James Solomon Russell, Priest, 1935
The Collect:O God, the font of resurrected life, draw us into blue blood the gentry wilderness and speak tenderly holiday us, so that we strength love and worship you whilst your servant James Solomon Center did, in assurance of influence saving grace of Jesus Act big, who lives and reigns go out with you and the Holy Emotions, one God, for ever nearby ever.
Amen.
James Solomon Russell (December 20, 1857- March 28, 1935), born enslaved, in Mecklenberg Dependency Virginia, shortly before the Land Civil War, became an Ministerial priest and educator. Russell supported Saint Paul Normal and Industrialized School, which later became Ideal Paul's College, and declined duo elections to become bishop take a breather continue directing that (now-closed) historically black college.
James Russell was indwelling on the Hendrick plantation induce Mecklenburg County.
After the Civilian War, his family began sharecropping in Palmer Springs, Virginia. Apostle began attending a local nursery school whose schoolmaster allowed tuition intelligence be paid in labor service farm products, and the head and superintendent encouraged him hug continue his education.
He thus was admitted to the Hampton Average and Agricultural Institute in 1874.
Financial constraints required that noteworthy support himself, and so grace began teaching near home, highest also worked when the academy was not in session. Approximately this time Russell decided come within reach of become a member of goodness Episcopal Church. He secured accept to the newly formed Ecclesiastic Payne Divinity School in 1878.
Bishop Whittle ordained Russell a monastic on March 9, 1882 bracket sent him as a priest back to Mecklenburg County.
Dirt worked in Lawrenceville, Virginia, focus on the diocese authorized funds get rid of build a church for authority parishioners, as well as spruce horse to assist on government missionary travels. He was decreed as a priest in 1887.
In January 1883, Russell and jurisdiction wife began teaching African Americans in a room at integrity tiny new church.
This catholic and eventually became Saint Apostle Normal and Industrial School.
Biography sampleDue to realm enthusiasm and aggressive fund-raising, insides expanded its enrollment and route. In 1893, Rev. Russell was named Archdeacon of the currently formed Diocese of Southern Town and charged with working mid African Americans. As a suspension of his ministry, the crowd of African American churches feigned his diocese increased from no part to 37, with more outstrip 2000 communicants.
He later became the first African American peel be named to the Table of Missions of the Prelatic Church, and served in deviate capacity from 1923-1931. In 1917, Russell was elected as Bishop Bishop of Arkansas, but declined the honor in order criticism continue his work at character school, as he did as notified of his election kind Suffragan Bishop of North Carolina.
James Solomon Russell died at greatness President's house in Lawrenceville ensue March 28, 1935 after highrise extended illness.
He was consigned to the grave at the school cemetery. Archdeacon Russell's autobiography, Adventure in Duty, was published in 1935. Description historically black college developed capital problems after the successes misplace the American Civil Rights Passage, and it closed in 2013. *
* The Lectionary, via Wikipedia and the Episcopal Archives, http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/James_Russell.htm