- 
 enty dollars, and the next year I was paid the hand- 
 some salary of three hundred and eighty dollars! 
 The territory over which I traveled entailed much 
 traveling; and had I not been energetic and ambi- 
 tious for my family, we should have suffering dur- 
 ing those days. 
 
 In the fall of 1877 I held the Georgia Confer- 
 ence. Among the other discussions provoking much 
 thought were the requirements of a person who de- 
 sires to become a member of the Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal Church in America. The next year 
 (1878) the General Conference met in Jackson, 
 Tenn., and I requested the bishops to pass upon a 
 form that might be used throughout the connection 
 by ministers in receiving members into the Church. 
 This form as drafted by me was adopted by the 
 bishops and the General Conference; and, without 
 any change, it has been used ever since. It is as 
 follows and can be found in our Book of Discipline 
 
 85 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 on page 257: "To this question, asked by the minis- 
 ter, the candidate must answer in the affirmative: 
 'Do you solemnly, in the presence of God and this 
 congregation, ratify and confirm the promise and 
 vow of repentance, faith, and obedience contained 
 in the baptismal covenant?' " 
 
 This General Conference did much constructive 
 work in the way of legislation and is regarded as one 
 of the best we have ever held. 
 
 It was at this General Conference that it became 
 very apparent to all that unless something was done 
 our beautiful Israel Metropolitan Church, in Wash- 
 ington, D. C, would be lost to the connection be- 
 cause of financial conditions that had developed. 
 The local Church was unable to take care of the 
 large debt that was hanging over the Church prop- 
 erty, and we were notified that unless something was 
 done at once the Church property would be lost to 
 the connection. In order to give the necessary re- 
 lief, the Conference levied an assessment of ten cents 
 per member upon the whole Church, and I was elect- 
 ed as the Special Agent and Treasurer of this fund. 
 We raised enough money to "tide" the property 
 over, but the original debt was not reduced to any 
 appreciable extent. That debt has continued to ex- 
 ist all these years and has been a decided draw- 
 back to the building up of our Church work at the 
 seat of our national government, where we should 
 have not only a representative church edifice, but 
 a large, representative congregation of worshipers. 
 
 %7 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 The General Conference of 1882 enacted much 
 important legislation. The Church work began to 
 take on the departmental form, and the machinery 
 had to be adjusted to meet the demands of the times. 
 The Church manifested considerable interest in the 
 founding and establishing of her educational insti- 
 tutions, and new leaders were being developed for 
 the advancement of the interests of the kingdom of 
 Christ. The failure on the part of {he Church in 
 establishing the schools at Louisville, Ky., and Sar- 
 dis, Miss., had dampened the educational ardor of 
 the leaders, but in no way discouraged the people 
 or lessened the desire of both leaders and people for 
 schools of their own. So as early as 1878 there was 
 a movement inaugurated in the Tennessee Confer- 
 ence for the establishing of a school of high grade 
 at Jackson. Rev. D. L. Jackson, of Alabama, Revs. 
 C. H. Lee, J. H. Ridley, Sandy Rivers, Berry 
 Smith, J. K. Daniel, and others were leaders in this 
 movement. In 1879 Bishop Lane came to the as- 
 sistance of the Church, and the movement began to 
 take on a tangible form which eventually led to the 
 founding of Lane College. A similar movement 
 began in Georgia under the leadership of Bishop 
 L. H. Holsey and resulted in the founding, in 1883, 
 of Paine College. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 My Work Following the Fifth and Sixth Gen- 
 eral Conferences. 
 
 The fifth General Conference of the Colored 
 Methodist Episcopal Church in America convened 
 in Augusta, Ga., May 4, 1882, and transacted some 
 very important business. Among the most striking 
 pieces of constructive legislation done by the General 
 Conference was the one requiring all ministers, both 
 local and traveling, to subscribe for the Christian 
 Index, the official organ of the Church. This law 
 has relieved the Church of the continued embarrass- 
 ment in the publishing of the connectional organ. 
 Its wisdom is recognized in that this law has never 
 been repealed and is in vogue to-day. The Publica- 
 tion House was moved from Louisville, Ky., to Jack- 
 son, Tenn., where it has remained ever since 1882. 
 
 During the General Conference of 1886, in laying 
 off the plan of episcopal visitation, I was assigned 
 to the Western field of labor again. My first An- 
 nual Conference met at Mountain Fork, Ind. Ter., 
 August 19, 1886. On my way to this Conference I 
 stopped at Clarksville, Red River County, Tex., and 
 then went on to Shawneetown. I had been ad- 
 vised to spend the night in the home of Brother 
 Mitchell Shaw, one of our preachers. I went there 
 and was received by him and his wife. Mrs. Shaw 
 was an Indian and did not know anvthing of the 
 
 89 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 manners and customs of the States' people. Crude 
 and coarse, there was a complete want of all social 
 intercourse and pleasantries, and for that reason I 
 did not care to stay. Brother Shaw was living after 
 the most primitive manner, and I decided that it 
 would be pleasanter for me to be traveling along 
 during the night than to stay there in the hut of 
 Brother Shaw under the existing conditions. With 
 my pony, I set out on this long and perilous trip. 
 It was during this night that I had the saddest ex- 
 perience of my life. In fact, at one time I gave up 
 all hopes of living to see the next morning. I had 
 never traveled through that country before and did 
 not know the paths (for there were no roads) nor 
 the directions. I was soon lost in the woods, in the 
 thickets and heavy undergrowths, and wandered 
 about until about midnight, when I came to a man's 
 house out in the lonesome forest, far removed from 
 the roadside or any other house. It was the hut of 
 an Indian. He and his wife heard my call and came 
 out to the fence almost nude. Their very sight was 
 frightful to me. I tried to tell them where I wanted 
 to go, and in reply they gave me signs with their 
 heads which were as meaningless to me as they 
 were amusing. In fact, I could not understand 
 them, and all I said was meaningless to them. I 
 now saw that all efforts on my part to make mvself 
 understood were useless, and I left with about as 
 much satisfaction as I had before I stopped. 
 
 I continued to wander about until I came to a 
 90 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 village called Monther Fork. I passed through the 
 village to the outskirts ; and there I stretched out 
 on the ground, using my saddle as a pillow, where 
 I remained until daybreak. I did not sleep or rest 
 any because of the strangeness of the place and the 
 many unsightly things thereabout. At the dawn 
 of day I saw a man across the way feeding his stock. 
 I went over and talked with him. He was a white 
 man and could speak English. I was glad to find 
 some one whom I could understand and who at the 
 same time could understand me. He informed me 
 that he was personally acquainted with Rev. Lemon 
 Butler, one of my preachers, and took great care in 
 pointing out the direction and describing the way 
 by which I could reach his home. 
 
 I was greatly encouraged and started out with 
 renewed determination. It was shortly after seven 
 o'clock when I reached the home of Rev. Butler. 
 After he and his family found out who I was and 
 my mission, they gladly took me in, gave me break- 
 fast, and ministered to my comfort the best they 
 could. After resting there awhile, these good peo- 
 ple put me on the road to the church house, Brown's 
 Chapel, named in honor of Dr. Robert Turner 
 Brown, their former pastor, who built it. 
 
 There I held the Indian Territory Mission Con- 
 ference. Some well-dressed Indians came out to 
 hear me preach. They appeared friendly enough, 
 but I could not get acquainted with their peculiar 
 mannerism and apparent indifference. I saw many 
 
 9* 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 hopeful signs for this Mission Conference. All in 
 all, we had a fairly good Conference. 
 
 At the adjournment of the Indian Territory Mis- 
 sion Conference I started for the seat of my next 
 Annual Conference, which was to be held at New- 
 ton, Kans. I returned largely the way I went. 
 When I got to Red River I lay out all night. The 
 next morning I got an early start for Clarksville, 
 and from there I went on to Sherman, Tex. In or- 
 der to fill some engagements that had been made for 
 me, I went up the Texas and Houston Central Rail- 
 road to Stringtown, Ind. Ter., and other places in 
 that section of the country. At Stringtown I had a 
 very pleasant stay in the home of an aged man who 
 once lived in my native town. It was, indeed, a 
 pleasure to talk with him about the ways of the peo- 
 ple in the Territory and the conditions that prevailed 
 at that time in that new and open country. 
 
 From Stringtown I went on to Newton, Kans., 
 where I held our Annual Conference in the white 
 people's church in Newton. The people, both white 
 and colored, showed me every courtesy and made our 
 work a success. I traveled over Kansas with Rev. 
 Berry Smith. He was my strongest man out there, 
 as was Rev. U. S. Smith in the Territory. These 
 two old pioneers of our Church were great men in 
 that day for the people of that country. They did a 
 service for the race and Church that was far-reach- 
 ing in its influence. The history of our Church work 
 in the West would be incomplete without a full chap- 
 
 92 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 ter being devoted to the work and sacrifices of those 
 early fathers. God bless their memory ! 
 
 At Newton we held a good Conference, at the 
 close of which I hastened home to be with my fam- 
 ily and to make preparation for the meeting of the 
 General Conference at Little Rock, Ark. 
 
 93 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The Seventh General Conference of the Col- 
 ored Methodist Episcopal Church and 
 Some Transpiring Events. 
 
 Since the adjournment of the General Confer- 
 ence that convened in Augusta, Ga., May 5, 1886, 
 many important events had taken place within the 
 Church. The general fund assessment created for 
 the purpose of raising money with which to meet 
 the obligations of the general Church had worked 
 well and was far superior in results to anything 
 that the Church had ever tried before. 
 
 Mr. Samuel B. Wallace, a prominent layman of 
 Columbia, S. C, resolved to leave the African Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church and come over to the Colored 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. Others agreed to fol- 
 low him ; and finally the whole membership, together 
 with the congregation — the membership numbering 
 about six hundred, with a following of something 
 like fifteen hundred — came with him and joined the 
 Colored Methodist Episcopal connection, bringing 
 with them much valuable Church property. Wallace 
 was a man of. rare gifts and many talents, and soon 
 after joining the Colored Methodist Episcopal 
 Church he was licensed to preach. His stay in the 
 local ranks was short, as his services were soon 
 needed elsewhere. He rose rapidly into prominence, 
 and at the time of his untimely death he was one of 
 
 94 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 the most prominent preachers in the whole connec- 
 tion. It was generally conceded that, had Wallace 
 lived, he would have been called to the episcopacy of 
 the Church of his choice. His career in the ministry 
 was short but brilliant, and his death was a subject 
 of great lamentation throughout the connection. 
 
 Among the Church schools that were now organ- 
 ized were Lane College, Jackson, Tenn., Paine Col- 
 lege, Augusta, Ga., Phillips College, Tyler, Tex., 
 Haygood Seminary, Washington, Ark., and two 
 Alabama schools located at Booker City and Tusca- 
 loosa, Ala. 
 
 From the above facts it can be easily seen that the 
 approaching General Conference would be interest- 
 ing. No bishops had been elected since the Confer- 
 ence convened in Augusta, Ga., in 1873, an d some of 
 the delegates thought it well to elect at least one 
 more bishop at this Conference. The advocates of 
 the election of an additional bishop pointed out the 
 fact that Bishop Miles was in feeble health and that 
 Bishop Holsey was in need of rest and recuperation, 
 and they urged the importance of the Conference's 
 electing at least one more bishop. Much confusion 
 and disputation existed among the brethren, and 
 finally it was agreed to abandon the idea of increas- 
 ing the number of bishops at this session of the Con- 
 ference. Bishop Holsey asked to be relieved of epis- 
 copal duties in order that he might regain his broken 
 and impaired health. The matter was taken under 
 advisement, and the bishops saw their way clear to 
 
 95 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 lighten his duties and responsibilities, and this was 
 done to the satisfaction of the Bishop and the Con- 
 ference. 
 
