CHAPTER VI.
A New Movement in Baltimore--Erection of a Meeting House for the African Baptist Church--Heavy Indebtedness--Account of the Enterprise--Personal Troubles.
For several years previous to Jan., 1855, our little church and Sunday school had occupied a very inconvenient upper room on Courtland street.
Our particular friend, Mr.William Crane, with some other white persons to aid him, was the devoted superintendent of our Sunday school, and the unfailing friend of our own little church, as well as of me personally.
Mr.Crane had felt, with us, the great disadvantage of our place of worship, and had exerted himself much to obtain a more commodious room for us.

But in July, 1853; he commenced an extraordinary effort in our behalf, by purchasing a lot--one hundred feet by forty-six feet--with three fronts, on Calvert, Saratoga and Davis streets, on which a chapel building has been erected for us.
Our chapel was opened for worship Feb.

18, 1855; and Rev.Dr.Fuller preached the opening sermon to a crowded audience.
On this occasion Mr.Wm.Crane read a detailed report of all the facts relative to this building--a full copy of this report may be interesting probably to my readers, and I have therefore obtained it, and here present it, in connection with a picture of the building, which will be found opposite the title page.
HISTORY OF THE SARATOGA STREET AFRICAN BAPTIST CHAPEL.
"The questions have often been asked in this vicinity during the last six months, Who is putting up that large building called the 'Saratoga Street African Baptist Chapel ?' 'What are they putting it up for ?'--'Who will own it, when finished ?' 'How much will it cost?
and who will pay for it ?'" These questions have often been answered, but it seems proper, and indeed necessary, at this time to answer them plainly and clearly, for the information of this large assembly.
First, then, I reply: This entire building has been reared under my directions, in the name of the Saratoga street African Baptist Church.
This Church was organized with only four members, six years ago, with brother Noah Davis, a missionary of the Md.

Baptist Union Association, as its pastor, who has labored most faithfully in his work.

But, although colored churches of the Baptist denomination in all of our Southern and Western cities count their members by thousands, this church has now only thirty members--but our hope and prayer is, that established here in the centre of a population of full thirty thousand colored people, God may bless the humble devoted efforts of His people, and increase their numbers a hundred fold.