[ 25 ]
most generally conceded that it should be done through missionary effort. To this end, a Mr. John Chavis, a colored man, was brought to the notice of the assembly, and recommended as a man of good literary acquirements; he was subsequently received, licensed, and ordained. This was in the year 1801. (Gen. Assembly Digest, page 206.) Mr. Alexander sought to obtain his service for Philadelphia, but failed. Lexington claimed and obtained his service to labor within their bounds.
The General Assembly sitting in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1807, John Gloucester was recommended to the Assembly, by the Presbytery of Union Synod of Tennessee, as a candidate for licensure to labor as a missionary among colored people. Dr. Alexander at once seized upon the circumstance as a favorable opportunity of securing the services of Mr. Gloucester in forwarding and carrying out his long cherished desire of raising up a church in Philadelphia. He lost no time in communicating with Dr. Blackburn, the owner of Mr. Gloucester, who at once acceded to the proposal, and consented that Mr. Gloucester should, as the incipient step to his future labors, visit Philadelphia as soon as possible.
Accordingly, Dr. Blackburn, attended by Mr. Gloucester, arrived in Philadelphia immediately after the rise of the General Assembly. Drs. Alexander and Green were not long arriving at a conclusion in view of so favorable an opportunity.
As the Evangelical Society (which will be noticed more particularly hereafter) had taken, or adopted measures for organizing the colored people into a Presbyterian Church, Dr. Alexander proposed to Dr. Blackburn, that Mr. Gloucester be employed by the Evangelical Society to labor as a missionary among the colored people. I am credibly informed by a gentleman conversant with
