SHARP STREET MEMORIAL M. E. CHURCH
Incorporated In 1802 and Located on Sharp St. near Redwood St.
Prior to this the colored members of the M. E. Church worshiped in
the gallery of the Lovely Lane Chapel (German, now Redwood Street),
and numbered about one-third of the denomination in and about
Baltimore.
Thirteen of these members, in search of Liberty, were among the
pioneer settlers of Liberia, Africa.
Between the years 1820 and 1835 seventy-two gained their freedom
by escaping to Canada.
The records also show that fifty-one members were sold out of the
State into Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama.
In the hall of this church, many of the leaders of the race, both
ministerial and lay, received their training under one Daniel Coker,
under whom a number withdrew from Sharp Street and organized
"Bethel" A.M.E. Church in 1811. Here also the Washington Annual
Conference was organized in 1863.
The present Memorial building was erected at the corner of Dolphin
and Etting Streets in 1898. Value $100,000 and out of debt.
Rev. M, J. Naylof, D.D., Pastor, Parsonage, 507 W. Lanvale Street,
Phone, Madison 446.
Cemetery Office, 1204 Druid Hill Avenue, Phone, Madison 4436.
Regular Meetings
Preaching 11 A.M. and 8 P.M., Bible School 2:30 P.M., Conference and
Prayer Service, Friday 8 P.M., Classes every night except
Friday. Lord's Supper first Sunday at 11 A.M. and 8 P.M.,
Leaders and Stewards Meeting, Friday night, Trustees meet
first Monday in every month, Epworth League, Sunday 4:30
P.M., Choir rehersal every Friday night.
Trustees
Trustees—Allen Brown, William I. Butler, Jr., J. O. Carter, T. H. Brooks,
John S. Hardy, Solomon Tripp, Grant E. Biddle, Sr., Howard
E. Young, William Booker.
Stewards—Joshua Augustus, James Paschall, Charles S. Whiting, James
Hall, Lloyd Watts, Sandy Burns, Horace Tilghman, John
Washington, Walter Scott, Joseph James, George Brown, John
Hughes, John Spriggs, George H. Cole, Washington Wright,
John H. Wilson, William A. Owens, Charles W. Martin, James
Allen.
Officers—J. Emory Bond, Superintendent; Senior League, Estella C.
Young. President; Junior League, Arie P. Gray, Superinten-
dent; President Methodist Brotherhood, Dr. William Pickens.
Ladies' Organizations—Ellen Johnson, Mary Braxton, Maggie Parker,
Charlotte Whiting, Jennie H. Ross, Estelle C. Young, Helen
Muse, Mary Hughes, Georgie Frey, Eliza J. Cole.
Choir Directress—Annie Hazelton Lee.
Organist—Edwin M. Peck.
Leaders and Stewards Board—Walter Scott, Treasurer; Lloyd Watts.
Secretary.
Trustee Board—Dr. Howard E. Young, Treasurer, Grant E. Biddle Sr.
Secretary.
Financial Secretary—Cordelia E. Henry.
Rev. M. J. Naylor is a Graduate of the State Normal School of West
Virginia, College Preparatory School of Howard University, A.B. of
Morgan College, Graduate in Divinity of Howard University, which
institution conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Dr.
Naylor came to this city from Washington, D.C., and has been here
twenty-three years. During this period he has served as pastor of
Ames and Asbury Churches, a full term as Superintendent of the
Baltimore District and is now serving his ninth year as Pastor of Sharp
Street Memorial, the oldest and most substantial church financially
owned by colored people in this State. He has twice represented his
conference in the law-making body of the church, and is rated as one
of its very efficient and constructive legislators.
Dr. Naylor's administration at Sharp Street has been eminently suc-
cessful, during which $100,000.00 has been raised for all purposes, and
a debt of $27,000.00 discharged, leaving the church entirely free of all
indebtedness. Heis widely known and enjoys theesteemof his great church
and the public generally. He is alive to all public interests and can be
depended upon as a safe and progressive representative of his race.
He is now engaged in developing a great Community Center in
connection with his church, which will cost approximately $50,000.00.
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