John Brown (1800-1859) and Race in the Missouri Synod

Sitting by the neighborhood pool today (Saturday) reading Andrew Schulze's classic on the long, hard struggle of blacks in the LCMS for the full recognition accorded by the very gospel. Really an amazing read. He shares the story below about one of his former parishes. The connections across time in the Missouri Synod never cease to amaze.

Matt Harrison

When I met Mrs. Bettie Washington in 1928 as I became the pastor of St. Philip's Church in St. Louis, she was about 80 years old. She told me that as a slave girl in Virginia, in the house of her master, she had on more than one occasion served John Brown, the great abolitionist, at table. If my memory serves me correctly, she told me her master cooperated with the Underground Railroad movement which had as its purpose smuggling slaves out of the South. It was in that capacity, according to Mrs. Washington, that her master had clandestinely acted as host to John Brown.

The husband, Mr. Washington, was probably several years older than his wife. He too had been a slave. When e was 14 years old he ran away from his master who apparently was also his father.

George Washington was the sexton at St. Philip's Church; and what a sexton he was! While he was in charge, the church premises and the church were kept immaculate. (It was a weekly ritual of his to dust even the steam pipes suspended from the ceiling in the basement assembly room.) Any offense against the church and the premises was considered a personal offense against him. In this matter he was altogether impartial; the boys from the parsonage next door were reprimanded like others when their turn came.

Although Mr. Washington had never attended school, he had learned to read simple materials. Very often, when I passed the boiler room, I would find him - his work for the time completed -sitting there with a primary Sunday school leaflet in hand, reading. When I greeted him, he would look up and refered to the Bible story before him; and if the text suggested it, would commend on the love of "our Savior." He was to me an outstanding example of a Christian gentleman.

It is one thing to be taught in the classroom how to recognize and respect people of integrity. It is another thing to learn through personal experience that people like Mr. and Mrs. George Washington are persons of exceptional Christian character and uprightness.

Andrew Schulze, Race Against Time, published by Lutheran Human Relations Association of America, 1972, pp. 143-4.