REV. HENRY B. HAYES.

EV. HENRY B. HAYES, the son of Rev. John Hayes, was born in Wake (now a part of Durham) county, North Carolina, June 2, 1804, and died in the city of Raleigh, December 14, 1880, at the age of seventy-six. He was converted the 29th of September, 1821. "O how unspeakable the love of God to my soul!--the remembrance of which is still sweet to me. What a change! Darkness was turned into light; mourning into joy, and for the spirit of heaviness I received the spirit of praise," says he. It is said that he and Rev. Thomas J. Fowler were converted at the same time.

      In 1836, the Rev. H. B. Hayes was residing at Flemington, North Carolina. In August, just two months before the Annual Conference, he had attended a general meeting (protracted meeting) at Moore Union. This same year he delivered before the North Carolina Christian Conference, held at Pleasant Grove, in Chatham county, the introductory sermon from Eph. 4:8, "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." He was clerk of the Conference, and was appointed a messenger to the Eastern Virginia Conference and to the Freewill Baptist Association.

      In 1842, at Raleigh, he and Elder Utley organized a Christian church in the old Baptist church which consisted of seventeen members, seven of whom with two others composed the Christian church. (Bethel, the, old Christian church had disappeared.) The old Baptist church consented to the change. In about one month's time four others united with them, making the number thirteen. This year he went as a fraternal messenger to the North Carolina and Virginia Conference at Union, Halifax county, Virginia, and was invited to a seat in the body. [126]

      In 1847, he was pastor of Pleasant Spring (Joseph Thomas preached here twelve months, at which time Wentworth was organized); he was also preaching regularly at Raleigh, and the church he had established had grown to "some forty or fifty members in the face of strong opposition." He spoke of the prospects as "bright and cheering," and of the church's membership having increased to fifty-eight. He was at the organization of the Southern Christian Association, at Good Hope, in Granville county, North Carolina. He attended the North Carolina and Virginia Conference, in 1847 and was enrolled among the ministers as a member. He acted as secretary.

      The North Carolina Conference met in annual session in Raleigh, on October 13, 1848. Elder Hayes had just arrived with Rev. I. N. Walter, having met with him on the train from Petersburg, Virginia. At this Conference were present Elders D. W. Kerr, Littlejohn Utley, and Stephen Turner, who were co-laborers with James O'Kelly and had grown grey in the cause of Christ. Elders W. B. Wellons, of the Eastern Virginia Conference, and Jas. I. Hobby and Jos. B. Hinton of the North Carolina Conference, were also present. Elder Hinton was pastor of the Raleigh church.

      In 1849, the Southern Christian Association was held on May 11th, in Raleigh, and Rev. H. B. Hayes was in attendance. In 1850, he conducted a protracted meeting at O'Kelly's chapel and was assisted by Rev. I. N. Walter.

      After the death of Rev. D. W. Kerr, who had been editor from its first establishment, the Christian Sun was moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, and Elder Hayes became its editor. The paper was soon changed to a weekly publication, and remained under his management till moved to Suffolk, Virginia.

      Rev. H. B. Hayes was on the ordaining presbytery, [127] which ordained the first colored missionary of the Christian church. He made the ordaining prayer. The other members of the presbytery were Revs. J. B. Hinton and I. N. Walter. The colored preacher's name was Isaac Scott. This occurred on August (28) 29, 1852, in the city of Raleigh. His Excellency Governor Reid witnessed the ceremonies.¹

      He was a fraternal messenger from the North Carolina Conference to the Eastern Virginia Conference at Providence, in Norfolk county, Virginia, and preached before that body. He also attended the Southern Christian Association, which met at Providence chapel, on the 8th of November, 1852. The North Carolina Conference adopted and sent up to the Association the following: "Resolved, That we approve of the course pursued by the Publishing Agent and Editor of the Christian Sun; and hereby instruct our delegates to the Southern Christian Association to use every laudable effort to continue the publication of the Sun at Raleigh and Elder H. B. Hayes as Publishing Agent."

      In 1854, the North Carolina and Virginia Conference, and the North Carolina Conference, terms of union having been already agreed upon, both met at O'Kelly's chapel, in Wake county, as one Conference. At this time the monument of Rev. James O'Kelly was unveiled. Rev. H. B. Hayes was present and joined in the ceremonies, pronouncing the benediction. Though not present at the Conference, in 1856, he was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Home Missionary Society. He attended the Conference at Bethlehem, in Alamance county, in 1857, in the deliberations of which he took part, and was re-elected a Director of the [128] Home Missionary Society. He was instrumental in building Hayes' chapel, and hence it bears his name. The chapel was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God on the 18th of April, 1858. The following hymn composed by the Rev. Mr. Hayes was sung by the choir at the dedicatory service:

      At the Conference at Union chapel, in 1859, he served on a special committee to which was referred the petition [129] of the Newbern church. He also served on the committees on Ordination and on Home Missions. The report of the Conference committee was referred to a committee of seven of which he was one--the case of Rev. Solomon Fuller. He was appointed on a committee with Revs. J. W. Wellons and W. N. Bragg to open a fraternal correspondence with the Cape Fear Freewill Baptist Association. He was appointed to Newbern church which he served as pastor.

      In 1860, at the Conference at Pleasant Hill, in Chatham county, he served on the committee on periodicals and memoirs. He was also appointed chairman of the committee to have the minutes of the Conference published and distributed. He was continued one of the directors of the Home Missionary Society. This year he had served the church at Newbern as pastor. He attended the Conference at Oak Level, in 1865; he served on a special committee and on the presbytery that ordained Rev. W. H. Franks. He was secretary pro tem. for the Home Missionary Society. In 1866, at O'Kelly's chapel, he was appointed chairman of the committee on statistics, and in 1867 he was appointed on the committee with Revs. J. W. Wellons and W. H. Franks to aid in organizing the Colored Christian Conference in North Carolina. He attended the Conference at Wake chapel, in 1869, and was continued on the committee to counsel and confer with the Colored Christian Conference of North Carolina.

      The last Conference which he attended was held at Pope's chapel, in Franklin county, in 1875. He served on the committee on periodicals. Although he had not, been actively engaged for the last fifteen years of his life, he represented himself, if not in person, by letter with rare exceptions. In 1880, July 2, he wrote, "I am very unwell this morning, pray for me that I may be able to bear my affliction with the patience of a true [130] Christian." To the Conference at Bethlehem in Alamance county, North Carolina, in 1880, he wrote, "In consequence of my afflictions, I shall not be able to meet with you, and I may pass away before you convene; but I feel that his grace will be sufficient for me, when the change shall come." Before another month, he had passed away. He was one of the pioneers of the church and did good service in his time. While Editor of the Christian Sun, he showed that he was devotedly attached to the principles of the Christian Church. His poetical genius, had it been developed, would have yielded many precious gems to the lovers of religious thought and feeling. He labored long and faithfully.

[LCM 126-131]