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subject of forming in Philadelphia a colored Presbyterian congregation, Dr. Gideon Blackburn, a Presbyterian minister from Tennessee, arrived in the city with his body servant or slave John Gloucester, as I have once before shown. In regard, however, to this Church of colored people, here was a favorable indication, to say the least of it, and the friends of the movement did not intend that it should slip by them without an effort to secure it. They were determined to do something for the religious benefit of the people. In this they were of one mind and heart; is it cause for wonder that they were successful in securing from Dr. Blackburn the services of Mr. Gloucester for this interesting field of labor? nay, in union there is strength, is a truth clear as it is trite. The reader will pardon me for calling attention to another fact not perhaps generally known in order to show that Dr. Alexander and the friends that acted with him in seeking to raise a Presbyterian congregation among colored people pursued a justifiable course.
At this time (1806) Philadelphia contained a numerous colored population.
Among this vast body of people at this time there were in all the city and vicinity for miles but one Episcopal church, under the rectorship of the Rev. Absalom Jones, a colored Episcopal clergyman; and I will take this occasion of saying that Mr. Jones was ever the firm and abiding friend of Mr. Gloucester. That church contained a membership of about one hundred and fifty persons. Bethel and Zoar Churches, under the Methodist Episcopal Church, contained between them about one thousand members, making in all about eleven hundred and fifty colored communicant members.
