been
converted through the preaching of Negroes, and a few Negroes, even in
the Southland, have been pastors of white Baptist churches. Speaking
of the resignation of Mr. Thomas Armistead, who was pastor of the
Portsmouth Church, in Virginia, until 1792, Robert B. Semple, in his
_History of the Baptists of Virginia_, remarks: "After his resignation
the church declined greatly. They employed Josiah Bishop, a black man
of considerable talents, to preach to them. This, as might have been
expected, could not answer in Virginia."[2]

Another instance of the same character is related by Mr. Semple, in
connection with the Pettsworth or Gloucester Church. In his statement
in regard to the death of Rev. Robert Hudgin, their first pastor, he
observes that "This church continued to prosper moderately until Mr.
Hudgin's death. They were then left without any person to go in and
out before them. They at length did what it would hardly have been
supposed would have been done by Virginians; they chose for their
pastor William Lemon, a man of color." "He also died after several
years. Since then," remarks Mr. Semple, "they have been destitute of
stated ministerial aid." Here, then, is a man of color, who was
pastor of a white Baptist Church in Virginia to the day of his death,
covering a period of "several years."[3]

There is still another case, in which the order of things is reversed,
and this the most remarkable in the history of the South. In 1798
there appeared in southwest Mississippi a colored Baptist preacher,
Joseph Willis, a mulatto, who being duly licensed was very zealous to
exercise his gift as a minister. In 1804 he crossed the Mississippi
River and began a work into which he put a half century of earnest
endeavor. After preaching at Vermillion and Plaquemine Brule for eight
years, amidst hardships and bitter persecutions, unaided and alone,
and sacrificing a small fortune in the struggle, he was able, with the
aid of visiting ministers, to constitute the first Baptist Church at
Bayou Chicot. Other churches, the fruits of his labors, soon sprang
into being, and in 1818 the Louisiana Baptist Association was
constituted, with these churches as a nucleus. Joseph Willis was
pastor of the church at Bayou Chicot for a number of years. As
moderator of the Louisiana Baptist Association he was honored and
respected--indeed, beloved and spoken of as "Father Willis." That a
Negro should have the honor of giving to Louisiana its f