Newspaper Page Text
Page18
)id Springfeld: Race and
“O in : Race a
Religion in Augusia, Georgia”
A few years ago, I was asked by The
Springfield Village Park Foundation to write
a history of Springfield Church. Now, my
friend l’Cyhristine Betts has asked me to write
about Springfield for this newspaper.
Although I grew up in Augusta, there
was very much about its history that I did not
know. When we Augustans don’t know some
thing, we rely on myths and stereotypes. I was
surprised when one stereotype after another
proved wrong. The story that emerged was of
struggle, survival, even triumph of the human
igirit. A discovery of great interest to me was
at Christian churches of the colonial “Great
Awakening” offered African Americans an
agreeable access into an emerging American
culture. The warmth and excitement of the
evangelical religions, especially that of the
Baptists, appealed to African Americans more
that the colder, more ritualistic, older denomi
nations.
Another discovery is that historic preser
vation can be a passageway to the past.
Perhaps some blackaiflgustans confront the
past only with reluctance because they see the
injustice and suffering there. History seems a
story of victimization. Springfield Church
holds another meaning, It represents a door
way to a positive past where good things hap
pened in spite of odds. Through that door, we
are introduced to male and female role models
who challenge us by their achievement.
Inevitably, the question of “oldest” starts
arguments. Savannah’s two churches, First
Agfi"c:n and First Bryan, have argued for years
about which is older, a needless argument
since both began with the ordination of
Andrew Bryan in 1788, then later split. It is
significant that Rev. Jesse Peters of gptingfield
was one of the two who ordained Bryan,so
Rev. Peters congregation must have been
older. Nevertheless, both churches claim to be
the oldest in the country.
More recently, the Savannah churches
have claimed George Lisle as founder, which
carries their history back to the revolution. It
is true that George Lisle was one of those
who organized the black refugees in Savannah
into a m sometime after 1779. George -
Lisle remained with his owner, Henry Sharp,
on Sharp’s Briar Creek plantation until 1779,
even after Sharp gave him his freedom. Lisle
xtes his own conv(t;r;ion in Big Buckhead
urch to 1773, and he began preaching to
slaves in nearby plantations in 1775. Henry
Sharp was the brave leader of a loyalist
mounted militia unit, and Lisle was with him
when he died on March 31, 1779. Then Lisle.
found his way to loyalists in Savannah. There -
is no evidence that he had a congregation
before that. ;
On the other hand, we know that there
was a church, or con, tion, at George
Galphin’s Silver Bhlgggntafion on the South
Carolina side of the Savannah River before
the American Revolution. A remarkable man
named David George has left us an account
of how he worked %: Galphin out in the
Indian country, and then at Galphin's Silver
Bluff plantation. He tells how a
traveli.rf preacher, Wait Palmer,
“formed us into a church.” George
dates these two years before the
revolution, probably 1773,
because revolutionary violence
broke out in 1775. One of the
original eight members was Jesse
Peters.
During the revolution,
George ams Peters were among
those who sought British protec
tion in Savannah around 1779,
and, with George Lisle, formed a
church in Savannah. After the
war, Lisle led some followers to
Jamaica, George, to Nova Scotia
and then Sierra Leone, and Jesse
Peters returned to Silver Bluff
then to Augusta to establish
Springfield, which has remained
in existence under its own pastors.
The Silver Bluff Baptist Cfirrch
has a proud past, but, unlike
Springfield, it has moved about,
and was forced to operate under _
white ministers. ;
I would like to claim credit
for finding that Springfield is the
oldest black congregation in the
United States, b\gllt‘ef:vould be fib
bing. Writing in The Journal of
Negro History (April 1922), the
distinguished black historian
Walter Brooks concluded, “the
oldest Negro Baptist church in
this country today is that at :
Augusta, Georgia, having existe
atfil:er Blufl'fgSlouth Carolina,
from the period 1774-1775 to the
year 1793, before becoming a
Georgia institution.” Carter G.
W«Eon, editor of the Journal of
Negro Hi.vtmfi concurred. Next in
order came Harrison Street
Baptist Church in Petersburg,
Virginia in 1776, the Negro
Baptist in Williamsburg in 1785,
then First African in Savannah in
1788. The first non-Baptist black
church was that of Rev. Richard
Allen of Philadelphia, who
founded the first African
Methodist Episcopal Church in
Philadelphia in 1794.
