A Narrative of the Life of Rev. Noah Davis, A Colored Man | Page 7

returned home, I
went to work at my trade, for the purpose of earning the remainder of
the money. Having paid what I was able, toward my debt, and reserving
enough to open a shop, upon my own account, my old boss, Mr. Wright,
my true and constant friend, became my protector, so that I might carry
on my business lawfully. In this, however, I was not very successful;
but I had not been long engaged at it, before I received a
communication from my white Baptist friends in Baltimore, through
my pastor, Rev. Sam'l Smith, informing me that if I would come to
Baltimore, and accept an appointment as missionary to the colored
people of that city, they would assist me in raising the balance of the
money then due upon myself.
This was indeed an unexpected, and to me an undesired call. I began to

think, how can I leave my wife and seven small children, to go to
Baltimore to live, a distance of more than a hundred miles from them.
This, I thought, could not be. I thought my children would need my
watchful care, more now than at any other time. It is true, they were all
slaves, belonging to a rich widow lady. But she had always given me
the entire control of my family. Now, if I should leave them at their
tender age, mischief might befall them. Still, as the letter from
Baltimore was from gentlemen of the best standing, it became me to
give them an answer. This I could not do, without first consulting my
master. I did so, and after giving the matter a careful consideration, he
thought I had better go and see those gentlemen--he was perfectly
willing to leave the matter to me.
The result was, that I accepted the offer of the brethren in Baltimore;
and by them I was enabled to pay the debt I owed; and I have never had
cause to repent it--though I had misgivings sometimes, when I would
get into trouble.
But I have found those who were my friends at first, are my friends still.
In a few weeks after I had arrived in Baltimore, (1847,) the white
Baptists who were favorable to the mission in behalf of the colored
people, secured for me an appointment as missionary of the Domestic
Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, in connection with the
Maryland Baptist Union Association. I now felt a debt of gratitude to
these dear friends, that I could not show more acceptably to them, than
by engaging heartily in the work to which I had been thus called. I went
to work, first, by hiring a room in a private house, where I would
collect what few children I could get together, in a Sabbath school. I
continued in this place for nearly a year, teaching the little children, and
preaching to a few grown persons, who would come in at times to hear
what this Baptist man had to say; and who, after satisfying their
curiosity, would generally leave me. During my stay in this locality, I
could not find half a dozen colored Baptists, who would take hold with
me in this missionary enterprise. There were some few attached to the
white churches; but only two of those showed any disposition to help
me in this great and good work. I found that everybody loved to go
with the multitude, and it was truly up-hill work with me. I found some

who are called Anti-Mission, or Old School Baptists, who, when I
called upon them, would ask of what faith I was,--and when I would
reply, that I belonged to what I understood to be the Regular Baptists,
they would answer, "Then you are not of our faith," &c.
Now I felt lonely indeed, separated far from home, from family, from
dear brethren and friends; thrown among strangers in a strange place.
Those I came to benefit, stood aloof from me, and seemed to look upon
all my movements with distrust and suspicion, and opposed to all I was
trying to do for the moral and spiritual benefit of our degraded race.
But, thanks be to God, all I found in Baltimore were not of this stamp.
Those of the white Baptists who had been the means of calling me to
this field, adhered to me like brethren, indeed. Could I feel at liberty to
mention names, I would bring to notice some dear friends who have
ever stood by me, in all my efforts to do good, and whose acts of
disinterested benevolence have been rarely equaled. But their labors of
love are recorded on high, and I must forbear.
CHAPTER V.
Experience in Baltimore--Education--Purchase of a Wife and two
Children--Great Distress of Mind--Generous Assistance--Church
Matters.
When I