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Phila. Mercantile Advertiser May 2, 1810 - African Episcopal Church (1792)

$ 23.69

Availability: 100 in stock

Description

Philadelphia Mercantile Advertiser  May 2, 1810
News of Riot by a Democratic-Republican Mob,
Napoleon Weds Marie-Louise,
Lottery for the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas
There's an ad for the historic
African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas
-
the first Black Episcopal Church in the US,
an active stop on the Underground Railroad,
and still an vibrant church today.
See below for background on the church.
A story deplores a riot the night before by a
mob
of Democratic-Republicans
angry at election results
attacking homes and newspaper offices.
There is also an account of the
wedding of Napoleon and Marie-Louise.
There are also many ads, some with uncommon graphics.
The paper has darkened but is quite readable.
It is wrinkled, but with high rag content, it is very soft and
there is only a small break at the center fold of the front page.
It is 4 pages long; each page is 21” by 13”.
The
African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas
(
AECST
) was founded in 1792 in
Philadelphia
,
Pennsylvania
, as the first black
Episcopal Church
in the United States. Its congregation developed from the
Free African Society
, a non-denominational group formed by blacks who had left
St. George's Methodist Church
because of discrimination and segregation by class.They were led by
Absalom Jones
, a free black and lay Methodist preacher. As his congregation became established, he was ordained in 1802 by Presiding Bishop
William White
as the first black priest in the Episcopal Church. Bishop White also ordained
William Levington
as a deacon at this church, although he soon became a missionary in the South, establishing
St. James Church
in Baltimore in 1824.
The congregation remains within the
Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
—although, as discussed below, its location changed several times. St. Thomas became a leading institution in Philadelphia's black cultural life.
Its second rector was
William Douglass
, an African American, former student of Rev. Levington, and an
abolitionist
. Clergy and parishioners were active in the
Underground Railroad
in the 19th century, and participated in the modern
Civil Rights Movement
in the mid to late 20th century.
St. Thomas was the first black church in the country to purchase a
pipe organ
, and the first to hire a black woman as organist, who was Ann Appo. Other notable organists were
John C. Bowers
and his brother,
Thomas J. Bowers
.
Please study the photos as they are part of the description.
Please email me with any questions you may have.
I do have other items for sale,
and would be glad to combine shipping costs.
Please let me know if you are purchasing multiple items,
and I will send a combined shipping invoice
when you notify me that you have won them
(within a seven day period).
Payment is due within two days of the sale.
I generally ship within a day of receiving payment.
There is no charge for handling and packing material.
Delivery confirmation cost is included in amount due.
Certainly, I hope you will be pleased with your purchase.
Contact me immediately if you have any concern,
and I will be eager to resolve the matter.
Items are returnable if not as described.
Please leave positive feedback if you are satisfied.
When I know you are content with your purchase,
I will be sure to leave positive feedback, too.