Not only is Springfield the
oldest, it is an le of the
determination mcan
Americans in Augusta to be inde
pendent during the antebellum
era. The post-war Republican
Party originated there and
Morehouse College, which has
produced so many nationally
prominent leaders, began there.
As historians focus more
attention on black history and
social history, Spfingfi:lg:s fame
will.grow!A giant step i chiat. - -
direction is the creation of Springfield Vi
Park, a memorial not only topg;lng'ggficldflli:%c
also to the black experience in Augusta.
Robert Kirby, who spearheaded the project,
aniged the talents of America’s foremost
ican American sculptor, Richard Hunt of
Chicago, whose large, metallic abstracts may
be seen at the White House and in many city
centers. Along the winding ramp will be
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You're a Big Girl Now*
Saturday, March 15, 10 am - 12 pm
This class is for girls ages 9-12,
along with their mothers. Information
will be shared on puberty and
adolescence. Girls will discuss ways to
successfully "survive" these natural
changes. Please preegister by calling
651-2450.
Minimizing the Effects of Hip
& Knee Pain
Wednesday, March 19, 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Join Dr. Robert Brand and Dr. Michael
Cohen for this special presentation and
learn how to protect your joints from
wear & tear and your treatment options.
This talk will be neid at Doctors Hospital
in Classrooms 1 &2. To register, please
call 651-2450.
ourth Annual Care Fair
for \Women
Saturday, May 10, 9 am - 2 pm
Location: First Baptist Church Campus.
All women are invited to this special
event to treat the mind, body and soul.
Radio personality, Delilah, will be our -
featured speaker. Women will receive
image-boosting services from massage,
manicures and makeovers to life-saving
screenings and heaith information
for moie information. ¢all: 6512450 or visit www doctors-hospital net. 3651 Wheeler Road = Augusta, GA
plaques telling of local and national events rel
evant to black Augustans.
Springfiéld Church stands modest.}y but
proudlr;' as an affirmation of the right of black
}fiople to a fair share of historical attention.
e two church buildings, now more than
100 and 200 years old, respectively, speak to
the passersb!,.“We were here. We are here.
We belong.” : :
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including blood pressure, bl
healthy recipes and much more. For
information, please call 651-FAIR {3247)."%
Join our Cradle Club today!
Membership is FREE. Please
PRE-REGISTER for ALL classes. Call
651-BABY (2229) or register online.
Labor and Delivery Tour
Thursday, March 6, 7 - 8:30 pm
Tour begins at the hospital in
Classrooms 1 & 2.
Prepared Childbirth Classes*
Tuesdays, February 18 - March 25
Mondays, March 17 - April 21
7 - 9:30 pm
infant CPR*
Thursday, March 20, 6:30 - 9 pm.
Baby’s Brother and Sister*
Sunday, March 23, 2 - 3:30 pm
Baby Care*
Sunday, March 23, 4 - 6:30 pm
Breastfeeding*
Thursday, March 27
6-Bpm
Childbin Ciasss |1 Pore
Childbirth Class*
March 29, 9 am - 5 pm
*These classes will be held at:
Doctors Hospital Campus,
3623 J. Dewey Gray Circle
Medical Office Building |,
Cradle Club Classroom, Suite 110.
oA ET S m_ 5
March at Doctors Hospital
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“Please call 6516716 to join or
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Free Morning Fitness Class**
Every Monday, Wednesday and
Friday, 8:45 am - 9:30 am
Members only.
.New Line Dance Lessons**
Monday, March 3, 7 pm
Intermediate.
Wednesday, March 5, 1 pm
Advanced.
Wednesday, March 5, 2:45 pm
Beginners.
Cost is $9 for 6 weeks. Partners are not
needed to take this class. Must pre-register.
AARP Driver Safety Program**
Thursday & Friday,
March 6 and 7, 12 pm
Participants must pre-egister.
Open to the public 50+.
Orientation Coffee for New
and Renewing Members**
Tuesday, March 11, 10 am
Please RSVP.
Educational Pc?an - The
X, Y & Zzzz22s of Better Sleep**
Thursday, March 13, 11:30 am
Free lunch provided. Open to the public
50+. Please call 651-2450 to pre-register.
Covered Dish Luncheon and
Auxiliary Meeting
Monday, March 17, 12 pm
Savannah Rapids Pavilion.
**These Senior Friends programs
wiill be held in the Senior Friends
meeting area, located on the .
Doctors Hospital Campus, Building I,
1305 Interstate Parkway,
Senior Friends Meeting Area.