Page:Daniel Minort Baxter - Bishop Richard Allen and His Spirit (1923).pdf/70

62 Waters resigned from the Bishopric and returned to the pastorate and became an effective elder. It may be well to mention here that Daniel Coker was the first Bishop elected, but he resigned in favor of Richard Allen, the true founder and rightful organizer of the A. M. E. Church. Father Allen had walked and talked with these fathers like our Savior had communed with his disciples, and his spirit had swallowed them up. His spirit is unselfishness stripped of false pride. His chief desire was the growth of his church and the best interest of his people. Daniel Coker and Edward Waters had imbibed so much of it that they lost sight of their little selves and saw the best interests of their church.

Daniel Coker knew Allen’s spirit; in Allen’s heart was born the denomination and its plans, and he knew more about the needs than any body on earth, therefore when the men by some short sightedness placed Daniel Coker before the father, he refused to hinder the cause just to wear a name, while he felt entirely unqualified for the best effective service. God had another work for Daniel Coker to do; Allen’s spirit sent him across