Page:A short account of the rise and progress of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in America.djvu/33

 On the 16th of July, 1819, the Trustees agreed to commence building the foundation around the old house, which was done and carried up nearly to the water table, except the front; but in consequence of the want of money they were obliged to stop the work, and agreed with the builders to cover up the walls, hoping to be able by the following spring to proceed. The Trustees petitioned the Legislature of the State for aid towards the Schoolroom, hoping to obtain from them a small part, at least, of the amount of money which was allowed, according to a law of the state, to be appropriated for the use of public schools; but they did not succeed. The next spring, in the month of May, 1820, the old house was taken down, by agreement of the Trustees, and being unable to procure a suitable place large enough for the congregation, they were obliged to hire the privilege of a Riding Circus, in Broadway, between Hester (now Howard) and Grand Streets, in which we held meetings morning and afternoon on Sundays, and on Sunday evenings and week nights we held our meetings in a house in Rose Street, between Pearl and Duane Streets, called the Rose Street Academy. The old house being pulled down, the Trustees were anxious to proceed with the new house; but their prospects being not much better than before, in regard to the means for paying the builders, they found it essentially necessary to borrow three thousand dollars, in order to carry on the work, which amount they obtained from Mr.