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derived from one who was interested in raising this church, did Drs. Alexander and Green, assisted by other friends of the cause, in the latter part of May, 1807, organize this church to be known and distinguished as the First African Presbyterian Church, and as such was received by the Assembly's Committee on Missions, and, as in other cases, provision made and provided accordingly.
From this time, Mr. Gloucester had to labor almost alone in this arduous work. Nor are we to understand that he was without opposition—it would be an anomaly in Christian enterprise—sectarian bigotry is the same bitter, malignant enemy to all that is not of its cast, and knows no change. Like its father, the devil, it goes about, seeking whom it may devour. And not only in that particular respect, but, as it were, he had principalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places to contend against. There were influences brought to bear directly upon him that were intended to crush in the bud the least appearance of establishing a Presbyterian church. It can be seen that Mr. Gloucester did not have a free wind and full tide to waft him gently onwards; but otherwise, there were those around him who professedly were friendly, and seemingly much interested in his welfare, but whose real designs were selfish and mean, and who persuaded him that it was a waste of time for him to attempt, in Philadelphia, to raise a Presbyterian church, that the people in heart were Methodist, and would finally all be received into Methodist churches.
With many, the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church eere in bad odor, and they failed not to make capital of it; others were "careful for none of these things." So it can be perceived that it required a man of no ordinary
