Religion: Rev. Charles Jaggers

At Columbia, quiet sun-filled capital of South Carolina, a Negro preacher died last week. During the half hour before his funeral, no business was transacted in the city. White and black paid tribute, by proclamation of the Mayor.

Rev. Charles Jaggers, born a slave in the first half of the 19th Century, began preaching from fence corners, always on one text: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). With some contributions, he established a mission; with others he took the gospel to the chain gangs. At the end of each year he took one cent salary. He was wont to say: “My services belong to God.”