E. B. Nichols
E. B. Nichols graduated in 1896 from the Mission Training Institute (now Nyack College in New York). In God’s providence, he became superintendent of the early African-American ministries of the C&MA.
E. B. traveled extensively holding meetings and overseeing his team in the establishment of many Alliance branches throughout the United States. He reported the following in The Alliance Witness July 13, 1989:
Our Third Annual Convention commenced on Friday morning, June 2, 1898, in the Wylie Avenue A. M. E. Church of which Dr. J. W. Gazaway is pastor. The Convention opened with a meeting for prayer and humiliation before our Father, who graciously showered upon us an “earnest” of what was to follow, praise be to His name! From the very first, the Holy Spirit wonderfully manifested His presence and power in saving, sanctifying, and healing. Many were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit.
On Wednesday, June 8, Dr. G. D. Watson gave very helpful and instructive messages on “Our Blessed Hope, the Lord’s Second Coming.” The Lord wonderfully used our dear brother, Rev. R. H. Shirley of Coxsackie, New York. The noble corps of workers from Ohio, namely Sisters Bowles, Smoot, Brown, Johnson, and others were very effectually used of the Holy Spirit in spreading the joyful message. May the “Lord of the harvest” give us many such Spirit-filled hearts to labor for Him.
Thursday, June 9, was given to the ministry of divine healing—brief messages showing Jesus Christ as not only willing to heal our sicknesses but also to be to us our very life, health, and strength. Bless His name! After the messages many were anointed, after which some wonderful cures were testified to, namely, sight restored, internal ailments of long standing cured, and some were brought back from sick beds and went away healed. Praise God! “He is just the same today.”
Marvelous Light
The interest increased steadily, and we believe there has been a great and effectual work accomplished by our Father through this branch of the C&MA among African Americans, who, because of past oppression, feel somewhat backward, and will not press their way into Conventions where these truths are taught, and learn of Him “more perfectly.” And because of this we are working to obtain and praying that the Lord may give us means and workers to carry this marvelous light of the Fourfold Gospel into some of the much needed localities of the South, and so the close of the Convention we started a side fund apart from our regular missionary offering for the purpose stated above.
Our dear sisters Bowles and Smoots of Cleveland, Ohio, came to us directly from Kentucky to assist in the Convention. They were trying to establish a work but failed owing to the above needs. Therefore, as soon as the dear Lord will enable us to sufficiently increase the said fund we expect to send a party of four or five workers in His name to these very same places. We are sure that after they shall have heard and seen examples of His marvelous work they will readily welcome messengers and support their work. Do pray that God may order our steps.
Sunday afternoon, June 12, we gave especially to the subject of missions which lay so near to the heart of our dear Lord and which He has placed so near to some of our hearts, but owing to that day being a day set apart by that denomination for missionary purposes, etc., we were not allowed to take our usual missionary offering, which is always the chief feature and most joyful time of an Alliance Convention, when we can give Him back part of what He has so freely given us.
Above All
The winding-up was Sunday night, June 12, when the church and neighborhood rang with our late brother Macomber’s “song.” “We’re bound to take the Congo for Jesus.”
Dr. Gazaway did his utmost for us to make the Convention a success. God will bless him for the same. May the dear Lord give us more pastors who are not afraid of the truth.
We are much indebted to many of the liberal merchants of Pittsburg for their hospitality, Messrs. Marvin & Co., Lutz & Co., Dilworth & Co., etc. Last year our late brother Conley gave our workers a luncheon in the Alliance Rooms on Penn Avenue. In his stead the dear Lord has given us a friend and brother in the person of Mr. J. T. Gilbert, of the Hotel Anderson, whom the Lord so wonderfully delivered through the Convention last year. He sent us a whole dinner and a waiter to serve it, besides giving most liberally of his means. May God indeed give us many such people who love Him above all!
The people could not understand how our dear members, who are Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and converted and sanctified Catholics, could work so peaceably together, but many learned the secret by receiving the Holy Spirit.
Our beloved president, W. P. Robinson, did his best, and now everybody is longing for the next Convention. Pray that our Father may keep us low at His feet.
Story provided by The Alliance News