 The General Conference had established its rela- 
 tion with all other Methodist bodies and had frater- 
 nal delegates at the Ecumenical Conference and the 
 General Conferences of all the other Methodist 
 Churches, and thus with the close of the quadren- 
 nium the Church was recognized as never before as 
 a great power for good in this country. 
 
 96 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 The Great Need of a Denominational School 
 
 — My Inspiration and Early Efforts — 
 
 Founding of Lane College. 
 
 I began the work of a bishop under great disad- 
 vantages. Not having had the opportunity of early 
 training in the science of letters, it was very embar- 
 rassing to me to preach to congregations composed 
 of so many persons who had enjoyed those advan- 
 tages. Nevertheless, by consecrating myself to my 
 Heavenly Father and applying myself to such books 
 as I had, I got possession of a vocabulary of words 
 and a line of thought that served me well on all oc- 
 casions. Wherever I went, my services, were accept- 
 able, and the people heard me gladly. I continued 
 to study, and by using all I had I grew in knowledge 
 and power of speech. Above all, I wanted to be a 
 good man, and when a young man I resolved that 
 I would live a pure, upright life before God and my 
 fellow man. I knew that if I could not be learned 
 or rich I could be upright in my life. 
 
 I took special notice of the conditions of my peo- 
 ple and found that our preachers needed a common- 
 school education such as would enable them to read 
 and write and speak the English language correctly. 
 It became apparent to me that unless the minister 
 were able to speak the native language correctly he 
 would not be able to command respect and recog- 
 7 97 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 nition from the better-informed members of the 
 congregations, whose influence he most needed. 
 We needed a training school. I saw also that we 
 could not maintain our Church as a separate organi- 
 zation without intelligent representatives who were 
 able to defend its doctrines and support its polity. 
 I realized, furthermore, that if other denominations 
 trained our young people they would train them 
 largely in their doctrines and Church usage, and that 
 would mean that our people would be in a measure 
 trained from our Church. So it became necessary 
 and urgent for us to establish and operate a school 
 of high grade for our Church. But what could I 
 do? I was poor and had a large family of children 
 to care for, and I had to work hard in order to give 
 them a chance at an education and at the same time 
 provide properly for their support. 
 
 Some years before Bishop William Henry Miles 
 saw the situation as clearly as I and attempted to 
 carry out a scheme that was in keeping with his 
 vision and the necessity of the hour, but his ambi- 
 tion was too great and his plans were too big for 
 the resources and wealth available to carry them into 
 effect. He wanted to establish a system of schools, 
 and a failure was inevitable. These observations 
 did not make the field very inviting to me. I had 
 been among the colored people a great deal, and 
 I knew that they did not have much money and 
 but little love for education. Just out of slavery, 
 poor and ignorant, it was almost unthinkable for 
 
 98 
 
OLD MAIN HALL, LANE COLLEGE. 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 them to own, control, and operate a high school or 
 college. Such was looked upon as preposterous. 
 
 Bishop L. H. Holsey spent several weeks in Ten- 
 nessee raising money with which to purchase the 
 grounds for a school to be located within the bounds 
 of the State. I then came to the work and took it 
 up where he had left off. The brethren had met 
 with some reverses and were much disheartened. 
 I met with them and soon had the situation and 
 plans well in hand. We had raised enough money 
 to buy the four acres of ground upon which the 
 principal buildings now stand, paying cash for the 
 same. Having accomplished this much, the enter- 
 prise took on new life, and then we started out to 
 construct a building. In the summer of 1882 the 
 first building was erected at a cost of one thousand 
 one hundred and fifty dollars. It was a two-story 
 frame structure thirty-four feet by forty-four feet, 
 containing a chapel, a library, and recitation rooms. 
 The large attendance soon demanded a more accom- 
 modating building, and thus we were pressed for 
 more funds with which to operate the school and 
 provide for the ever-increasing demands. We need- 
 ed very much a room where the preachers might 
 meet and read and study the Bible and the doctrines 
 of Christ and his Church. I remember quite well 
 how we would study such works as Binney's "Theo- 
 logical Compend" and Wesley's "Lectures and Ser- 
 mons." They were our textbooks. We would read 
 and discuss the doctrines of the Church as we under- 
 
 101 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 stood them, and in this way the ministers were great- 
 ly improved in their knowledge of the Bible and the 
 teachings of their Church. 
 
 As the years passed by the school grew into prom- 
 inence, and we found it imperative to have larger 
 and better buildings. The success of this work in 
 the early days was due to the careful management 
 and the sacrifices on the part of so many earnest, 
 upright Christian men and women who became in- 
 terested in it. The trustees selected their teachers 
 with care, and from the very beginning the work 
 had the indorsement and encouragement of the best 
 of our people. Among the trustees who were asso- 
 ciated with me in the early days of this work were: 
 Rev. W. T. Thomas, of Alabama; Rev. J. A. Hatch- 
 er and Rev. P. A. Samples, of Kentucky; Revs. I. 
 H. Anderson, S. Bobo, R. Bates, M. Ralston, Berry 
 Cannon, and J. C. W. Smith, of Mississippi ; J. W. 
 Thurston and G. L. Davis, of the Tennessee Annual 
 Conference; besides the following, of the West Ten- 
 nessee Annual Conference: Revs. H. N. Snow, C. 
 H. Lee, W. W. Sevier, M. D. Partee, W. M. Payne, 
 W. H. Daniel, E. W. Moseley, R. T. James, H. 
 Thompson, J. K. Daniel, Sandy Rivers, and Berry 
 Smith. Among the early teachers who rendered 
 the Church and race great service as teachers in the 
 early days of this work, we might mention with 
 propriety Miss Jennie E. Lane (now Mrs. N. C. 
 Cleaves), Prof. J. H. Harper, Dr. C. H. Phillips, 
 Prof. T. J. Austin, Prof. E. W. Benton, Prof. E. 
 
 1 02 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 W. Bailey, and Prof. E. L. Honesty. All of these 
 men and many others equally as earnest and deserv- 
 ing helped to lay the foundation for a work that is 
 now known extensively as Lane College. 
 
 Rapid Developments. 
 
 Because of the labors of these men, Lane Institute 
 (now Lane College) grew rapidly in public favor 
 and gained prestige. The one crying need was 
 larger and more modern buildings in which to carry 
 on the work and provide for the care and protection 
 of the many young men and young women who were 
 coming from different States to enter. It was ap- 
 parent that the main hall would cost at least fifteen 
 thousand dollars, besides the furniture and equip- 
 ment. This was a great outlay of money for our 
 people and required sacrifice on the part of those 
 who had challenged the cause. In 1895 tn i s building 
 was completed; and in the fall of the same year, 
 October 23, in the presence of a large concourse of 
 people, it was dedicated to the cause of Christian 
 education by Bishop R. S. Williams, of Augusta, 
 Ga. Bishop Williams was assisted in this work by 
 Bishop Elias Cottrell, Dr. C. H. Phillips (then edi- 
 tor of the Christian Index, now bishop), and several 
 of the trustees of the college. I acted as master of 
 ceremonies. 
 
 After this building had been erected and fur- 
 nished, there were other demands made upon us. 
 Our boarding department was not sufficient to care 
 
 103 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 for the number of students who were coming to us 
 from other places. This forced us to provide for 
 a dormitory for the young men and at the same time 
 enlarge the one we had for the young women. This 
 meant an expenditure of something like ten thousand 
 dollars more. Two cottages and an industrial hall 
 were afterwards erected. 
 
 These buildings served the purpose of the school 
 until November 4, 1904, when a disastrous fire com- 
 pletely destroyed the plant. Our loss was great, 
 and we had but little insurance on the property. It 
 was a sad scene on that dark and cloudy night, 
 amidst the sprinkling of rain, to see go up in smoke 
 and down in ashes buildings that had cost so much 
 in labor, prayers, and suffering. The school that 
 was in session was put out of doors, and what to do 
 was the one great question that confronted us. 
 When the money from the insurance companies was 
 collected, we had less than ten thousand dollars. We 
 constructed a temporary building in which to con- 
 tinue the school work the best we could. By plac- 
 ing the young men in the city, we took care of the 
 girls in the young men's hall, which by chance had 
 been saved, and under these unfavorable conditions 
 the work went forward during the year. 
 
 In passing over this period of time we must stop 
 long enough just here to make mention of the inter- 
 est and help bestowed upon us by the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South. In all of our struggles 
 we found the members of this Church, together with 
 
 104 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 their bishops and leaders, anxious to help. They 
 made contributions from the very beginning and are 
 helping to foster and carry on the work now. 
 
 In 1886 we petitioned the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, to furnish us a teacher, one who 
 could give instruction in the science of theology. 
 The very next year they selected for this work the 
 Rev. T. F. Saunders, D.D., of the Memphis Confer- 
 ence. Dr. Saunders devoted thirteen years of his 
 life to this work and did what he could for its ad- 
 vancement. During these years Dr. Saunders served 
 as President of the school and Professor of Theol- 
 ogy, and much good work was done under his ad- 
 ministration. He retired from the work with the 
 confidence and respect of all who knew him. 
 
 During this time I traveled extensively among my 
 people and among the white people, making appeals 
 for financial assistance. I sold tracts, pamphlets of 
 all kinds, books, pictures, and the like, and applied 
 the proceeds from the sale of these articles to the 
 building fund. I made public addresses, delivered 
 lectures, and preached sermons. By taking up col- 
 lections and by private solicitations and public ap- 
 peals we raised money with which to establish and 
 carry on this work. God gave me strength and 
 health, and I used these in his name. 
 
 When the last dollar on the old buildings had been 
 paid and I had about decided to turn my attention to 
 the mission work of the Church, the disastrous fire 
 of 1904, of which I have already spoken, took place. 
 
 107 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 The years of toil and suffering entailed in raising 
 money for our educational work will never be for- 
 gotten by me. Regarded by some as a crank on 
 the subject of education, by others as a beggar, I 
 was ofttimes rejected ; but I continued to work and 
 pray, receiving just enough consideration to give en- 
 couragement. While some men of wealth and influ- 
 ence refused me even an audience, others made 
 small donations and thus kept me in good spirits 
 and in good cheer. I continued to work, showing 
 much earnestness, and thus grew in favor with the 
 people of our race, as well as with the people of the 
 white race. In accomplishing the work I have done 
 for the educational uplift of the young people of our 
 race the world will never know of the pain, toil, 
 suffering, the many sleepless nights, headaches, and 
 the mental and physical anguish I endured all of 
 those years. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 A Year of Great Trial and Severe Affliction. 
 
 As I look over the past twenty-one years of my 
 career, I regard the year 1904 as being one of great 
 trial and affliction for me. On September 14 of 
 that year I lost by fire some valuable personal prop- 
 erty, the results of years of sacrifice and toil. The 
 insurance did not begin to cover the actual loss. On 
 October 14, while en route to Warrensburg, Mo., to 
 hold the Missouri and Kansas Annual Conference, 
 an excursion train collided with a through freight 
 train about three miles east of Warrensburg. We 
 got there in time to see the sight, with all of its hor- 
 rors and sufferings. I had never seen so many dead 
 and wounded people before. Two little boys died 
 after we reached the scene. It was enough to move 
 the hardest heart to tears. 
 
 It was during this Conference session that I re- 
 ceived a letter from my wife telling me that our old 
 family horse had died. From that Conference I 
 hurried home for a few days' rest and recreation. 
 But before I had rested from the trip the principal 
 buildings of Lane College were destroyed by fire. 
 This took place Wednesday night, November 4, 
 1904. Our loss was upward of thirty thousand 
 dollars. It was a sad time for me. I was about to 
 give the work up; but my friends, both white and 
 colored, said, "No ; let's build again," and I set out 
 to rebuild. 
 
