karibassett Baptists, Black Churches, Evelynn Coffie, Research Credit

Reverend T.L. Griffith’s Response to Atlanta Race Riots of 1906

Reverend T.L. Griffith of Corinthian Baptist Church delivered an address to “almost all of the city’s approximately 600 negroes” in response to the Atlanta Race Riot of 1906. In his address, he acknowledged the wrongs to the Black community and called on the audience to stand for the betterment of the community, urging restraint in the face of terrible news emerging from Atlanta. Griffith called out the lack of protection for Black women and the evil of denying Black children an education.

Reverend Griffith maintained that Black citizens were victims of taxation without representation, paying precious dollars into a system that offers very little in return, citing lack of representation in government and lack of access to education and other rights afforded under the 14th amendment. In June of 1907, Dr. William Beckham of the Negro Baptist Publishing House supported Griffith’s statement, citing that nationally, 1 million Negro farmers paid $1 billion in property taxes, $20M of which goes to education, but only 10 schools of law & medicine accepting Black students at the time.

Sources: Des Moines Register Archives October 8, 1906 p 2

               Des Moines Register Archives, June 3, 1907 p 5

Research Credit: Evelynn Coffie

karibassett Baptists, Black Churches, Evelynn Coffie, Research Credit

Church Metrics: The Legacy of T.L. Griffith

In December of 1908, Corinthian Baptist’s minister TL Griffith announced his resignation. His plan was to move to Denver, Colorado, and pastor Zion Church, which was, at the time, the largest Black church in the US. In January, 1909, the Register reported that the congregation passed a resolution (including a letter to Zion Church’s congregation) refusing Griffith’s resignation. Instead, the good people of Corinthian Baptist offered Reverend Griffith two weeks of vacation to visit Denver so that he could un-do his moving preparations.

In corporate speak, we talk a lot about metrics: how do we know we’re doing the right things? How do we define success? I honestly hadn’t thought about how one would measure the success of a church, but here are some facts about Corinthian Baptist Church during TL Griffith’s tenure. I can see why they didn’t want to let him go.

  • Church membership grew from 140 to over 500
  • The church expanded and moved to a bigger building, purchased from a white Unitarian congregation (the new building was located at 2nd and Linden streets)
  • Property ownership amongst church members grew from 9 members owning property in 1901 to 60 property owners in 1908

Sources: Des Moines Register December 29 1908 p 8

               Des Moines Register, January 18, 1909, p 5

Research Credit: Evelynn Coffie