Page 2 - Volume 3 2016

Watch Night /Watch Party

In late summer of this year a group of individuals representing
local businesses, organizations and churches met to ensure
the visibility of Washington, DC during the opening of the
National Museum of African American History and Culture in
the fall of 2016. While this was a national celebration, the city
formed the DC Host Committee to ensure the visibility of this
event through local businesses, organizations and churches.

“Methodism and the Negro” It was decided that various sites
would hold watch parties to allow
Additions to the Collection: visitors, members and friends to

Papers from Dr. Charles gather in community to watch this historic event. "Watch
and Mrs. Marie White Night," according to bartleby.com, can properly refer either to New Year's Eve or to a religious
Copher. Dr. Copher was service held on New Year's Eve. Under either usage, it is likely a term unfamiliar to most, in that
the observance of "watch nights" among Christians has devolved into primarily an African-
one of the first American practice. Watch Night is celebrated among by congregants 'gathering at their
professionally trained churches on the last evening of the year to attend special services that typically commence
African American biblical
scholars earning a Ph. D in between 7 and 10 pm and continue through midnight into
the Old Testament from the New Year. These services are regarded by participants
Boston University in 1947. as a time to reflect upon and give thanks for the departing
He went on to serve as year and pray for the future, a spiritual way of celebrating a
faculty and held other largely secular holiday. Many churches embrace them as an
administrative positions at alternative to the rowdy partying and drinking often
Gammon Theological associated with New Year's Eve.
Seminary and at the
Interdenominational Yet as strongly as Watch Night is now linked to the black
Theological Seminary (ITC) community, its observance did not originate with that
in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. group, nor did it begin on December 31 1862, the night
Copher also published before the Emancipation Proclamation came into effect.
Black Biblical Studies: Watch Night began with the Moravians, a small Christian
Biblical and Theological denomination whose roots live in what is the present day
Czech Republic. The first such service is believed to have
Issues on the Black been held in 1733 on the estates of Count Nicholas con
Presence in the Bible: An
Anthology of Charles B. Zinzendorf in Hernut, Germany.

Copher (1993). John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, picked it up from the Moravians,
Seven volumes of the incorporating a Watch Night vigil into the practices of his denomination. Methodist Watch
African American Mission Nights were held once a month and on full moons, with the first such service in the United
Albums (called Negro in States taking place in 1770 at Old St. George's Church in Philadelphia. Watch Night services
the 1930’s) documenting survive to the present day as a “Covenant Renewal Service in the United Methodist Book of
Worship. As to what was being "watched over" in those earlier services, it was one's covenant
the work of the
Freedman’s Aid Society
which became a part of
the Board of Education of
the Methodist Episcopal
church in the early 1920’s,
were recently digitized

and added to the
collection.

Papers from the with God. These gatherings were a time for congregants to meditate on their state of grace —
library of Ms. Charlotte were they spiritually ready to meet their maker if the call were suddenly to come? As Mark 13:
Meade of Fairmont, West 35, says, the faithful need to be ever vigilant, because the hour of the Lord's coming is not
known.
Virginia containing
historical records about The end-of-year Watch Night of 1862 took on special significance attaching to the impending
the early years of Black January 1, 1863 enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, and that night has come to be
Methodists for Church known as "Freedom's Eve." On September 22, 1862, President Lincoln issued his Preliminary
Emancipation Proclamation, which stated: "On the first day of January ... all persons held as
Renewal (BMCR) and
information about local
African American Laity

and Clergy.

Papers from the library of slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in
Thelma Randall of rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free." Lincoln
subsequently issued the Emancipation Proclamation itself on January 1, 1863.
Catonsville, MD containing
historical records about
BMCR.