 109 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 On December 27 my dearly beloved son, the Rev. 
 Charles Wesley Lane, D.D., pastor of our Church at 
 New Madrid, Mo., came to visit me. He had spent 
 only two days before he took critically ill and died. 
 He was one of the most talented of my children and 
 the only one who felt a divine call to the ministry. 
 His career, although short, was brilliant, and his 
 life was useful. He was the pastor of a good many 
 of our largest and best charges and as such rendered 
 great service as a preacher and pastor. For four 
 years he presided over the Memphis District, win- 
 ning much credit to himself and honor to his God. 
 His death brought great grief to me. I then count- 
 ed the words of Job: "The Lord giveth, and the 
 Lord taketh away." His death was a sore trial ; but 
 the Lord was with me, and I said: "Though he 
 smite me, yet will I trust him." 
 
 The Nezv Lane College. 
 
 We now come to a period of great activity. The 
 principal buildings at Lane College had been de- 
 stroyed in the awful fire of 1904, and I had made it 
 up in my mind to undertake the work of rebuilding. 
 
 The first and most needed building was a main 
 hall, in which recitation rooms, classrooms, study 
 halls, chapels, library, and office rooms might be had. 
 We employed Mr. R. A. Heavner, of Jackson, to 
 draw up the plans and specifications for such a build- 
 ing. We gave him an idea of what we wanted ; and, 
 after several months of waiting, he presented a sug- 
 
 110 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 gestive plan. With some modifications, this plan 
 was accepted, and the specifications were all drawn 
 and accepted by the building committee appointed 
 by the Board of Trustees. These plans called for a 
 building one hundred and twenty-eight feet long by 
 seventy-six feet wide, three stories high, brick with 
 stone trimmings, and a flat roof. It was a most 
 beautiful structure, well built, having large assembly 
 rooms, study halls, recitation and lecture rooms, a 
 library, a reading room, a chapel, laboratories, and 
 the like. This building, together with its furnish- 
 ings, cost nearly thirty thousand dollars. It was 
 completed in 1906. 
 
 Rev. T. F. Saunders retired from the presidency 
 of the school in the spring of 1903 and was succeed- 
 ed by Rev. J. A. Bray, A.M., LL.D. Rev. Bray 
 took charge November 17, 1903, and continued until 
 June, 1907. The fire took place and the work of 
 reconstruction began during the years of his admin- 
 istration. 
 
 Before the main hall had been paid for, work on 
 the girls' dormitory was begun. The campaign for 
 funds was on, to remain until the old buildings were 
 replaced by larger and more modern ones. This 
 hall is a large, well-constructed, three-story brick 
 structure with stone trimmings and a metallic roof, 
 containing the kitchen, laundry, dining hall, recep- 
 tion rooms, the Young Women's Christian Associa- 
 tion room, and dormitory rooms to accommodate 
 sixty-four young ladies. This building, together 
 8 113 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 with a large heating plant, cost about twenty-one 
 thousand dollars. In order to accommodate the 
 grounds with reference to the proper location of the 
 new buildings, some of the old buildings had to be 
 moved, and the campus then took on a new form. 
 The President's home was moved, as was also the 
 Industrial Hall, and thus the new and greater Lane 
 College began to make its appearance. 
 
 The third building to be erected was the boys' 
 dormitory. The plans and specifications for this 
 building were drawn by Mr. Moses McKissack, of 
 Nashville, Tenn., and called for a three-story brick 
 structure, containing dormitory rooms, the Young 
 Men's Christian Association room, reception hall, 
 workshop for the boys, and a suite of rooms for the 
 preceptress. This building was constructed by Mr. 
 William Burrows, a contractor and builder of Mem- 
 phis, Tenn., for nineteen thousand six hundred and 
 thirty-nine and one-half dollars. With the heating 
 and lighting and other furnishings, the building cost 
 nearly twenty-five thousand dollars. Toward the 
 erection of this hall the General Education Board 
 of New York made a donation of seven thousand 
 dollars. This was done in 1912. 
 
 The college has been working for the uplift of 
 our people for thirty-four years; and the results 
 are seen not so much in the valuation of the property 
 to be found on the grounds, but its greatest work is 
 seen in the men and women who have been trained 
 within its walls — persons whose minds and hearts 
 
 114 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 have been touched and inspired with the spirit of 
 Christ, who while on earth went about doing good 
 wherever an opportunity presented itself. Up to the 
 time of my retirement as an active bishop I had 
 raised more than one hundred thousand dollars for 
 this work. The buildings may not stand, the repu- 
 tation may pass from among men, but the work will 
 remain forever. 
 
 117 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 My Labor as a Church Expansionist — Work- 
 ing in the Mission Field. 
 
 The greater part of my life as a bishop has been 
 spent in the mission Conferences, especially in the 
 North and West. Here I observed our people mov- 
 ing from the South and East in great numbers, and 
 it became clear to me that unless we followed them 
 up with our Church organization they would soon 
 be lost to the connection. The changed civic and 
 economic conditions in the South, the constant agi- 
 tation of the race question by political demagogues, 
 the lynchings, and other unjust treatment accorded 
 the colored people are responsible for the manifest 
 unrest and the grim determination on the part of so 
 many members of our race to migrate to the North 
 and West, where a change for the better with respect 
 to some of these conditions, if not to all of them, 
 can be had. 
 
 Among the many mission points I began which 
 have grown into good, self-supporting charges are 
 the following — viz. : Lane Tabernacle, Cleveland, 
 Ohio, organized in 1902 with about twenty-four 
 members, has to-day property valued at more than 
 thirteen thousand dollars and a membership of one 
 hundred and fifty. St. Paul Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, Chicago, 111., organized about ten 
 years ago, now has Church property valued at twelve 
 
 118 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 thousand' five hundred dollars and a membership of 
 five hundred. Lane Chapel, St. Louis, Mo., organ- 
 ized about fifteen years ago, now has Church prop- 
 erty valued at twenty-five thousand dollars and a 
 membership of five hundred. Kansas City (Mo.) 
 Station, organized about sixteen years ago, now has 
 Church property valued at ten thousand dollars and 
 a membership of one hundred and eighty. Kansas 
 City, Kans., was organized about eighteen years 
 ago and now has property valued at ten thousand 
 dollars and a membership of one hundred and eigh- 
 ty-five. Lane Chapel, Topeka, Kans., organized 
 about nineteen years ago, has Church property val- 
 ued at twenty-five thousand dollars and a member- 
 ship of three hundred. Oklahoma City, Okla., was 
 organized about fifteen years ago and now has 
 Church property valued at twelve thousand dollars 
 and a membership of two hundred. Muskogee, 
 Okla., was organized about twelve years ago and 
 now has Church property valued at thirty thousand 
 dollars and a membership of three hundred. Tulsa, 
 Okla., was organized twelve years ago and now has 
 Church property worth three thousand five hundred 
 dollars and a membership of one hundred and twen- 
 ty-five. Champaign, 111., was organized about eight- 
 een years ago and now has property worth five thou- 
 sand dollars and two hundred and twenty-five mem- 
 bers. East St. Louis, 111., was organized about 
 twelve years ago and now has Church property 
 
 119 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 worth three thousand dollars and about one hundred 
 and twenty members. 
 
 These are only a few of the many Churches in 
 mission territory that were organized through my 
 personal efforts and official direction. There are 
 many smaller and less conspicuous appointments that 
 mean equally as much to the progress of the Church 
 and the saving of men that might with propriety be 
 mentioned. Suffice it to say that I labored unself- 
 ishly, and, on the whole, God blessed my labors. 
 
 In doing this work for our Church I made it a 
 point to keep in sympathetic touch with our friends, 
 and especially those who were able to give assistance. 
 On Monday mornings, where there were such meet- 
 ings, I would visit the Ministerial Alliance of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and would talk 
 with them and pray for them. I did not hesitate 
 to make known our needs and our desires. Occa- 
 sionally they would give a helpful suggestion or 
 encourage me in a more substantial way. In St. 
 Louis, Mo., where I have a host of friends among 
 both white and colored people, Mr. Richard Scruggs 
 (white) became so much impressed with the impor- 
 tance and necessity of our work in that great and 
 rapidly growing city that he gave five thousand sev- 
 en hundred dollars to our Church. This is the larg- 
 est gift ever made to a Colored Methodist Episcopal 
 Church of which I have any knowledge. In other 
 places we solicited smaller sums. While in them- 
 selves these contributions were not great, they were 
 
 1 20 
 
_/__ ' '/ LAKE. 'llABEBMictE 
 
 -i-\B^l .koc^ If, 
 
 LANE TABERNACLE, ST. LOUIS, MO. 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 sufficient to give our members encouragement and 
 served the very great purpose of an incentive for 
 them to do their very best. 
 
 This kind of constructive work in mission fields 
 has been so attractive to me sometimes that I feel I 
 was called especially to do it. If one would stop 
 and think long enough, he would see that from 
 Cleveland, Ohio, on the east, to Muskogee, Okla., on 
 the west, our strongest appointments were begun 
 under my administration. 
 
 I have not spoken of my work accomplished in 
 the South, as this is well known by the Church at 
 large. In the North and West it was freely predict- 
 ed that these organizations would be a great burden 
 upon the general Church. But I did not see it that 
 way. I asked the general Church for some financial 
 assistance at certain strategic points, and it gave 
 some little help. Time has vindicated all the claims 
 I made for this work ; and instead of being a burden 
 to the general Church, they are a great help in that 
 they give their support to all the general interests of 
 the Church and contribute their share in the support 
 of all its work. 
 
 The great Northwest is a wealthy section of our 
 country and one that ha^ hardly been touched by 
 our Church. It presents a splendid field of rare 
 opportunities to us. The foundation has already 
 been laid, and my successors can go forward with 
 the construction in keeping with their increased 
 strength and enlarged opportunities. 
 
 123 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 Church Activities in Recent Years. 
 
 The past ten years have been marked by many 
 activities within the Colored Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in America. For the most part, these move- 
 ments have been wide in their scope and helpful in 
 their results. The Colored Methodist Episcopal 
 Church is seen, perhaps, at its best in its educational 
 work and activity. During the period of time under 
 our survey just now Lane College, at Jackson, 
 Tenn., and Paine College, at Augusta, Ga., have 
 doubled their holdings, their plants to-day being 
 valued at more than one hundred thousand dollars 
 each. Phillips College, at Tyler, Tex., has virtually 
 been reestablished and is now, in point of facilities 
 and scope of work, far in advance of what it was 
 prior to this period. The same is true of Miles 
 Memorial College, at Birmingham, Ala., and the 
 Homer Industrial College, at Homer, La. This 
 period embraces the time of the founding and estab- 
 lishing of the Mississippi Industrial College, at Holly 
 Springs, Miss., and the Arkansas Industrial College, 
 at Pine Bluff, Ark., both of which from their very 
 organization have had remarkable growth. 
 
 Be it said to the credit of all of those who have 
 been interested in this work that the sacrifices made 
 by our people in establishing these schools have 
 called forth the applause and words of commenda- 
 
 124 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 tion of the friends of Christian education the coun- 
 try over, and their success has done much toward 
 establishing the confidence our people have in them- 
 selves and their ability to provide in a way for their 
 own educational advancement. A friendly rivalry 
 between the patronizing bishops and Conferences 
 fostering the various educational institutions has 
 helped in the raising of large sums of money for 
 this very worthy cause. 
 
