“Here have I been praying to Jesus, whom I have never served, and have never thought of praying to the Devil, whom I have always served.” This was a new revelation. complete

He saw that repentance and reformation of life were the first steps for him to take. After a suitable lapse of time, he applied to Col. Suttle, for leave to be baptized; no slave being admitted to the church without a written permission from his owner. To Anthony’s request, returned a rough refusal. Returning some time after from Foote’s, he unexpectedly met his owner in a carriage. The latter kindly saluted him, and now of his own accord gave the requisite permission for baptism. Emboldened by such rare favor, Anthony petitioned for money to buy clothes in which to appear with decency on the occasion of taking his baptismal vows, and received two dollars. At the proper time he was baptized and received into the Baptist church at Falmouth. The church consisted of white freemen and black slaves. All assembled within the same walls for worship on the Sabbath, but a partition of boards separated the bond from the free. When the Holy Supper was administered, the cup was first carefully served to all of the privileged class, and afterward to their sable brethren. Those distinctions were not maintained in anticipation of heaven, but in deference to the prejudices of Virginia society. In the social religious meetings there was a somewhat nearer approach to the New Testament model, and the prayers and exhortations of the slaves were graciously suffered to intermingle with those proceeding from the master’s lips.