History of Louisiana Negro Baptists from 1804 to 1914

Preface.

While thinking of the -welfare of our Baptist Zion throughout the state, and wondering what would best serve as a stimulus to encourage our brethren, and arouse our churches to more religious activity, it occurred to me that a faithful record of past achievements both by our pioneer fathers and ourselves would give much impetus to lagging denominational pride, and set up a beacon light to guide and inspire the young preacher of today. To this end I cheerfully set myself to the task, and after consulting God and writing the late Bishop A. B. Flood (President Louisiana Baptist State Convention); Secretary W. E. Purvis, Treasurer T. L. Welch, Sr., Vice President W. M. Taylor, Drs. H. C. Cotton, John IVIarks, Taylor Frier-son, J. M. Carter and others, I received Divine approval and hearty endorsement by the above-mentioned brethren, the State Executive Board and the Louisiana State Convention. This volume promises to set forth as faithfully as possible: (a) The pioneer work of our fathers extending into ante-bellum times; (b) the work of the young ministers and teachers to the present. I am not unmindful of the fact that this is a Herculean task which I can not finish in its entirety, hence the critic must be asked to be reasonable, remembering that it is "human to err." God gives us the rose with the thorns: we must learn to enjoy its fragrance without being torn by the thorns. Roses with their thorns may be found in this work, but the critic must be charitable and fair enough to accept them. It is out of the question to look for all that Louisi-4 Preface ana Baptists have said and done since 1801. It would require too many scribes to write their doings, and too large a volume to contain them. Because of inability to obtain cuts and biographics as I desire, mention of many excellent men of our denomination is omitted. I could not tell everything, nor have I tried. I have simply humbly endeavored to answer the questions in part as a denomination: From whence have we come? What have we done? To what have we attained? What are the possibilities before us? Being aware of the fact that we are denominationally young, a voluminous history should not be expected. I simply pray that this may serve as a nucleus of Louisiana Baptist history. Other writers more able than I will tell the Baptist story more fully.

p. (7)Introduction.

It is indeed a source of pleasure to introduce the writer of this history. The highest aim of the author, who will be blessed, honored and revered more by future historians, orators and statesmen than the present, is to so portray the life history of men who have risen out of the very depths of poverty and obscurity to places of honor and trust of men of science, arts and letters that the young of all generations, climes, peoples and tongues while reading and studying shall catch inspiration tnat will make the great of mankind the greatest, and the lowly of mankind the better. The writer of this history was born in Shreveport, La., April 9th, 1869, of Square and Jane Hicks. When but a child he showed signs of marked intelligence. He attended the schools of his home city, and being seized by a desire for higher education he left his home and went to New Orleans, La., in 1887, where he entered Leland University. Here he distinguished himself as a hard student, and graduated from this University with high honors, graduating the first time May 9th, 1333, receiving the Normal and College Preparatory diplomas arter the delivery of one oration. After finishing these two courses and studying on through the freshman to me sophomore year, he accepted a call to the Thirteenth District Academy at Shreveport. Here he wrought successfully and well seven consecutive years, when he felt so keenly his need for more thorough preparation that he returned to Leland, resumed his studies and graduated from the B. A. degree course in 1902. After pushing the work or me Shreveport p. (8)Introduction school on another year, and after carrying tne school from. a very small enrollment to a maximum enrollment of' nearly 300, and from an old one-story frame building with many leaks therein to a §3,000 two story frame buildinguicely painted and reasonably well equipped, he accepted, a call to the Deanship of the Theological Department of Coleman College, Gibsland, La. Here he realized his need for more Biblical knowledge, and again returned to his. Alma Mater, graduating the third time. This time he won the B. D. degree. After making good here at Gibsland as a theologian and pastor of ability, he was called to-Atlanta, Texas, and Junction City, Ark. Locating in Texas he pastored a two-Sunday church in each srate until he-was called back to his home city by the Trinity Baptist. Church. When he had succeeded two years pnenominally at Trinity, he was called to Meridian, Miss., by the ElEethel Baptist Church. Finishing his well-done labors here, he moved to Uniontown, Aia., and took charge of the-First Baptist Church of that place at the urgent request of the members of said church. Selma University, at Selma, Ala., recognizing the accomplished work, and the . intellectual ability of Bishop Hicks, conferred upon him the D. D. degree May. 1913.

p. (8)Dr. Hicks married Miss Olivia Josephine Madison, a graduate of Leland University, December 27th, 1897. Their-union has been blessed with nine children and a model home. Elder Hicks is one of the most scholarly of our brethren, and i3 rapidly gaining renown, having been selected by the National Baptist Publishing Board to write-articles for the National Baptist Sundav-School Teacher,, to write monthly for the National Baptist Union-Review, and to a Bible Teachership in the National Baptist Sunday-School Congress, which represents about 14,000 Sunday-schools. Editorial Secretary W. S. Ellington, speaking of the writer of this history, says: "Rev. Win. Hicks is a conscientious Christian gentleman in whom there is no guile. He loves his Bible and is an exeperienced ex-p. (9)Introduction pounder of its truths. The Sunday-School Congress is to be congratulated for obtaining the services of so competent a man."