 In 1910 the General Conference of our Church 
 convened in Augusta, Ga. This Conference was 
 largely attended. As usual, the greatest interest 
 was centered in the election of the bishops and gen- 
 eral officers. Contrary to our custom and all prec- 
 edents, some ambitious men resorted to political 
 methods to promote their friends and measures. I 
 do not mean to say that all of the previous General 
 Conferences had been free from political trickery. 
 Such could not be successfully maintained. But I 
 do assert that never before was there so much bold- 
 ness and affrontery as was displayed at this Confer- 
 ence in such methods and actions. As a natural re- 
 sult, some of the brethren became distrustful of the 
 others and at every point showed their distrust by 
 being ready to impugn their motives and call into 
 question their integrity and honor. This was very 
 unfortunate and greatly embarrassed the Church 
 and its work during the quadrennium. 
 
 Despite all of these unfavorable conditions, this 
 Conference did some very good work. The Disci- 
 
 127 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 pline of the Church was revised; the ministerial 
 course of study was enriched and otherwise im- 
 proved upon ; an appellate court for the trial of min- 
 isters was created ; and a more friendly relation to- 
 ward all other evangelical Churches, especially those 
 of the Methodist persuasion, was strengthened and 
 established. In a hotly contested election the Rev. 
 M. F. Jamison, D.D., of Texas, and the Rev. George 
 W. Stewart, D.D., of Alabama, were elected to the 
 office of bishop. These brethren had served the 
 Church in various capacities and were promoted in 
 recognition of their services to the Church. 
 
 At this writing (1916) Bishop M. F. Jamison, 
 D.D., presides over the Fifth Episcopal District, 
 where he is held in high esteem by both laymen and 
 ministers. Bishop George W. Stewart, D.D., served 
 the Church as bishop only two years, when he be- 
 came entangled with some money matters in Ala- 
 bama which resulted in his being retired without 
 salary by the General Conference that met in St. 
 Louis in 1914. During the very next year (1915) 
 the Bishop died, leaving a wife and several children 
 and the Church at large to mourn his death. 
 
 The General Conference of 19 10 elected the Rev. 
 A. J. Cobb, A.B., D.D., of Georgia, to the office of 
 editor of the Christian Index. During the quad- 
 rennium following this Conference, when there were 
 so many divisions and so much confusion and dis- 
 satisfaction in the Church, Editor Cobb displayed 
 many excellent traits of a rounded Christian charac- 
 
 128 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 ter. His editorial policy was of a conciliatory na- 
 ture, and he left the office in 19 14 with the full con- 
 fidence and respect of the Church at large. Dr. 
 Cobb took seriously ill in 19 15 and died at his home, 
 in Barnesville, Ga., surrounded by a. host of admir- 
 ing friends. He is survived by Mrs. Helena B. 
 Cobb, the efficient Principal of the H. B. Cobb Fe- 
 male Institute, the only school of its kind fostered 
 by our Methodism. It is located in Barnesville, Ga. 
 The quadrennium following the General Confer- 
 ence of 1910 was marked by the passing into the 
 great beyond of a good many of the most prominent 
 of our Churchmen. Among these were Rev. G. F. 
 Welch, of Alabama, Rev. W. B. West, D.D., of 
 Texas, Rev. J. H. Coley, D.D., of Alabama, Rev. 
 Ralston, of Louisiana, Rev. V. Washington, of 
 Alabama, and Rev. R. O. Williams, of Louisiana. 
 These brethren were closely followed by Bishop 
 George W. Stewart, Rev. Henry Bullock, Dr. A. J. 
 Cobb, Rev. J. B. Washington, Rev. I. S. Person, 
 D.D., Rev. J. W. Smith, A.M., and two prominent 
 laymen, Mr. L. F. Few, of Oklahoma, and Mr. J. 
 B. Meadows, of Memphis, Tenn. 
 
 "Servant of God, well done ! 
 Thy glorious warfare's past ; 
 The battle's fought, the race is won, 
 And thou art crowned at last." 
 9 129 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 The Thirteenth General Conference of the 
 
 Colored Methodist Episcopal Church 
 
 in America. 
 
 The thirteenth General Conference of the Col- 
 ored Methodist Episcopal Church in America con- 
 vened in Lane Tabernacle, St. Louis, Mo., in May, 
 19 14. At the very opening of the session all of the 
 bishops were present, and a full set of the delegates 
 were in their seats ready to answer to the roll call. 
 This was the first time in the history of the Colored 
 Methodist Episcopal Church in America that a Gen- 
 eral Conference convened in a city north of the 
 Mason and Dixon line. 
 
 The following work was done during the two and 
 one-half weeks' session: The Department of Minis- 
 terial Relief and Support and the Department of 
 Education were created. A financial budget for the 
 quadrennium was made, and the amount of money 
 required each year to meet the demands of the gen- 
 eral Church (seventy-five thousand dollars) was 
 placed as an assessment on the Church at large and 
 then prorated to the various Annual Conferences to 
 be raised. The salary of the bishops was increased 
 from two thousand dollars to two thousand two 
 hundred and fifty dollars, so as to relieve them 
 of all embarrassment as to their railroad expenses 
 in traveling over their dioceses. At my own request, 
 
 130 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 the General Conference gave me a retired relation; 
 and, according to the provisions already made for 
 their retired bishops, six hundred dollars was set 
 aside as a yearly stipend for my support. The Con- 
 ference went on record as favoring many reforms 
 in the Church. Some were necessary, while others 
 were not altogether out of place. 
 
 The Church had been greatly embarrassed because 
 of charges of misapplication of Church funds on the 
 part of Bishop George W. Stewart, D.D., and the 
 Rev. Henry Bullock, D.D., the Book Agent, who 
 had resigned his office during the quadrennium. 
 There were charges also of unbecoming conduct on 
 the part of Bishop Elias Cottrell, D.D. These 
 charges and rumors caused a cloud to hang over the 
 skies of Church people which did not pass away by 
 a vote of the brethren or by impassioned appeals 
 made by interested persons who discussed the mat- 
 ter. Bishop Cottrell was given a vote of confidence 
 on the part of the Conference in that his character 
 was passed, and he was continued as one of the bish- 
 ops of the Church. As has already been stated, 
 Bishop Stewart was retired without salary ; and the 
 Rev. Henry Bullock, D.D., was allowed to adjust his 
 alleged shortage in whatever way he could. 
 
 Amid all of these things there was the usual in- 
 terest manifested in the election of the bishops and 
 other general officers. My retirement was the strong 
 argument advanced by those in favor of an increase 
 in the number of bishops, and it became clear that 
 
 131 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 the Conference would elect two or more bishops at 
 this Conference. There were an unusually large 
 number of aspirants in the field, and they were not 
 slow in making it known that they had an ambition 
 to serve the Church in that capacity. I hope the 
 time is not far off when the Church will consider 
 any man unworthy who will urge his election to the 
 office of a bishop or seek to organize his friends 
 with that in view. Be it said to the credit of this 
 Conference that there was but little, if any, wire- 
 pulling on the part of "friends" seeking promotion. 
 We want to see less and less until there will not be 
 observed any semblance of such in the Church of the 
 living God. 
 
 There was no election for bishop on the first bal- 
 lot. On the second ballot the Rev. R. A. Carter, 
 A.M., D.D., of Atlanta, Ga., and the Rev. Nelson 
 C. Cleaves, D.D., of Columbia, S. C, each having 
 received the votes of a majority of the delegates, 
 were declared bishops elect of the Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal Church in America. These young men 
 represent the product of our own schools; and be- 
 cause of their training and wide acquaintance with 
 the Church, its history and polity, they should be 
 able to serve the Church and race in a large and most 
 effective manner. 
 
 Having accomplished much valuable legislation in 
 behalf of the Church, the General Conference ad- 
 journed, and the work of the Conference became a 
 matter of history. 
 
 132 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 Death of Mrs. Frances A. Lane. 
 
 [From the Christian Index.] 
 
 Sister Frances A. Lane, wife of Bishop Isaac 
 Lane, was born in Haywood County, Tenn., Octo- 
 ber 1 6, 1834, and died May 11, 1895, at 8:45 a.m., 
 aged sixty years, six months, and twenty-five days. 
 The deceased was married to Bishop Isaac Lane 
 December 24, 1853, and lived in holy wedlock forty- 
 one years, four months, and seventeen days. There 
 were born to them during these years of devoted 
 companionship twelve children, five of whom were 
 sons and seven daughters. Sister Lane enlisted in 
 the cause of Christ at a prayer meeting in the fall 
 of 1864 and joined the Methodist Church at Salem. 
 She transferred her membership to Liberty Church, 
 Jackson, Tenn., in 1868, where for twenty-seven 
 years she lived a faithful member and a consistent 
 Christian. 
 
 As a wife she was devoted and affable, contrib- 
 uting largely to the comfort and happiness of her 
 husband, sharing his sorrows and burdens, and was 
 a factor in all the accomplishments of him who 
 mourns his loss. 
 
 As a mother she was gentle, kind, and affection- 
 ate, imparting that instruction, by precept and ex- 
 ample, which is embodied in the words of Solomon: 
 "Train up a child in the way he should go." Her 
 
 133 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 gentle and loving hand, like a magic wand, has led 
 a large family through the meandering of childhood 
 into manhood and womanhood and bequeathed to 
 them the legacy of noble sentiments and lofty aspi- 
 rations. 
 
 As a Christian she was meek, yet persistent; 
 quiet, but firm; steady, but true. In her was the 
 combination of those qualities which made her life 
 "shine more and more unto the perfect day." 
 Steady, firm, and true to the end, it may be said 
 of her that she kept the faith, finished her course, 
 and is now in that land of Beulah, joined with her 
 loved ones, where the wicked shall cease to trouble 
 and the weary are at rest. 
 
 Your Wife Is in Heaven; We'll Meet Her Again. 
 
 (A Poem Dedicated to Bishop Isaac Lane.) 
 BY SOLOMON G. BROWN. 
 
 Dear Friend : Sad news comes here to-day 
 That God has called your wife away; 
 For forty years she's been your bride, 
 But now she's taken from your side. 
 
 None more than you can feel her loss ; 
 None know but you what it has cost. 
 By words you can't describe your pain, 
 And feel you'll ne'er get right again. 
 
 You'll meet her when this life is o'er, 
 Then you will meet to part no more ; 
 You'll meet your wife in heaven above, 
 Where all is joy and peace and love. 
 
 134 
 
MR?. FRANCES ANN BOYCE LANE. 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 You'll meet her at the throne of God ; 
 She'll introduce you to the Lord ; 
 She'll meet you at the pearly gate 
 And all her heavenly joys relate. 
 
 The cutting pain has reached your heart 
 Because your wife from you did part; 
 So long you've traveled through this life 
 As lovers, husband, father, wife. 
 
 We mourn with you and share your grief ; 
 Could we but offer sure relief ! 
 Just how you feel no one can tell 
 But Christ, who doeth all things well. 
 
 He saw it best that she should go 
 And leave this world of pain and woe ; 
 And when she bowed to him in prayer 
 He came from heaven and met her there. 
 
 Just when she started from her knee 
 He softly said, "Rise, follow me" ; 
 Heard her prayer and deemed it best 
 That he should call her home to rest. 
 
 While down at prayer she heard the call ; 
 She quickly rose, was seen to fall ; 
 Her body struggled for its breath 
 Till finally o'ercome by death. 
 
 On her he laid his hands of ice, 
 Her soul steals out and goes with Christ ; 
 Forever there her soul will stay, 
 Where there's but one eternal day. 
 
 137 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 That dreadful news soon spread around, 
 That Bishop Lane's dear wife had gone ; 
 This news a sad impression made 
 On all who learned their friend was dead. 
 
 Her friends stood grieving o'er her form, 
 From which a precious soul had gone — 
 Gone where? Can any mortal say? 
 And is that soul at rest to-day? 
 
 At rest ! O yes, as Jesus lives, 
 A full assurance she would give. 
 While death relieves her from all pain, 
 She's dead, but rose to life again 
 
 To-day she wears the heavenly palm, 
 Free from all the tempter's harm, 
 Falls prostrate at the feet of God, 
 Where she receives her great reward. 
 
