A colored people’s church open to all complexions

An account of an August 3rd, 1840, gathering at the Belknap Street church (African Baptist), in Boston’s north slope area.  The occasion was the Anniversary of British Emancipation.   “Owing to the insufficiency of the building to accomodate all who would gladly have been present, but few, save the colored citizens, attended; but there was no exclusiveness in the celebration.  There was not house room, but there was heart room, as was proved by the graceful courtesy by which  strangers of all complexion were welcomed.  White men would have done well to take a lesson in the humanities of this congregation.”   (Liberator, August 14, 1840)