Chapter II: Preface

For the combination of shrewd common sense, fine executive ability, ready speech, genial acceptance of conditions, optimistic faith in the future of his race and self-sacrificing zeal in their behalf, Booker T. Washington stands easily first among the nine million Negroes of America. The greatest claim that has yet been made by the Negro in English Literature, according to the most competent critics, has been made by Paul Laurence Dunbar, who, for the first time in our language, has given literary interpretation of a very artistic completeness to what passes in the hearts and minds of a lowly people. The greatest claim that has been made by the Negro in the field of scholarship has been made by W. E. Burghardt DuBois, Ph. D., the eminent sociologist. But not more certain is it that Washington stands first in the list of Negro educators, and Dunbar first in the list of Negro poets and literary men, and DuBois first among scholars, than that the Rev. Charles T. Walker, D. D., who is popularly called “The Black Spurgeon,” stands first among eminent and successful Negro preachers.

Dr. Walker’s father died the day before Dr. Walker was born. His mother died when he was only eight years old. The first seven years of his life he was a slave. Becoming an orphan one year after emancipation, the years of his youth and young manhood were years of great hardship and privation. In this respect, his early life resembled that of other distinguished men of humble origin who have been a power in the world, and whose names have an honorable place on the pages of history. The prophetic reference to Christ, “Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel,” has been paralleled in human lives by a host of men whose names and deeds are recorded in history, sacred and profane. From the anointing of the Bethlehemite shepherd boy as King of Israel to the present time, history has furnished innumerable illustrations of the providential selection of men from obscure localities and unpretentious surroundings for great responsibilities and important fields of influence. Again and again, in the history of our own country, we have had memorable examples of men who have left an undying influence, whose early life was without friends, and whose heritage was void of patrimony. Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Franklin, Frederick Douglass, George W. Childs, Henry Wilson, Stephen Girard, Horace Greeley, and a host of others were such men.

One of the most profitable uses of history is the narrative of such lives. Having this in mind, it is safe to say that there is no species of writing of more value than biography. It inspires the young to nobler purposes, develops higher resolves, and proves an incentive to the laudable imitation of men who in prominent positions have proved true to principle and duty. It is in this spirit and with this thought in mind, that I undertake to write the story of the life of Dr. Walker. I confess to a great degree of admiration for the man; I glory in his career; I thought that the story of his life ought to be told; I believe that the telling of his life story will do much to encourage, inspire and incite to new endeavor thousands of young colored men all over the land, who need to be encouraged and inspired, and who, because of the peculiar environments of American civilization, find so little to incite them to high resolves, honest endeavors and upright lives. If, therefore, the story of Dr. Walker’s life as told by me shall encourage, inspire or incite one single human being, I shall have my reward.

Silas Xavier Floyd.
Augusta, Ga., February 1, 1902.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

PARENTAGE AND BIRTH 19

Ancestry--Character of Dr. Walker’s Father--Dr. Walker’s
Uncles--Dr. Walker’s Birth--Character of Dr. Walker’s
Mother--W. A. Clark’s Tribute--A Generation of
Preachers--Dr. Walker the Greatest of Them All.

CHAPTER II.

EARLY CHILDHOOD 25

Richmond County During the Slave Period--The Hardships of
Slavery--The Evils of Slavery--Dr. Walker Becomes an
Orphan--His Strange Conversion--Joins Franklin Covenant Baptist
Church.

CHAPTER III.

THE STUDENT PERIOD 29

First Taught by His Mother--Yankee Teachers--Enters the Augusta
Institute--Dr. Joseph T. Robert--Dr. Walker’s Struggles--Ready
to Leave School--Students Come to Rescue--Others Interested--Mr.
Bierce’s Narrative--Dr. Walker’s Failure to Graduate--His
Ordination.

CHAPTER IV.

EARLY PASTORATES 35

The Call to Franklin Covenant Baptist Church--Other
Calls--Strange Custom of Negro Preachers--Dr. Walker Teaches
School--Some of His Early Pupils--His Marriage--The Work at
LaGrange.

CHAPTER V.

THE WORK AT AUGUSTA 39

The Call to Central Baptist Church--The Unholy Wrangle Prior to
His Call--His First Sermon--New Life for a Time--The
Troubles Renewed--Central Baptist Church Sold--Tabernacle
Baptist Church Organized--New Church Dedicated--Wonderful
Record--The Pastor Goes North--Justin Dewey Fulton’s
Commendation--Dr. Walker’s Report on His Return.

