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Rev. Mr. Clinton, who holds the editorial reins of The Afro-American Spokesman, was born in Cedar Creek township, Lancaster County, S. C, March 28, 1859, with, as it has proved, many days before him for journalistic usefulness, as well as that of a dispenser of divine truths.

Mr. Clinton had a little knowledge of letters before the war closed, his father having been his tutor. A desire upon the part of his mother to have her boy fitted for the gospel ministry, induced her to keep him in school, which she did by hard labor. He prepared himself for college, entering the State University in 1874, and remained until it was closed against the black man in 1877. He then began to teach school, with a first-grade certificate, continuing in that work for twelve years.

While teaching, he read law in the office of Allison & Connors for six months. During this time he followed the advice of Blackstone, and read the Bible in connection with his law books. This resulted in a deeper interest in the Bible than for law, and accordingly, after assisting in one case (the papers of which were prepared by himself) he began a diligent study of Scriptural truth. He was licensed as a local preacher in the A. M. E. Zion church in 1879, and admitted to the Travelling Association, November 21, 1881.

He has had some of the best appointments in the Conference, and held some of the most honorable positions in the Conference. He was fraternal delegate from the South Carolina Conference to the New England Conference, Hartford, Conn.; was delegate to the General Conference, at New York City, and one of its trusted secretaries; was also a ministerial delegate to the General Conference at New Berne, N. C., and general secretary of the same, Bishop Charles C.