Black pastors petition the Secretary of War to partner with the A.M.E. Church
A.W. Wayman, D.A. Payne, John M. Brown, M.F. Stuby, & James Lynch to Edwin Stanton responding to Stanton's order authorizing the Methodist Episcopal Church to oversee all Southern Methodist Churches. Wayman et al. inform Stanton of the existence of AME church, the strength of its membership and ministers, and the readiness of the AME to assume control of the spiritual direction of Black Southerners. "The aforementioned order virtually excludes us from a vast field of Christian labor among our brethren, whom we have long payed to meet, and organize."