III. Colored Ministers Join in Heralding Advent

One of the unusual characters in the roster of Millerite preachers was a colored minister, CHARLES BOWLES (fl. 1810-1843). He was born in Boston, his father being an African servant and his mother the daughter of the celebrated American Colonel Morgan. Bowles enlisted in the Army when only fourteen, and was servant to an officer. Upon his conversion he joined the Calvinistic Baptists. Though he felt a call to the ministry, he nevertheless fled to sea for a time, much like Jonah. But in 1816 he entered the Free Will Baptist ministry in Vermont, where 150 conversions resulted, and a church of 90 members was raised up. He was ordained shortly thereafter. Though he often met with bitter opposition because of his color, and the fact that he was preaching to large white congregations, he became a successful evangelist. His was the standard Millerite exposition of prophecy.PFF4 705.1

On one occasion while preaching he was threatened with being thrown into a pond. But he continued to preach with such power that many of his tormentors were converted as they gathered to witness the baptism that had been scheduled. Father Bowles, as he was often called because of his venerable age, was instrumental in raising up many churches and establishing various quarterly meetings, right up until 1843, his last sermon being preached on February 5. He had become nearly blind. A large assembly gathered for his funeral sermon in March.PFF4 705.2

John W. Lewis, of Providence, Rhode Island, was likewise a colored Millerite minister.PFF4 705.3