Page:A short account of the rise and progress of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in America.djvu/28

 take a special interest in the welfare of our Church, by his friendly and brotherly advice from time to time, during his appointment with us, but especially in the case of raising an amount of money for the aforesaid purpose. He advised the Trustees to issue subscriptions for the coloured population, and to get the members of the Church to give a certain amount according to their ability, and he actively enforced the necessity of the contribution, and encouraged the members of the Church in particular, and of the congregation generally to contribute, so that there was a sufficient amount gathered to make the aforesaid purchase, and thereby secured the ground, by obtaining a Deed for the same. This was the first time that our coloured citizens were solicited for aid by subscription for the benefit of the Church, as the Trustees had heretofore confined their solicitations to the white citizens. The lot of ground adjoining on the side of the two that were Leased, which also fronted on Church Street 25 feet, and 75 feet deep, was purchased by the Trustees on the 8th of April, 1801, for $750. The time that was agreed upon for the white Elder to preach in our Zion Church, was on Sunday afternoon and on Wednesday night of every week, except on the days of the administration of the Lord's Supper, then his appointment was on Sunday morning, and was agreed upon to be the second Sunday of every month, because the first Sunday in the month was the time for administering the Sacrament in his own church; and our coloured brethren preached on Sunday mornings and evenings and on Friday nights. The work of the Lord prospered greatly in the church, and the number of members of the Society and of the congregation, continued