“As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, give them a warning from me.”  Ezekiel 33:7

Around midnight on October 15, 1854 the students of Howard College, now Samford University, lay in their beds asleep. No one knows how the fire started but in a matter of minutes the only dorm on campus was engulfed in flames. The first person to notice was a 23 year old slave named Harry. He was employed by the college as a janitor and had a meager room in the 4 story dorm. Without regard for his own safety he rushed upstairs to awaken the sleeping students. As he raced toward the rooms someone grabbed him and told him to leave or he would be overtaken by the flames to which Harry responded, “not before I wake…