 Her joys are full, her griefs are o'er; 
 She meets with thousands gone before — 
 Relatives, kindred, neighbors, friends — 
 Whose union there will never end. 
 
 She's given up all cares of life 
 
 And all her duties as a wife; 
 
 She freely parts with all she owns 
 
 To take her place around God's throne. 
 
 You've lost a loving, faithful wife, 
 Who's been your bosom friend through life; 
 She loved you dear, but when God called 
 She followed him and gave up all. 
 
 138 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 To God's will we all must bow ; 
 'Tis hard, but Christ will teach us how. 
 We know our loss is her great gain ; 
 She's free from strife, released from pain. 
 
 Look on her form ; look, friends, and weep — 
 
 So calm, so peaceful, fast asleep. 
 
 Will any mortal dare profane 
 
 Or say one word against God's name? 
 
 Who gave her life? Wlio takes away? 
 Who fixed the limits of her stay? 
 If she has made her peace with God, 
 She goes to meet that great reward. 
 
 This is God's plan. O brother, yield 
 While you her loss so deeply feel ; 
 Give her to Christ, where she belongs ; 
 Prepare to join the heavenly throng. 
 
 Soon you shall meet in realms above, 
 And join her in that perfect love, 
 Where you'll be truly one in heart, 
 From each and Christ will never part. 
 
 Sleep sound, dear one, so free from stain ; 
 Sleep in the tomb where Christ was lain ; 
 Sleep there in peace till that great day 
 When all will rise and come away. 
 
 Farewell, dear wife ; we'll meet no more 
 Till I come down to Jordan's shore. 
 For this shall be my earnest prayer, 
 That you, with Christ, shall meet me there. 
 Washington, P. C. 
 
 139 . 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 She was affectionately kind to all of her husband's 
 friends, and especially to preachers. As a hostess 
 she found great pleasure in providing for their 
 comfort. She had the highest regard for Bishops 
 William Henry Miles, J. A. Beebe, and L. H. Hol- 
 sey, and Bishops Williams and.Cottrell were win- 
 ning her affections. She entertained Bishop Henry 
 M. Turner one week in her home, which visit he 
 mentioned quite frequently in his public addresses. 
 As a husband, I have lost a true, affectionate wife, 
 a great and good woman. As a mother, my chil- 
 dren have lost a kind and loving one. She strove 
 earnestly, both by precept and example, to rear her 
 children right. But she is gone, to come to us no 
 more. Her place in our home circle is vacant. Our 
 loss is irreparable. 
 
 Below is a select sentiment of sympathy from a 
 few of the letters and telegrams from our many 
 friends: 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Dear Bishop Lane: Your telegram of the death of 
 your dear wife brought sorrow to our hearts and 
 sadness to our home. It was the mysterious provi- 
 dence of God in taking her so suddenly from you. 
 You have my prayers. May God bless you and 
 family ! Bishop R. S. Williams. 
 
 Washington, N. C. 
 I am surprised to hear of the sudden death of 
 your dear wife, Sister Lane. You and family have 
 my sympathy and prayers. God bless you and sus- 
 tain you ! Bishop J. A. Beebe. 
 
 140 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Charleston, S. C. 
 Bishop Lane: I am in great sympathy with you in 
 the loss of your dear wife. God bless you ! 
 
 Bishop M. B. Salter. 
 
 Augusta, Ga. 
 Yours just received. I am perfectly and pro- 
 foundly shocked to receive the sad intelligence of 
 the death of your dear wife. Little did I think that 
 I was taking the last look at her pleasant face and 
 smiling countenance just five days ago. God bless 
 you! Bishop L. H. Holsey. 
 
 Holly Springs, Miss. 
 Dear Bishop Lane: I am sad to hear of the death 
 of your dear wife. God bless and support you in 
 this your sore affliction! Bishop E. Cottrell. 
 
 Louisville, Ky. 
 You have my sympathy in your great bereave- 
 ment. Prepare to meet your dear wife on the shores 
 of sweet deliverance. 
 
 Dr. David Morton, Sec. Church Ex. Dept. 
 
 The following are the names of a few of our 
 friends who have sent us letters of sympathy which 
 we take this opportunity of acknowledging: Rev. O. 
 T. Womack and wife, Longview, Tex.; Hon. Ed- 
 mund Geary, Philadelphia, Pa. ; Rev. R. T. Lewis, 
 Denton, Tex. ; Rev. W. S. Battle, Northport, Ala. ; 
 Rev. A. J. Harrington, Prescott, Ark. ; Rev. W. E. 
 Stewart, Frankfort, Kans. ; Rev. J. T. Clay, Center- 
 ville, Miss. ; Hon. W. P. Churchill, Louisville, Kv. ; 
 Rev. M. Walton, Sardis, Miss. ; Rev. P. A. Sowell, 
 Clarksville, Tenn. ; Rev. W. A. Jackson, Covington, 
 Ky. ; Rev. J. M. Porter, Rutherford, Tenn. ; Rev. 
 
 141 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 J. F. Fitzpatrick, Smith Station, Ala. ; Prof. D. W. 
 Byrd, Central Tennessee College, Nashville, Tenn. ; 
 Rev. E. Wills, Memphis, Tenn.; Rev. A. K. Haw- 
 kins, Jackson, Miss. ; Rev. J. H. Bell, Trenton, 
 Tenn. ; Mrs. Oscar S. Ridley, Memphis, Tenn. ; 
 Prof. M. W. Dogan, Central Tennessee College, 
 Nashville, Tenn. ; Mrs. Susie Payne, Louisville, Ky. ; 
 Mrs. H. E. Hamilton, Washington, D. C. ; Mrs. F. 
 P. Moseley, Newbern, Tenn. ; Miss S. A. C. Harper, 
 Chattanooga, Tenn. ; Mrs. Miami Davis, Washing- 
 ton, Ark. ; Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Murray, Meridian, 
 Miss. ; Mrs. S. E. Watkins, Jackson, Tenn. ; Miss 
 E. M. Carter, Shreveport, La.; Miss Mollie Mc- 
 Williams, Memphis, Tenn. ; Mr. J. A. Wilson, Ashe- 
 ville, N. C. ; Mrs. Lizzie Clairborne, Brownsville, 
 Tenn. ; Miss S. B. Nichols, Nashville, Tenn. ; Mrs. 
 N. J. Curry, Washington, Ark.; Mr. J. L. Bayliss, 
 Dresden, Tenn. ; Miss Addie Melton, Knoxville, 
 Tenn. ; Mrs. Mary E. Smith, Marshall, Tex. ; and a 
 host of others, besides the Christian Index, the Chris- 
 tian Advocate, the Tennessee Methodist, the Jack- 
 son Whig, pastor and members of Capers Chapel, 
 and pastor and members of Lane Tabernacle. All 
 have spoken words of sympathy and consolation in 
 this hour of our sore affliction. We hereby ac- 
 knowledge our friends' notice of us. 
 
 Isaac Lane and Family. 
 142 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Biographical Sketches of the Bishops of the 
 
 Colored Methodist Episcopal Church 
 
 in America. 
 
 Rt. Rev. Bishop William Henry Miles. 
 
 Bishop William Henry Miles, the first bishop 
 of our beloved Methodism, the Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal Church in America, was born in Spring- 
 field, Washington County, Ky., December 26, 1828, 
 and died in Louisville, Ky., November 14, 1892, 
 aged sixty-three years, ten months, and eighteen 
 days. In 1859 he was married to Miss Frances E. 
 Arnold, of Lebanon, Ky., with whom he lived to the 
 day of his death. Eight children blessed their union. 
 He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 in 1855 on probation and was happily converted in 
 October of that year. He was licensed to preach in 
 1857 and was ordained deacon in 1859 by Bishop 
 Andrew, of that Church. His term of service as 
 pastor or presiding elder was short, the first General 
 Conference electing him bishop in 1870. He served 
 as senior bishop of his Church for twenty-two years. 
 During all of these years he was recognized as a man 
 of great influence and power. To write of his life 
 and activities during these years would mean a his- 
 tory of the Church during that same period of time. 
 His life and activities were so connected with those 
 
 143 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 of his Church that the one cannot be recorded with- 
 out writing of the other. Bishop Miles was a mag- 
 netic preacher. Great crowds would come from far 
 and near to hear this great gospel preacher. He 
 would travel, lecture, and preach, carrying books, 
 pamphlets, and tracts of all kinds, which he would 
 sell or give away in order to acquaint the people with 
 the work of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church 
 and thus establish it as an organization among the 
 people of this country. He was a matchless orator. 
 His thoughts were ponderous, his manner of deliv- 
 ery was attractive, and his discourses teemed with 
 great spiritual power. I remember the first sermon 
 I heard him preach. He took for his text the 
 twenty-second verse of the fourteenth chapter of 
 the Acts, which reads as follows: "Confirming the 
 souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to con- 
 tinue in the faith, and that we must through much 
 tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." After 
 giving historical data covering much of the experi- 
 ences of the disciples, he then told of the afflictions 
 and suffering they had to endure in order to bring 
 the truth of the gospel to light. He pointed out the 
 many things we had to endure in this life to enter 
 the kingdom of grace and then the heavenly king- 
 dom. He spoke with much feeling as to how we 
 suffered in order that the truth of our Church might 
 be brought to light. His argument was a forcible 
 one. Having a strong personality, a rich flow of 
 language, and a general acquaintance with men and 
 
 144 
 
T.ISHOP \V. H. MILES. 
 
 10 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 the affairs of this life, he was able to sway his audi- 
 ences regardless of classes. He had a message for 
 them all. As a parliamentarian and organizer 
 Bishop Miles had no superior and but few equals. 
 After his death I collected funds with which to erect 
 a suitable monument to mark the last resting place 
 of all that was mortal of this prince of Israel. His 
 remains were deposited in the Cave Hill Cemetery, 
 in Louisville, Ky. ; and I never consider my visit to 
 that city complete without going out and paying a 
 tribute of respect to the memory of a man who was 
 to our Church what Asbury was to the Methodist 
 Church of this country, Allen to the African Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, and Varick to the African 
 Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. 
 
 Bishop Richard H. Vanderhorst. 
 
 Bishop Richard H. Vanderhorst, the second bish- 
 op of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 America, was born at Georgetown, S. C, December 
 15, 18 1 3, and died in July, 1872. While a young 
 man he served an apprenticeship under one Samuel 
 Dunmore and learned the carpenter's trade. He 
 moved to Charleston, S. C, in 1835 and joined 
 Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. He was 
 at once made a class leader. Later on he joined 
 Bethel Church, where he continued to exercise those 
 gifts that were to make him a leader of men in the 
 future. He served as class leader until he was given 
 a license to preach. It will be recalled that during 
 
 147 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 the days of slavery it was contrary to the State laws 
 and the Discipline of the Southern Methodist Church 
 for quite a long while to grant to Negroes a license 
 to preach. As soon as he was given a license to 
 exhort and then to preach he took high rank as 
 a preacher. He was a delegate to the first General 
 Conference, which convened at Jackson, Tenn., when 
 the Church was organized as a separate and inde- 
 pendent body. This was in 1870, at which time he 
 was elected to the office of bishop. He served the 
 Church only eighteen months as a bishop, and then 
 he laid aside the cross and took up the crown that is 
 prepared for the faithful. Bishop Vanderhorst may 
 never be regarded as an executive, parliamentarian, 
 or organizer on the order of Bishop Miles ; but as 
 a gospel preacher and as an evangelist he had no 
 superior. Eloquent and logical, his sermons would 
 stir the hearts of men. Although short as to time, 
 his services were very valuable to the Church. As 
 long as the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church 
 lives the name of Bishop Richard H. Vanderhorst 
 will be remembered, loved, and revered. 
 
 Bishop Joseph A. Beebc. 
 
