Victor by Roach Thomas (1 results)

Condition: Very good -. 8" x 5½". Blue cloth, spine and title gilt, with original dust jacket. Pp. 143. Jacket very good minus due to a large chip, tears reinforced with tape to rear and moderate water stains to backstrip. Book very good plus with minimal wear and former owner's name and note inked to ffep; a few faint soil spots and corner creases; light dust-soiling to edges. This is an uncommon work, part autobiography and part epic fantasy, written by an African American minister, Thomas E. Roach. In the book's preface, Roach shared that the work was, despite fictional names and elements, a: "story of the life and mission of the author . . . The experiences and revelations are dedicated to clergymen of all Creeds and to all earnest and sincere believers in the existence of the life beyond . . . The work is sent forth to weather the gales of adverse criticism in the hope that it shall steam into the harbor of acceptance and inspiration." Per the book, the author was born in Barbados. He gave a brief history of the Haitian Revolution along with his early life as an itinerant missionary and speaker in the Caribbean Islands, South America and Africa. He was then schooled in Ohio, North Carolina and at Howard, pastoring in Rhode Island and Connecticut before settling in Chicago. Identifying as "Victor," the author "had one supreme purpose and that was to go down into the slum life of the city . . . to study the multiplicity of character and disposition in high and low society at close range." He "wanted to make personal observations, to follow the trail of research, to find facts and preserve experiences." The book involved fantasies of romancing "Salome," a beautiful socialite and religious scholar, through dance and deep spiritual conversations. "Reason has its limitations," Salome argued. "Life is filled to the brim with questions and problems. Enigmas, obscure or ambiguous sayings; riddles, puzzling questions; condundrums . . . " The tale weaved its way through medical and military history, varied scientific and religious pursuits, revealing a journey through space and time that broached topics of race, injustice, the "Master Creator" and "primitive man." Victor arrived at a mammoth, incomparable Cathedral, intent to "discredit myths, fables and traditions and make Truth the subject of my discourses." His "observation" revealed that "the world is still pregnant with greed, excessive selfishness, rivalry, prejudice, envy, cruelty, and atrocity" but he believed that "an extensive gold mine of spiritual jewels and lakes of spiritual minerals are available to the clergy." The book ended with biographical sketches of "a few celebrities of the Christian Church," including Martin De Porres (per Wikipedia, the "patron saint of mixed-race people and all those seeking racial harmony") and Mary G. Evans, "a shining star in the Christian stage." Evans was the "gifted pastor" of Chicago's Cosmopolitan Community Church for 34 years, from 1932 until her death in 1966. She was also the first woman to receive a Doctor of Divinity degree from Wilberforce University. Four pages were dedicated to "notable artist and musician" J. Wesley Jones, longtime director of Chicago's Metropolitan Community Church choir and the Negro Chorus of 1,000 Voices. A scarce and creative journey through history, race and religion by an African American pastor. OCLC shows twelve holdings.