of Ed._, 1871, p.

362.] The first active schoolmaster of this class was Rev.Samuel Thomas of Goose Creek Parish in South Carolina.

He took up this work there in 1695, and in 1705 could count among his communicants twenty Negroes, who with several others "well understanding the English tongue" could read and write.[1] Rev.Mr.Thomas said: "I have here presumed to give an account of one thousand slaves so far as they know of it and are desirous of Christian knowledge and seem willing to prepare themselves for it, in learning to read, for which they redeem the time from their labor.

Many of them can read the Bible distinctly, and great numbers of them were learning when I left the province."[2] But not only had this worker enlightened many Negroes in his parish, but had enlisted in the work several ladies, among whom was Mrs.Haig Edwards.

The Rev.
Mr.Taylor, already interested in the cause, hoped that other masters and mistresses would follow the example of Mrs.Edwards.[3] [Footnote 1: Meriwether, _Education in South Carolina_, p.