African Methodist Episcopal Church Bishop Appoints Deacon in 1899

A 1p partly printed and partly handwritten document signed by Bishop Wesley J. Gaines (1840-1912) of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as "Wesley J. Gaines" at lower right. Dated February 26, 1899, n.p. Moderate to severe toning, stains, and mat burn. Expected paper folds, the central vertical fold with two minor closed tears. Else good. 8.25" x 11."

[printed] "Know all Men by these Presents, That I [handwritten] Wesley J. Gaines, [printed] One of the Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Under the protection of Almighty God, and with a single eye to His glory, by the imposition of my hands and prayer, have this day set apart [handwritten] Charles H. Burgess [printed] for the office of Deacon in the said African Methodist Episcopal Church, a man whom the E. Fla. Annual Conference judges to be well qualified for that work, and do hereby recommend him to all whom it may concern as a proper person to administer the ordinance of Baptism, Marriage and the Burial of the Dead, and to feed the flock of Christ so long as his spirit and practice are such as become the Gospel of Christ, and he continueth to hold fast the form of sound words according to the established doctrine of the Gospel…"

Wesley John Gaines was ordained as an elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1867, and as a Bishop in the AME Church in 1885. His parents were slaves. In addition to his pastoral work in Georgia, Gaines supported the initiatives of historically black institutes of higher learning, like Morris Brown College in Atlanta and Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio. Gaines provides an overview of the AME Church in his monograph "African Methodism in the South; or Twenty-Five Years of Freedom" (Atlanta: Franklin Publishing House, 1890).

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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