 The third man to be ordained to the office of 
 bishop in the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church 
 in America was Joseph A. Beebe, of North Carolina. 
 He was born June 25, 1832, and died in Washing- 
 ton, N. C, June 6, 1902. His ancestors were noted 
 for their long lives and for the number of ministers 
 
 148 
 
BISHOP J. A. BEEBE. 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 who were connected with their family. However, 
 the Bishop lived to reach not quite seventy years of 
 age. He began a term of apprenticeship as a shoe- 
 maker at seventeen years of age and followed the 
 trade some years afterwards. He was happily con- 
 verted in 185 1 and was married to Miss Cornelia 
 Bookrum in 1858. He was ordained deacon in 1865 
 and elder in 1866. Having joined the Colored 
 Methodist Episcopal Church in America in 1871, he 
 was appointed presiding elder of the Washington 
 (N. C. ) District, which position he served for two 
 consecutive years. In 1873, at a called session of 
 the General Conference, he was elected bishop in 
 Augusta, Ga., during the month of March. He was 
 senior bishop from the time of the death of Bishop 
 Miles, in 1892, to the time of his own death, in June, 
 1902. I made an appeal to the Church at large for 
 funds with which to erect over his grave a suitable 
 monument. I collected enough for this purpose ; and 
 the last resting place of Bishop Joseph A. Beebe is 
 marked by a stone which in a feeble way expresses 
 the love and appreciation of a grateful Church for 
 the years of faithful services rendered by this great 
 and noble man. Bishop Beebe was a man of some 
 education. His language was choice, his diction 
 pure, and his thoughts were always systematic and 
 orderly. Neat in his appearance, his was an attrac- 
 tive personality. He reared a family of useful chil- 
 dren and was regarded as an affectionate father and 
 a devoted husband. At his funeral many beautiful 
 
 151 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 tributes were paid this great and good man by both 
 white and black who had known and loved him for 
 many years. 
 
 Bishop Lucius H. Holscy, D.D. 
 
 Bishop Lucius H. Holsey was born in Columbus, 
 Ga., July 3, 1842. He lived on the farm three years, 
 during which time he was a pupil under Bishop 
 George F. Pierce, of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South. He was converted at an early age 
 and joined the Methodist Church. He was soon 
 thereafter called to the ministry, and in 1868 he was 
 licensed to preach. He served only three appoint- 
 ments as pastor. These appointments were the 
 Hancock Circuit, Savannah Station, and Trinity, in 
 Augusta, Ga. He was a delegate to our first Gen- 
 eral Conference, which convened at Jackson, Tenn., 
 and served as teller in the election of Bishops W. H. 
 Miles and Richard H. Vanderhorst. In 1873 he was 
 elected to the office of bishop at the General Confer- 
 ence that convened in Trinity Church, in Augusta, 
 Ga. Fie was a delegate to the first Ecumenical 
 Methodist Conference, which met in London, Eng- 
 land. In 1882 he was our fraternal delegate to the 
 General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, where he ably represented the 
 Church and race. In 1904 he was an honored dele- 
 gate to the Sociological Congress that met in Wash- 
 ington, D. C, and on many other important occa- 
 sions he has served the race and his Church in a 
 
 i5 2 
 
BISHOP L. A. HOLSEV D.D. 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 large and effectual way. Bishop Holsey was the 
 prime factor in the founding and establishing of 
 Paine College, an institution of learning located in 
 Augusta, Ga. He traveled extensively for this work 
 and raised a large sum of money for it. Bishop 
 Holsey served as Secretary of the College of Bishops 
 for a number of years and as such wrote most of 
 the quadrennial addresses that have been read be- 
 fore the various General Conferences of the Church. 
 He revised the Book of Discipline of the Church 
 and the Manual of Discipline and compiled the 
 Standard Hymnal that is used extensively in the 
 Church. He has written a book of "Sermons and 
 Addresses" and is regarded as a writer of no mean 
 ability. For several years he published a newspa- 
 per known as the Gospel Trumpet, of which he was 
 the editor in chief, and wrote extensively for other 
 papers and monthly magazines. As a gospel preach- 
 er he is eloquent, polished, and attractive. He is 
 the senior bishop on the bench and has presided over 
 the deliberations of the College of Bishops since the 
 death of Bishop J. A. Beebe, in 1902. 
 
 Bishop Isaac Lane, D.D. 
 
 Rev. Isaac Lane was the fifth man to be elected 
 to the office of bishop in the Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal Church in America. He was born in 
 Madison County, Tenn., near Jackson, March 3, 
 1834, and has maintained his home in his native 
 city. Inasmuch as a comprehensive account is given 
 
 155 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 in another part of this book, suffice it to say just 
 here that he was married to Miss Frances Ann 
 Boyce in 1854, with whom he lived happily for 
 forty years. To their union were born twelve chil- 
 dren, seven girls and five boys. His first wife hav- 
 ing died, he afterwards was married to Mrs. Mary 
 E. Smith, of Marshall, Tex. He was converted 
 September 11, 1854, and joined the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, South, the following October. He 
 was granted license to exhort in 1856 and received 
 license to preach shortly thereafter. He was or- 
 dained deacon in 1866 by Bishop Robert Paine, 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and eld- 
 er the very next year. He was made the presiding 
 elder of the Jackson (Tenn. ) District, which work 
 he served for four years. He was afterwards ap- 
 pointed as pastor of the Liberty Street Church, at 
 Jackson, Tenn., where he remained until the con- 
 vening of the General Conference in Augusta, Ga., 
 in 1873, when he was elected and consecrated to the 
 office of bishop. He was the fraternal messenger 
 to the General Conference of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, South, which convened in Dallas, Tex., 
 where he rendered conspicuous service. He found- 
 ed Lane College, at Jackson, Tenn. ; and because of 
 the fact that it was the first school of the Church to 
 be established and successfully operated by the 
 Church, he is generally regarded as the pioneer in 
 the school work of the Church. Mention has al- 
 ready been made of his work in the mission and 
 
 156 
 
MRS. MARY ELIZABETH LONG SMITH LANE. 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 educational fields. He successfully raised to splen- 
 did manhood and womanhood several children, who 
 have been an ornament to the Church and a blessing 
 to general society. The following ones have passed 
 to the great beyond, where "sickness, pain, and death 
 are felt and feared no more": Martha A. Lane 
 Lancaster, born October 8, 1854, died August 25, 
 1885; Luna A. Lane, born March 29, 1869, died 
 October 20, 1882; Isaac Lane, Jr., born August 9, 
 1865, died April 24, 1889; Rebecca Lane Wilson, 
 born January 4, 1858, died December 7, 191 5; 
 Charley W. Lane, D.D., born February 19, 1867, 
 died December 28, 1904; William Henry Lane, 
 M.D., born February 8, 1872, died December 2, 
 191 5. The following children are still living: Mrs. 
 Rachel Lane Berry, the wife of Mr. J. W. Berry, of 
 Jackson, Tenn. ; Mrs. Jennie E. Lane Cleaves, the 
 wife of Bishop N. C. Cleaves, D.D., of Memphis, 
 Tenn. ; Mrs. Ida M. Lane Burrows, the wife of Mr. 
 William Burrows, contractor and builder, Memphis, 
 Tenn. ; Mr. Joshua W. Lane, letter carrier, Jackson, 
 Tenn. ; Mr. J. F. Lane, A.M., Ph.D., President of 
 Lane College, Jackson, Tenn. He often says: "My 
 family is about equally divided between heaven and 
 earth; and whether I go or stay, I shall be with 
 them until the families of both heaven and earth 
 shall join, never to be divided again." 
 
 Bishop Robert S. Williams, D.D. 
 Bishop Robert S. Williams was born in Caddo 
 Parish, La., October 27, 1858. His education was 
 
 159 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 obtained at the common public schools and Wiley 
 and Howard Universities. He was married to Miss 
 Willie Williams, of Washington, D. C, October 21, 
 1 89 1. He was converted and joined the Church in 
 1878. He joined the Louisiana Conference in 1881 
 and was transferred at the same Conference and 
 appointed to the pastorate of our Church at Long- 
 view, Tex. In 1884 he was transferred to the Vir- 
 ginia Annual Conference and appointed to the pas- 
 torate of Israel Metropolitan Church, at Washing- 
 ton, D. C, where he labored for four years. From 
 this place he was transferred to the South Carolina 
 Annual Conference and given the pastorate of Syd- 
 ney Park Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
 Columbia. At these two important places Rev. 
 Williams demonstrated such qualities of mind and 
 soul, as well as ability to do constructive work for 
 the Master, that he won the recognition and admira- 
 tion of the Church at large. From Columbia he was 
 sent to Augusta, Ga., as pastor of Trinity Church, 
 which work he served for three years. It was from 
 this pastorate that he was elected to the bishopric of 
 the Church by the General Conference which met in 
 Memphis, Tenn., in May, 1894. Rev. R. S. Wil- 
 liams was one of the most successful pastors our 
 Church has ever produced. He was ordained dea- 
 con by Bishop Lane and elder by Bishop Miles. He 
 was the fraternal messenger of our Church to the 
 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church which 
 met in Pittsburgh, Pa., and a delegate to the third 
 
 160 
 
11 
 
 BISHOP R, S. WILLIAMS, D.D, 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Ecumenical Conference of the Methodist Churches, 
 which convened in London, England, in 1901. He 
 is a man of splendid parts. As a preacher and lec- 
 turer his services are in great demand. Eloquent 
 and impressive, he never fails to make a deep im- 
 pression. He has written a book of sermons and 
 addresses that has received a wide circulation. 
 Bishop Williams takes a keen interest in all matters 
 pertaining to the uplift of the race and has a host 
 of admirers and followers not only in the Church, 
 but throughout the country, among all people. He 
 is honored and respected by all who know him. 
 
 Bishop Elias Cottrcll, D.D. 
 
 Bishop Elias Cottrell, D.D., was born in Marshall 
 County, Miss., June 31, 1853. His education was 
 obtained in the public schools of the county and in 
 Central Tennessee College, at Nashville, Tenn. He 
 was married to Miss Catherine Davis, of Nashville, 
 Tenn., January 1, 1880. To their union was born 
 one child, a daughter, who survives her mother. 
 Bishop Cottrell's public career began as a school- 
 teacher in his native county in 1873. He was con- 
 verted in August, 1874, and was licensed to preach 
 in November, 1875. ^ n January, 1876, he was ad- 
 mitted on trial into the North Mississippi Annual 
 Conference. Having been ordained deacon in 1877 
 and elected and ordained elder in 1878, he served 
 some very important charges. Prominent among 
 them, we mention Olive Branch, Miss. ; Capers 
 
 163 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Chapel, Nashville, Tenn. ; Lamar, Miss. ; Byhalia, 
 Miss. ; Liberty Street Station, Jackson, Tenn. ; Dy- 
 ersburg, Tenn.; Brownsville (Tenn.) District; Col- 
 lins Chapel, Memphis, Tenn. ; and Dyersburg Sta- 
 tion. He was selected Book Agent in 1882 at the 
 General Conference that met in Washington, D. C. ; 
 and in 1890 he was elected to the office of Commis- 
 sioner of Education for the Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal Church in America. Lie was the fraternal 
 messenger to the General Conference of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, South, in 1892 and was 
 elected and consecrated to the office of bishop at the 
 session of the General Conference that convened in 
 Memphis, Tenn., in 1894. As a preacher Bishop 
 Cottrell has but few equals. Argumentative and 
 forceful, he delivers his message with great power. 
 Aside from his mental powers, he was a very attrac- 
 tive personality. His greatest work is seen in the 
 founding and establishing of the Mississippi In- 
 dustrial College, at Holly Springs. He traveled, 
 preached, lectured, and raised large sums of 
 money for this work. Under his magnetic leader- 
 ship the patronizing Conferences have done a re- 
 markable work at Holly Springs. The Bishop re- 
 sides in Holly Springs, but is at present (1916) in 
 charge of the Conferences of the Third Episcopal 
 District. 
 