CHAPTER VI.

OTHER WORK AT AUGUSTA 47

Business Manager of the Augusta Sentinel--Founder of the Walker
Baptist Institute--A Dream for the Future--Director-General
of the Negro Exposition--The Exposition--Lends a Helping Hand
to Many.

CHAPTER VII.

INFLUENCE IN GEORGIA 55

Offices Held--Public Addresses--Interest in Public
Affairs--As an Evangelist--Securing Competent Leaders for
Churches and Schools--Dr. Walker’s Unselfishness.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE VISIT TO THE HOLY LAND 59

Provision for the Trip--Traveling Companions--Itinerary--Preaches
at Mount Olivet Baptist Church on His Way--His Return--His
Account of the Journey--On the Lecture Platform.

CHAPTER IX.

A COLORED MAN ABROAD 69

Extracts From Dr. Walker’s Writings--Tribute to the Sea--First
Sabbath at Sea--Spurgeon’s Tabernacle--A Storm on the
Mediterranean--Manners and Customs of the East--The Testimony
of the Mountain--Drifting on Life’s Ocean--Anarchy--Warning.

CHAPTER X.

AS A NATIONAL FIGURE 77

First National Baptist Convention--Dr. Walker one of the
Founders--His Reply to Rev. H. C. Bailey--Resolutions
Adopted--A National Leader--At Indianapolis--“A Strong Man in a
Crisis”--Receives His Degree--Offices Held in National Baptist
Convention--Chaplain U. S. V.--Vice President International
Sunday School Convention--Calls to Other Churches.

CHAPTER XI.

CHAPLAIN U. S. V. 83

At San Luis, Cuba--Great Crowds Hear Account of
Experiences--Resolutions Passed.

CHAPTER XII.

AS AN EVANGELIST 88

Sphere Limited--Powers as an Evangelist--The New York
Campaign--At Atlanta--In Kansas City.

CHAPTER XIII.

LEAVES AUGUSTA--GOES TO NEW YORK 98

Resignation of Augusta Church--Efforts to Retain Him--Last
Sunday Night in Augusta--Mt. Olivet Church--His
Success--Officers of Mt. Olivet Church.

CHAPTER XIV.

COLORED MEN’S BRANCH Y. M. C. A. 108

Movement Started--Adopted by City Association--Secretary
Coles--Obituary--Board of Management--Mr. Dugas--Miss
Connelly--A Perpetual Monument to the Founder.

CHAPTER XV.

CALLED TO AUGUSTA AGAIN 115

The Recall--Mass Meeting in New York--Letter of Dr.
Bitting--Speech of Col. Powell--Mass Meeting at
Augusta--Dr. Walker’s Decision.

CHAPTER XVI.

EXTRACTS FROM SERMONS 125

What Hath God Wrought--Go Forward--Infallible
Proofs of the Resurrection.

CHAPTER XVII.

EXTRACTS FROM ORATIONS AND ADDRESSES 138

Eulogy on President McKinley--Reply to Hannibal Thomas--The
Golden Rule as an Individual Motto--An Appeal to Cæsar--Colored
Men for the Twentieth Century.

CHAPTER XVIII.

EXTRACTS FROM NEWSPAPERS 155

The Examiner--Sun--World--Journal--Tribune--Times--Augusta
(Ga.) Chronicle--Fall River (Mass.) Evening News--Georgia
Baptist--Augusta Chronicle--Georgia Baptist.

CHAPTER XIX.

ANECDOTES 171

“The Black Sturgeon”--Reading and Counting for Negroes--Praying
for Money--Praying for Converts--About Jay Birds--Early
Religious Impressions--Electing a Church Treasurer--Dr.
Walker’s Complexion--The Negro a Novelty.

CHAPTER XX.

APPEARANCE, MANNERS, HABITS 178

Description--Still a Rustic--Democratic--Remarkable
Memory--Shy--His Sermons--The Bible and the Newspaper--Hunting
and Fishing--Love for Little Children.

CHAPTER XXI.

TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS 184

Patience--Motto of Dr. Walker’s Life--The Faithful Minister and
His Trials--Humility--Gratitude--Other Characteristics--Not
a Perfect Man.

CHAPTER XXII.

CONCLUSION 191

God’s Best Gift to Man--The Magnetism of Goodness--Scope of
Influence--Goodness is Communicable--The Real Forces of Life.

LIFE OF
CHARLES T. WALKER, D. D.