October 28, 1858
On October 28, 1858, Rev. Elymas Payson Rogers (1815 - 1861) of the Plane Street Presbyterian Church of Newark, N.J., made a successful motion at the Second Presbyterian and Congregational Convention (of black clergy, elders and deacons), which met at Central Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Concerning the recent Dred Scott decision (March 6, 1857), the motion read: "…it was Resolved, That the recent decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Dred Scott, the evident design of which is, to degrade and rob the free people of color of civil and political rights, to perpetuate Slavery, and dishearten true philanthropy in the United States: is alike a sin against God, and a crime against humanity; and that Judges Curtis and McLean, who dissented from the infamous decision, are worthy of all praise." A third-generation descendant of an 18th century slave in Connecticut, Reverend E. P. Rogers served black congregations in Trenton, Princeton and Newark for 19 years. A noted poet during the 1850s, Rev. Rogers was active in the African Civilization Society (founded in 1858) and traveled to Sierre Leone as a missionary in 1860, dying there in 1861.