 Bishop Charles Hairy Phillips, D.D. 
 Bishop Charles Henry Phillips, LL.D., was born 
 in Milledgeville, Ga., January 17, 1858. He was 
 
 164 
 
TUSHOP ELIAS COTXKELL, D.D. 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 educated in the public schools, Atlanta University, 
 and Central Tennessee College, graduating from the 
 regular college course of the latter institution in 
 1880 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He was 
 married to Miss Lucy Ellis Tappan, of Nashville, 
 Tenn., December 16, 1880. At the age of seventeen 
 he was converted and joined the Church at his home. 
 He was licensed to preach by the Rev. R. T. White 
 in 1878. He served as Principal of Lane Institute 
 (now Lane College) for two years and rendered 
 splendid service during that time. He joined the 
 West Tennessee Annual Conference in 1879 an d 
 was appointed pastor of Collins Chapel in 1885. 
 Among the other large appointments he filled may 
 be mentioned the following: Israel Metropolitan 
 Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, Washington, 
 D. C, for four years ; Center Street Colored Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, Louisville, Ky., for two 
 years; and presiding elder of the Mount Sterling 
 District for some time. In 1894 he was elected 
 editor of the Christian Index, the official organ of 
 the Church, and served in that capacity until he was 
 elected to the bishopric of the Church by the General 
 Conference which met in Nashville, Tenn., in May, 
 1902. Prior to his election to the bishopric of the 
 Church, Bishop Phillips had been a member of sev- 
 eral of the General Conferences, was fraternal mes- 
 senger to the General Conference of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Sun- 
 day School Convention, which Convention met in 
 
 167 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 London, England, in July, 1889. He was appointed 
 delegate to the Ecumenical Conference of Method- 
 ists which met in Washington, D. C, in 1891. His 
 address before that body elicited much favorable 
 comment. In 1901 he was again sent as a delegate 
 to the great Ecumenical Conference of Methodism 
 that met at this time in London, England. Bishop 
 Phillips has enjoyed splendid educational advan- 
 tages. Besides being a college graduate, he is a 
 graduate in medicine and theology. He holds the 
 degrees of A.B. and M.D. because of the courses 
 he took while in school. Several years afterwards 
 Wiley University, at Marshall, Tex., and Philander 
 Smith College, at Little Pvock, Ark., conferred upon 
 him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. In 
 191 6 Wilber force University, the leading school of 
 the African Methodist Episcopal Church, conferred 
 upon the Bishop the degree of Doctor of Laws. He 
 is a fluent speaker, scholarly and dignified in his 
 manner. He is recognized as one of the most rep- 
 resentative men of the Church and the race. The 
 success of the educational work in Texas under his 
 leadership and the splendid work consummated in 
 establishing and organizing the Conference in the 
 Golden West add another page of glory to his rec- 
 ord as a bishop. He is a strong preacher, an author 
 of recognized ability, an erudite scholar, and a fine 
 executive. He presides over the Fourth Episcopal 
 District. 
 
 168 
 
BISHOP C. H. PHILLIPS, LL.D. 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Bishop M. F. Jamison, D.D. 
 
 Bishop M. F. Jamison, D.D., was born near 
 Rome, Ga., November 27, 1848. When but a boy 
 his parents were carried to Alabama, and of course 
 he went with them. Here he grew into manhood. 
 He had no chance at an education, as during those 
 days it was unlawful for Negroes to be taught to 
 read or write. He professed faith in Christ at 
 Newbern, Ala., in October, 1867, and in the very 
 next year he felt a divine call to the ministry. He 
 was licensed to exhort in 1870 and was licensed to 
 preach by one Rev. Mimms in 1871. Shortly there- 
 after he moved to Texas and was admitted on trial 
 into the East Texas Annual Conference in 1874. 
 Returning from the Conference, he was married to 
 Miss M. A. Flennoy January 14, 1874. At this 
 time he made his home near Marshall, Tex., and 
 was assigned to the pastorate of Marshall and Long- 
 view. Among the other charges that he served so 
 faithfully and well, we might mention the following, 
 Sherman, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Leesburg ; while 
 he served as presiding elder over almost all of the 
 districts in his Conference. He became editor of 
 the Christian Advocate, a paper published in the 
 State of Texas. While editor of the Christian Ad- 
 vocate he was presiding elder of the Tyler Dis- 
 trict and moved the office of that paper to Tyler. 
 Bishop Jamison was a delegate to the General Con- 
 ference for a number of years and was recognized 
 as a leader in his Conference. In 1890 he was elect- 
 
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 ed General Secretary of the Church Extension De- 
 partment by the General Conference that convened 
 in Little Rock, Ark. In 1893 the General Board 
 elected him editor of the Christian Index, the 
 official organ of the Church. In 1908 Phillips 
 College conferred upon him the honorary degree of 
 Doctor of Divinity, and in 19 10 he was elected and 
 consecrated to the office of bishop. During the past 
 six years of his service he has been faithful in the 
 discharge of the many difficult duties coming to him 
 as a bishop. In Texas, where he spent the first four 
 years of his life as a bishop, he accomplished great 
 things for the educational work in that State. 
 
 Bishop R. A. Carter, D.D. 
 
 Bishop Randall Albert Carter was born at Fort 
 Valley, Ga., January 1, 1867. He is the son of 
 Tobias and Grace (Chivers) Carter. He was car- 
 ried to Columbia, S. C, the home of his maternal 
 parents, when a child and attended the public schools 
 of that city until he had completed the common 
 school course. He was among the first students to 
 matriculate at the newly founded Allen University, 
 of Columbia, S. C, and attended that school from 
 1880 to 1884, completing the normal course and go- 
 ing through the sophomore class. He matriculated 
 at Paine College, Augusta, Ga., in the fall of 1887; 
 completed the college course in 1891, being the first 
 person to complete the college course in that insti- 
 tution; and was given the D.D. degree by his Alma 
 
 IJ2 
 
BISHOP M. F. JAMISON, D.D. 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Mater in 1901. He was married to Miss Janie S. 
 Hooks, of Macon, Ga., an alumnus of Paine Col- 
 lege, April 22, 1 89 1, from which union one child, a 
 daughter, was born. He joined the South Carolina 
 Annual Conference in 1887, being received by Bish- 
 op W. H. Miles at Green Pond, S. C. He has pas- 
 tored some of the smallest charges, as well as some 
 of the largest, in South Carolina and Georgia. He 
 was elected Ep worth League Secretary at the organ- 
 ization of that department in the Colored Method- 
 ist Episcopal Church in 1898; was a member of the 
 Colored Methodist Episcopal delegation to the Ecu- 
 menical Conference of Methodism held in London 
 in 1 90 1 ; was fraternal delegate to the General Con- 
 ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church held at 
 Chicago, 111., in 1900; was for twenty years a mem- 
 ber of the Committee on Episcopacy of the General 
 Conference ; was chairman five consecutive times of 
 the Georgia Conference delegation to the General 
 Conference. He was elected bishop at St. Louis, 
 Mo., in May, 1914. Bishop Carter's services as a 
 lecturer are in great demand. Clear in thought. 
 precise in expression, he succeeds in impressing his 
 audiences as but few speakers can do. He is a writ- 
 er, pulpiteer, and scholar. Although just beginning 
 his work as a bishop, he has made a favorable im- 
 pression upon the Church at large. He should ren- 
 der a large service to the Church and race because of 
 the preparation he has had for his life work. 
 
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Bishop N. C. Cleaves, D.D. 
 
 Nelson Caldwell Cleaves was born on a farm 
 near Oakland, Fayette County, Tenn., October 7, 
 1865. He is the son of Lilbon and Annie Cleaves. 
 He attended the public school in the county until 
 he was sixteen years old and then entered a private 
 school under William Penn Liston, a highly edu- 
 cated white man, who came into the county in 1883 
 and gave his valuable service to the uplift of the 
 Negro. In 1885 he entered Lane College, Jackson, 
 Tenn., and graduated from the normal course in 
 1887. I n 1888 he entered Fisk University in the 
 senior college preparatory year, but left on the ad- 
 vice of physicians. Benedict College conferred the 
 honorary degree of D.D. upon him in 1912. He 
 taught in the public schools of Fayette and Madison 
 Counties for five years, was principal of the city 
 school in Minden, La., and founder of Minden High 
 School. He was principal of the English Depart- 
 ment of Lane College three years. On August 2 1 /, 
 1889, he was married to Miss Jennie E. Lane, and 
 to their union were born four children — Frances 
 N., Shellie B., Lane C, and Florence E. — all of 
 whom survive. He was converted and joined the 
 Colored Methodist Episcopal Church September 12, 
 1882. Following the impression of early years, he 
 applied for admission on trial in the ministry at 
 Dyersburg, Tenn., in 1893. He was admitted and 
 assigned to the pastorate of the South Jackson Cir- 
 cuit, where he served one vear. He served with 
 
 176' 
 
BISHOP R. A, CARTER, D.D, 
 
 13 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 acceptability the following charges: Lane Chapel, 
 Humboldt, two years; Wesley Chapel, Clarksville, 
 three years ; Collins Chapel, Memphis, three years ; 
 Israel Metropolitan Church, Washington, D. C, 
 four years; Sydney Park Church, Columbia, S. C, 
 eight years. His ministry was characterized by 
 peace and harmony, the ingathering of souls, and 
 financial harvests. He served the Church in several 
 representative capacities. The bench of bishops 
 appointed him fraternal messenger to the General 
 Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal 
 Church which met at Columbus, Ohio, in 1900. He 
 was Secretary of the General Board from 1898 to 
 1906, Assistant Secretary of the General Confer- 
 ence at Augusta, Ga., in 19 10, and Secretary in 
 Chief of the General Conference at St. Louis in 
 1 9 14. While pastoring in Washington he served 
 as President of the Interdenominational Ministers' 
 Alliance. In Columbia, S. C, he was actively al- 
 lied with the Ministers' Union, State Sunday School 
 Union, Associated Charities, and other organiza- 
 tions which work for the social, civic, and religious 
 uplift of the people. He was elected bishop by the 
 General Conference at St. Louis May 19, 1914, and 
 was assigned by the College of Bishops to the Sev- 
 enth Episcopal District. He is President of the 
 Board of Trustees of Miles Memorial College, Bir- 
 mingham, Ala., and Mississippi Industrial College, 
 Holly Springs, Miss. He is a member of the South- 
 ern Sociological Congress and of the Federal Coun- 
 
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANK 
 
 cil of the Churches of Christ in America. Bishop 
 Cleaves is a pulpiteer of no mean ability. Clear in 
 diction, ponderous in thought, and fervent in speech, 
 he never fails to impress his hearers with his mes- 
 sage. As an executive he takes high rank. His 
 Conferences are always orderly, and his work is 
 systematic. His services are in great demand. 
 
 180 
 
BISHOP- N. C. CLEAVES, D.D. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 Excerpts from a Sermox ox "Faith." 
 
 Text, Hebrews xi. i : "Now faith is the sub- 
 stance of things hoped for, the evidence of things 
 not seen." 
 
 This entire chapter is on the subject of "Faith 
 and Hope." In this Epistle the apostle had been 
 writing on the priesthood of Christ, the excellency 
 of his priesthood, the atonement, and the efficacy of 
 the sacrifice made ; and now he comes to consider 
 the sublime subject of the nature and fruits of faith. 
 He begins this subject with the sentence we have 
 just quoted as our text. 
 
