During the decades before the Civil War, CGGC leaders continued to make their anti-slavery positions clear. Opinions varied on how to resolve this “national disgrace” and the issues it generated as evidenced by letters and editorials published in The Church Advocate and its predecessor, The Gospel Publisher. Some expressed radical abolitionist viewpoints that led to the public burning of the Publisher in Richmond, VA in October 1838. Others, hoping to avoid a Civil War, looked for less radical solutions. Winebrenner even went bankrupt supporting and promoting the silk worm industry, believing it could dethrone “King Cotton” and undermine the financial incentive for slavery.
Every Eldership from Pennsylvania to Illinois went on record denouncing slavery and supporting black rights, but the opposition went beyond mere polemics. As reported previously in the eNews (2009-5-8, 2010-9-17, and 2014-8-1) some involved themselves in the Underground Railroad, while others paid huge prices for their activism. In Texas some were lynched or nearly hung by vigilantes for holding “northern sympathies.” Elder George Sigler (1834-1915) ministered to John Brown before and after the infamous raid at Harper’s Ferry. When the Civil War came, many CGGC men enlisted so America could become “One nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.” Some died doing so, including Elder George Harn (1820-1862), a prominent minister from Wooster, Ohio. |
The next generation of CGGC African-American leaders also deserves to be remembered, including C. H. Davis, Isaiah T. Brown (d1891), J. A. Brown, and J. W. Jones (d1908). The Browns were likely connected with the Brownsville congregation near Fayetteville, PA. In the early 1900s other black pastors were John Fuqua, Marshall Walker, Walter Ward, and Alfred J. Young (d1910). Perhaps in future with a bit of research all their stories can be told. In 1910 the East Pennsylvania Eldership ordained William Joseph Winfield (1873-1956) who served the black CGGC congregations in PA until his death. His, too, is an interesting story. His father served in the Lincoln White House and in the later 1800s became the lead elder in the Six Mile Run Church. Brother Winfield was one of the best educated ministers of his generation having graduated from Howard University in 1898 and receiving a degree in Sacred Theology from Lincoln University in 1907. All these men served faithfully and their legacy is an encouragement to us all, whatever our ethnic background. As it says in Hebrews 11:38, “the world was not worthy of them.” They were undoubtedly “destitute, persecuted and mistreated” for the sake of the gospel, yet they persevered. Great is their reward, and great is our blessing in the CGGC for we are all the beneficiaries of their service. ONe Mission together, Ed Soli Deo Gloria! |
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Winebrenner Theological Seminary Presidential Transition
Edward L. Rosenberry, Search Committee Chair
700 East Melrose Avenue
P.O. Box 926
Findlay, Ohio 45839
OR
[email protected]