Mary J. Small (1850–1945) was a reverend in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (A.M.E. Zion Church), and was the first woman to achieve the position of elder.[1][2]
Mary J. Small | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Mary J. Blair October 20, 1850 |
| Died | September 11, 1945 (aged 94) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Minister and elder of the AME Zion Church |
| Known for | First woman to achieve the position of elder in the AME Zion Church |
Early life
editMary J. Small was born on October 20, 1850, in Murphy's Boro, Tennessee, to mother Agnes Blair.[2][3] Little is known of her childhood years or her father.[2] In 1873, she married Reverend John Small, a well-known bishop in the A.M.E. Zion Church.[2]
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Pastoral career
editInitially, Small was opposed to female preachers.[4] She resisted the call to preach until January 21, 1892, when she was licensed to preach by Dr. John E. Price.[4] On May 19, 1985, Small was ordained as a deacon by Bishop A. Walters.[4] Although she was active in Evangelical societies, no evidence shows Mary J. Small to have pastored a church.[5] However, Small contributed much to her church community. Throughout her career, Small worked in the A.M.E. Zion church, serving on the Temperance and Women's Home and Foreign Missions committees.[6] She was also president of the A.M.E. Zion church's Women's Society.[7]
Small worked alongside her husband in the A.M.E. Zion Church, including as a missionary in Africa, until his death in 1905.[8] In the United States, they conducted parish work together in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Connecticut, and other states.[5] She also the first woman to be ordained an elder, the highest holy order of the time, when her nomination was approved on May 23, 1898, at the Philadelphia and Baltimore connections of the Church.[9] She was nominated after passing an examination, and although a number of ministers protested and requested a hearing, she was elected to the position of elder by a vote of 24 to 13.[9] The A.M.E. Zion Church was the first to open this high-level position to women.[2] As an elder, Small had the same rights as a minister, including authority over male members of the church.[9]
Her social influence was also great, as seen in the Mary J. Small Social Club. It was a women's club that met monthly, and included activities such as music and reading.[10]
Death
editShe died on September 11, 1945, at age 94, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.[5][11] Funeral services were held at the Small Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, and she was buried in the Lebanon Cemetery at York.[12][11]
References
edit- ^ Warner, Laceye C. (October 2013). "American Methodist Women: Roles and Contributions". The Cambridge Companion to American Methodism. pp. 316–334. doi:10.1017/CCO9780511919961.020. ISBN 9780511919961. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help) - ^ a b c d e Jackson, Marianne (Spring 2005). "Sisters in the Spirit: Black Women Preachers Hearing the Call" (PDF). Kent State University Writing Review.
- ^ "11 Sep 1945, Page 23 - The Pittsburgh Press at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- ^ a b c "27 Oct 1898, Page 1 - The York Daily at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- ^ a b c "Who was Mary J. Small? - The Handy African American History Answer Book". www.papertrell.com. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (1905-05-18). "Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, May 18, 1905, Image 11". Evening Star. p. 11. ISSN 2331-9968. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- ^ "1 Aug 1907, 2 - The York Dispatch at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- ^ "2 Nov 1940, Page 15 - The Pittsburgh Courier at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- ^ a b c "24 May 1898, 7 - The Baltimore Sun at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- ^ "23 Nov 1935, Page 8 - The Pittsburgh Courier at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- ^ a b "12 Sep 1945, Page 25 - The Gazette and Daily at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- ^ "15 Sep 1945, 14 - The York Dispatch at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-04-17.