 We are given to understand that faith is a sub- 
 stance; and, of course, the substance is the princi- 
 pal part of anything. If we are talking about ma- 
 terial things, the substance is the strength, the valor 
 of the thing. The substance of faith is hope. 
 Without hope there can be no faith. Now, what is 
 hope? Hope is compound in its meaning, made up 
 of the idea of desire and the idea of expectation. It 
 is not the same as a wish, for a wish may be at 
 random ; but hope is a desire and an expectation 
 combined. The two must be together, or it is not a 
 hope. It is also definite. 
 
 Faith is the foundation of all religions. There 
 must be the idea of a God, and there must be faith 
 in his existence and personality; otherwise there 
 
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 can be no system of religion or creed involving the 
 idea of a God. It is comprehended in the very at- 
 tribute of his nature. It is God's will to reveal in 
 his plan to man this faith and the hope in the im- 
 mortality of his soul. 
 
 This chapter contains a great many references to 
 faith, both historical and otherwise. By faith the 
 elders obtained a good report. Through faith we 
 understand that the world was formed by the word 
 of God, so that things which are seen were not made 
 of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered 
 unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by 
 which he obtained witness that he was righteous, 
 God testifying of his gifts, and by it he being dead 
 yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated, that 
 he should not see death, and was not found because 
 God had translated him. In this chapter of He- 
 brews we find that the subject of faith is mentioned 
 twenty times, with reference to twenty different 
 kinds of faith. Finally, the apostle said that time 
 would fail to allow him to make mention of all the 
 characters that the Bible made statement of. In 
 fact, there is so much on the subject that it would 
 take a great deal of time and much patience to at- 
 tempt to mention all pertaining to the subject of 
 faith. 
 
 There are degrees as well as qualities of faith. 
 Faith is a supplement to knowledge. What we can- 
 not know by the power within us to reason, we may 
 believe or have faith in the subject. This is a com- 
 
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 mon requirement made of us in the study of history, 
 the natural and metaphysical sciences. When we 
 talk of natural faith we mean worldly faith in things 
 of a worldly nature, such as the business of a farm- 
 er and the faith he must exercise in the carrying on 
 of his work. The Bible says: "He that ploweth 
 should plow in hope." This kind of faith may be 
 exercised in the regularity of the laws of nature. So 
 all that we cannot know that is necessary for us to 
 know requires faith on our part. 
 
 There is a quality of faith called persuasion, and 
 it is seen when we accept a notion because of the 
 sentiment rather than the knowledge we have re- 
 ceived concerning it. There is another quality of 
 faith which I call grace. This is attained not di- 
 rectly, but indirectly. This God freely gives to all. 
 There is also the faith of grace. But we are con- 
 sidering here soul-saving faith. This means faith 
 in God; faith in the acceptance of a personal God; 
 faith in all the attributes of God, both natural and 
 moral. This quality of faith does not save men, nor 
 is it the means of salvation. The faith that effects 
 the union between God and man is faith in God's 
 plan to save — that is, faith in Jesus Christ and the 
 merits of Christ in the sacrifice which he made that 
 his blood is the efficacy of atonement. This is God's 
 plan. We are, then, to accept Christ as a divine 
 substitute, for Christ bore all our sins in his own 
 body on Calvary's cross. This is truly the medium 
 by which we have peace with God. "Therefore 
 
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 being justified by faith, we have peace with God 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. v. I.) 
 
 We shall now consider briefly the doctrine of the 
 Church of our choice on this subject. We have 
 three evidences. First, the Holy Bible. This is 
 God's will revealed to man. Secondly, the effect 
 that religion has on the world. This is ofttimes 
 called external evidence. Thirdly, our own experi- 
 ence that we are brought from darkness into light. 
 Each believer can say for himself that "I am a new 
 child in Christ, killed to the love of sin and made 
 alive in the love of Christ." This is an evidence of 
 a personal faith in the saving grace of Christ, mak- 
 ing the soul a new creature in Christ, establishing a 
 communion between God and man. Then there is 
 faith in his grace that he will bring me home to 
 heaven when this life is over and I am called to 
 stand at his bar to be rewarded for work done in 
 this life. I can then know that I am with him, and 
 then I will be known "even as I am known." 
 
 This faith will condemn and drive the wicked 
 away. Christ is the medium of happiness. This is 
 the faith Enoch had, that he walked with God and 
 was not, for God took him up to be at home in 
 heaven — a faith that I will recognize my kindred 
 and loved ones in that spiritual world out of the 
 flesh, out of this world with Christ, free from sin and 
 pain and death. Christ came into the world to save 
 us from this great death and to give us life in him, 
 for "he that hath the Son of God hath life eternal." 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Extracts from an Address on "Holiness" De- 
 livered BEFORE AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE. 
 
 Since the organization of our Church I have held 
 to the idea that a pure ministry and a holy member- 
 ship are the only hope of our doing the work expect- 
 ed of us as a great Church. Holy living follows 
 peace with all mankind. "Follow peace with all 
 men, and holiness, without which no man shall see 
 the Lord." (Heb. xii. 14.) 
 
 If we note the order of things, we find that the 
 higher the order the greater is the responsibility. 
 Accordingly, the preacher should be an example for 
 the flock not only in doctrine, but in living with the 
 people. His conversation and entire dealings should 
 be such as become a preacher of the gospel, always 
 having something helpful to give the people, some 
 noble example for them to emulate. 
 
 The Methodists have three special evidences, one 
 of which is experimental. It is most commonly ex- 
 pressed as follows: "I know that my Redeemer 
 lives, for he lives in me." This evidence should 
 stand out in a Methodist's life. With the Method- 
 ist there is nothing to be found against the doctrine 
 of holiness, while on the other hand there is every- 
 thing in its favor. Our righteousness should be free 
 from every known sin. If we love God with all our 
 soul, mind, and body, and this love of God predomi- 
 
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 nates our entire being, it is not difficult to live a pure 
 and upright life. "Love is the divinest of all the 
 train," filling both mind and soul. 
 
 If we understand Methodism, it means Christian- 
 ity and earnestness. No one who seeks to live a 
 holy life has any argument against holiness, but 
 there may be a question as to whether any one can 
 live a holy life in this world. The way to answer 
 this is to ask whether or not any one has failed to 
 live this life who has desired it, sought it, expected 
 it, and at the same time has lived up to the utter- 
 most of his moral power to attain unto it. Now, 
 when any one does not believe he can be holy, when 
 he begins to doubt its possibility, there is no way by 
 which he can attain unto it. But let him desire it, 
 expect it, crave it, and it will not be difficult for 
 him to live up to it. Desiring it, looking for it, and 
 using every power within us to reach it is all that is 
 required of us. This is better than making loud 
 professions or demonstrations in words. 
 
 God makes it our duty and privilege to be holy; 
 and if we are not, we alone are to blame. Our duty 
 to God, to ourselves, to the Church, and to our 
 families is involved and laid upon us. Our privilege 
 to be holy is a responsibility we must meet if we 
 please God. When we stop and observe ourselves 
 and our relation to each other and to our God, we 
 can then more clearly realize our moral duty and 
 opportunity. Our daily prayer should be: "Conse- 
 crate me now to thy service, Lord." 
 
 188 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 A Dissertation ox "Why Baptize Children ?" 
 
 The baptism of children is a subject that should 
 be considered carefully by us all. We are often 
 asked: "Why baptize children? W T hat good is there 
 in it? What good will it do the child? If there is 
 no good to be accomplished thereby, it should be 
 discontinued." 
 
 In reply to these interesting questions we ask: 
 What good does it do any one to be baptized? 
 The only answer that comes is : "To fulfill the com- 
 mandment of the Lord." Just before our Lord as- 
 cended unto heaven he said to his disciples: "Go ye 
 therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in 
 the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
 Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things 
 whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am 
 with you alway, even unto the end of the world. 
 Amen." 
 
 There are two classes of subjects for baptism — 
 viz., adults and infants. Faith is required of the 
 adult, but not of the infant. If faith were required 
 of the infant, then the child would be lost, as it is 
 not susceptible of exercising faith. We believe that 
 a child should be baptized, because Christ said: 
 "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and for- 
 bid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 
 If such as they are in heaven, then they should have 
 
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 a place in the Church, his sanctuary on earth. The 
 Church on earth represents the kingdom of heaven, 
 and as such the children should find a place in it. 
 
 The question may be asked: "What authority have 
 you for infant baptism?" To this question we may 
 reply by simply calling the attention of the inter- 
 rogator to the obligations and responsibility as- 
 sumed by a parent to train "up a child in the fear 
 and admonition of the Lord," to teach the child the 
 meaning of baptism, that it means his dedication to 
 the Lord, and that it means, after all, about as much 
 to him as it does to an adult and, in fact, does the 
 infant just about as much good as it does the adult. 
 The parent should take the time and teach the child 
 that he has been dedicated to the Lord and to the 
 cause of righteousness. If that child has the confi- 
 dence and utmost respect for his parents, it will be 
 satisfied with its relation to the Church. 
 
 "Infant sprinkled once was I, 
 And since that is done 
 I have laid it all by" 
 
 may be urged against the baptism of children, but 
 the same argument can be made against the baptism 
 of the adult. The obligations of the parents with 
 respect to the attitude of their children toward the 
 Church has always been great. "Come thou, and 
 all thy house, into the ark," saith the Lord to Noah. 
 "What is the purpose of baptism?" is a question 
 that is often asked. Baptism is the seal of a cove- 
 
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 nant between God and man, and as such it is God's 
 plan and not the plan of man. As to the mode and 
 manner in which it is to be done, there are many 
 opinions prevailing among men. We hold that 
 there is no virtue in how it is to be done, but it is 
 necessary for us to obey the order. "To him that is 
 able to believe and be baptized," saith the Lord. 
 How it is to be done is just where so many opinions 
 have arisen. Some urge that the word "baptize" 
 means to dip, to plunge, or to bury, while others hold 
 to other views about the matter. If I were to urge 
 any question at all on this subject, it would be: Is 
 there any virtue in the mode, the manner in which 
 baptism is done? John the Baptist said that Christ 
 would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 
 Now, did Christ do what John the Baptist said he 
 would do? If so, how did Christ baptize you ? Was 
 it in a river or a pool, a pond or a creek? Who 
 took you down in it, took hold of you, turned your 
 back, dipped you down in it, and then pulled you up 
 out of it? 
 
 You are to judge for yourself how you w T ere con- 
 verted, if that means baptism. Inasmuch as water 
 baptism does not cleanse our hearts of sin, it does 
 not matter very materially as to how the baptism 
 takes place or how it is done. 
 
 It is of the highest importance, however, that the 
 parent feel the weight of the responsibility to God, 
 the Church, and the child to teach why it is baptized 
 and give the child the idea that it is dedicated to the 
 
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP ISAAC LANE 
 
 Lord. This obligation was recognized and entered 
 into when the child was baptized. After the parent 
 has received this obligation, the minister offers a 
 prayer after this manner: "O merciful God, grant 
 that the old Adam in this child may be so buried 
 that the new man may be raised up in him. Amen. 
 Grant that all carnal affections may die in him and 
 that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and 
 grow in him. Amen. Grant that he may have 
 power and strength to have victory and to triumph 
 against the devil, the world, and the flesh. Amen. 
 Grant that whosoever is dedicated to thee by our 
 office and ministry may also be endued with heav- 
 enly virtues and everlastingly rewarded through 
 mercy, O blessed Lord God, who dost live and 
 govern all things, world without end. Amen. 
 Almighty, ever-living God, whose most dearly 
 beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of 
 our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both 
 water and blood and gave commandment to his dis- 
 ciples that they should go teach all nations and 
 baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the 
 Son, and of the Holy Ghost: regard, we beseech 
 thee, the supplications of thy congregation, and 
 grant that this child, now to be baptized, may receive 
 the fullness of thy grace and ever remain in the 
 number of thy faithful and elect children, through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." 
 
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