Reverend Ananias Brown

In 1875, the Maryland Baptist Union Association secured Reverend Ananias Brown, formally pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church of Newport, Rhode Island. Reverend Brown received training at the Wayland Seminary in Washington, D.C. Under his pastorate, the church grew to one of the largest and most influential “Negro Baptist Churches” in Baltimore. Reverend Brown was widely respected and well known as a community activist. For many years, he

published a paper known as The Baptist Messenger. Reverend Brown served as treasurer for The Brotherhood of Liberty, an organization that fought for the rights of Blacks. He was also chosen among his peers to represent the Baptists on an executive committee for the Ministers of Baltimore Union, which consisted of representation from all denominations. Reverend Brown was also elected treasurer of the Baptist Orphanage and he oversaw various projects to fight for human rights.