32 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 



^unbap Retool Mi^^vanwcv anb Colporteur 



The fact has already been mentioned that in 

 1875 Dr. A. Shepard, at the suggestion and 

 recommendation of Dr. H. M. Tupper, was 

 appointed Sunday School Missionary and Col- 

 porteur for !N^orth Carolina, for the American 

 Baptist Publication Society. At the very be- 

 ginning of his career, the greatest opportunity 

 was afforded him to carry out the spirit of the 

 "great commission.'' Everything, so far as 

 church work among colored Baptists of E'orth 

 Carolina was concerned, was in a crude state. 

 There were a comparatively few men with any 

 degree of intellectual ability, and the field was 

 ripe for a great harvest. IxTo man in the State 

 was so fully capable of the work at this time as 

 was Eev. Shepard. 



Fresh from college, accustomed to physical 

 toil, robust and strong, commanding in appear- 

 ance, genial in disposition, of a high moral 

 character, and full of the Holy Ghost and power, 

 he was the man for the place. 



Located in the western section of the State 

 of l^orth Carolina was Rev. Edward Eagles ; in 

 the eastern section was Rev. Lemuel Boone; 

 Dr. Shepard towering in strength in the center 



