the name of his paper was changed from The Christian Era to The Birmingham Era.
In 1888, Mr. Coffee was appointed pastor of a church in Mobile, where he commenced the publication of a sheet known as The Methodist Vindicator, which, as the name indicated, was a religious paper, but it did not fail, on occasion, to give voice to those great race issues which were and are now agitating the public mind. The publication of this paper was suspended on account of the great demand upon the editor's time by urgent church business, and by his subsequent removal to Eufala. As soon as he became settled in the latter city, he commenced the publication of a sheet known as The Vindicator, an unsectarian paper devoted to news and the general interests of the Afro-American race.
As a writer, Mr. Coffee is caustic and fearless, though discreet. He knows the right, and dares to maintain it. He is destined to become one of the most brilliant journalistic lights of the country, and is a man of whom his race has reason to be proud, especially in his vocation as a journalist.
Rev. S. D. Russell, Editor Torchlight Appeal.
The motto, "Find a way or make one," seems to have been the principle instilled into Rev. S. D. Russell, the brilliant young editor of the only religious paper published at present in Texas. Born in the city of Natchez., Miss., August 3, 1862, of pious parents, he was early imbued with the idea of doing work for the Master. After his conversion he identified himself with the A. M. E. church, in which connection he grew up well educated, and is at present a minister of high standing in that denomination.
But we are to speak of him more particularly as a journalist. In this sphere he is making rapid headway. He believes, as do most Afro-Americans in like positions, that
