When, over one hundred years ago (1787), a handful of men, led by Richard Allen, took the momentous step in the Quaker City of Philadelphia, which resulted in the organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the most sanguine well-wisher could hardly have prophesied that the small beginning would have such a glorious, wide-spread result as is evidenced to-day. This little band was desirous of serving God, but of serving him as men; and so, breathing deeply that spirit of independence and love of freedom which was rife in the air of America that eventful year, and which has wrought so much for this broad country, they threw off the yoke which bore so heavily upon them in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and boldly set out for themselves.

The digital copies of these recordings are available for free at First Fruits website. place.asburyseminary.edu/firstfruits Preface Knowing that it is a serious disadvantage to any people or country whose history is not written for the benefit of posterity, it has, for many years past, occurred to me that I ought to attempt something in this direction in connexion with Wesleyan Methodism, which has not only existed in this Colony of Sierra Leone for more than a century, but has conferred numerous untold benefits, intellectual, moral, and spiritual, on the people in general. Owing to the attendant strain of a Methodist Circuit life, and the great responsibility that rested on me as a Superintendent Minister since the early part of 1867, I could not possibly afford time to undertake the gigantic work of preparing a history of the rise and progress of Methodism and its Missions in Sierra Leone. A gracious Providence having, however, mercifully spared me to retire from the multifarious duties of circuit work at the close of the first quarter of the year 1910, after fifty-one years' active service, I feel that, as the oldest Wesleyan minister in the district, God has no doubt preserved me for the accomplishment of the important task; I must therefore at once proceed to put together certain facts from credible and available records, along with my reminiscences of sundry matters that are about half a century old, for the information alike of both young and old. With the belief that the obituaries of both the European Missionaries and African Ministers that died in the work here or elsewhere will be foundinteresting and appreciated, particularly in Methodistcircles in which they were not previously known; their insertion will be given in the pages within therespective decades in which the deaths occurred. For the map of Sierra Leone showing approximate Tribal Divisions the writer of this history is indebted to Mr. C. H. Lukach's book, A Bibliography of Sierra Leone.

Published in 1906 by Rev. Horace Talbert, some fifty years after slavery ended, AME church history comes to life through profiles of 122 men-faithful devotees, or spiritual "sons" of Bishop Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Founded in 1816, the AME church was the first organized African American denomination in the United States. These sterling portraits of the "sons of Allen," mostly AME pastors, but also leading black men from other areas of industry, awaken the dreamer within... In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the AME church, the descendants of the author have reissued this remarkable book, which includes a "Sketch" by Rev. Talbert about his beloved alma mater Wilberforce University. This edition also has new material from Talbert's family members: a preface from Mrs. Suesetta Talbert McCree, a granddaughter of Rev. Talbert, believed to be the last surviving member of her generation; and a foreword by Rev. Malcolm Hassan Stephens, an Itinerant Elder of the AME Church and a great-great grandson of Rev. Talbert. The Sons of Allen is excellent primary source material for those interested in AME Church history, African American history, American history and genealogy. All readers will be inspired by the lives these men set forth to live, encouraged by the AME motto: "God our Father, Christ our redeemer, the Holy Spirit our comforter, Humankind our family."