COLORED MEN’S BRANCH Y. M. C. A.
Dr. Walker had not been a resident of New York six months before he
turned his attention to the organization of a Young Men’s Christian
Association for colored young men. He had looked around and had found
no place for hundreds and hundreds of colored young men to spend
their evenings and Sundays, except in saloons, dives and brothels.
Without consulting anybody, though he was at the headquarters of the
International Y. M. C. A., he called a public meeting at Mt. Olivet
Baptist Church, and organized a Y. M. C. A. Nearly every colored
pastor in the city, regardless of denomination, became interested in
the movement, and gave Dr. Walker almost undivided support. Money was
raised, a building at 132 West 53rd Street was leased for one year,
temporary officers were elected, and Dec. 18, 1900, application was
made to the Y. M. C. A. of New York City for membership as one of the
regular branches. The application was received and acted on favorably,
and since then the Colored Men’s Branch has been one of the regular
branches of the City Association. In January, 1901, Mr. Walter C.
Coles, of Aiken, S. C., was appointed Secretary of the Colored Men’s
Branch and immediately took charge of the work. He served only one
year, having been summoned to report to God, Saturday, Jan. 4th, 1902.
The following obituary notice is taken from the Presbyterian Herald, of
New York City:
[Illustration: REV. WALTER C. COLES, DECEASED EX-SECRETARY OF COLORED
Y. M. C A., NEW YORK CITY, N. Y.]
“Rev. Walter C. Coles died suddenly of typhoid fever, at his home,
331 West 59th Street, Saturday, January 4th, 1902. Mr. Coles was the
oldest son of the Rev. William R. and Mrs. Coles, of Aiken, S. C. He
was a graduate both of the College and Theological Departments of
Biddle University, N. C.
“It was in the Biddle University where Mr. Coles developed his great
power as a ‘Fisher of Men.’ He organized the University men, whom he
held together by his shrewd method of dealing and his heart of love.
“He engaged in regular pastoral work at Nimrod, N. C. and Aiken, S. C.
“The Rev. Chas. T. Walker, D. D., came to New York as pastor of the
Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in 1899.
“He at once began work among the men, organized a Colored Men’s Branch
of the Y. M. C. A. Within a year this organization had grown to be a
great power for good. A secretary was needed. Walter Coles was the
man. He was appointed Secretary of the Colored Men’s Branch of the Y.
M. C. A., 132 West 53rd Street, January 1901. He therefore served only
one year.
“In September, 1901, he was ordained by the Presbytery of McClelland,
in South Carolina, and was married to Miss Mattie Belk, of Greenville,
in the same month, and the happy couple came to New York to engage in
their life work. But alas! How soon was he cut down. He had lived a
full life. His work was done. His task ended.
“A memorial service was held in Mount Olivet Baptist Church, Sunday
afternoon. The Colored Branch and the Ladies’ Auxiliary were present
in a body. Among the speakers were Chairman Walker, the Rev. Dr.
William H. Brooks, Pastor of St. Mark’s Methodist Episcopal Church;
the Rev. Hutchins C. Bishop, Pastor of St. Philip’s Protestant
Episcopal Church; Vice Chairman G. W. Allen, Messrs. A. S. Newman,
representing the Board of Directors; E. W. Booth, General Secretary;
B. M. Lewis, of the East Side Branch, and Mr. Bannister of the Harlem
Branch. The chancel was filled with a large number of handsome floral
pieces. Sunday evening the remains were carried to Aiken, accompanied
by Mr. Coles’s wife, mother and H. C. Dugas.’”
The death of Mr. Coles was a serious blow to the work, but the work
is still being carried on in the name of the Lord. Rev. Thomas J.
Bell, of Altamaha, Ga., a graduate of Atlanta University and Hartford
Theological Seminary, has been appointed to succeed the late Mr. Coles,
and will enter upon his duties April 1, 1902. The Association has now
$2,000 on hand for a building fund and more than $500 in the treasury
for current expenses. Too much cannot be said in praise of the efforts
of the United Tribes in raising money for the Y. M. C. A. The Tribes
are a company of women of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, which serves
as an auxiliary to the Y. M. C. A. Deacon Fleming Jackson is President
of the United Tribes. By means of fairs, the tribes have raised for the
work of the Colored Men’s Branch more than $3,000. Dr. Walker has found
them an invaluable auxiliary.
[Illustration: REV. T. J. BELL,
SECRETARY COLORED Y. M C. A., NEW YORK CITY.]
The present officers are the following Board of Managers:
Rev. C. T. Walker, D. D., Chairman; Geo. W. Allen, Vice Chairman;
John A. Robinson, Secretary; J. F. Comey, Treasurer; Rev. P. Butler
Thompkins, Rev. W. H. Brooks, Rev. W. D. Cook, Rev. H. C. Bishop,
Mr. Henry Darnell, John S. Brown, Jr., E. P. Roberts, Walter Handy,
Anderson Ferrall, Jr., A. S. Newman, Edmund W. Booth, A. B. Cooper,
Rev. W. L. Hubbard.
Special mention should be made of a life-size oil painting of Dr.
Walker, the founder and Chairman of the Branch, given to the Colored
Men’s Branch by the Ladies’ Auxiliary Society of Mt. Olivet Baptist
Church. This painting adorns the walls of the Colored Men’s Branch.
Special mention, also, should be made of the invaluable services
rendered Dr. Walker by his private Secretary, Mr. Henry C. Dugas, of
Augusta, Ga. Mr. Dugas went to New York with Dr. Walker, in 1899, and
continued his right-hand man until October, 1901. At that time, Dr.
Walker was thinking about going South again to live, and, with his
characteristic large-heartedness, he looked about to place Mr. Dugas in
some good position. Through friends he was able to place Mr. Dugas as
one of the Secretaries of Mr. George Foster Peabody, the millionaire
banker, philanthropist and publicist. Mr. Dugas has given prefect
satisfaction in his new station. He is a graduate of the Oberlin
Business College, is an accomplished stenographer and typewriter,
steady in his habits, modest and unassuming in his general deportment,
and indefatigable in the performance of his duties. Since Mr. Dugas
left Dr. Walker, the duties of private Secretary have been ably and
successfully performed by Miss Annie L. Connelly, of New York City.
[Illustration: HENRY C. DUGAS,
FORMER SECRETARY OF DR. WALKER, NOW PERSONAL SECRETARY FOR GEORGE
FOSTER PEABODY.]
The most significant fact in connection with the Colored Y. M. C. A.
is that all efforts to organize an association among the colored men of
New York failed until Dr. Walker came to the city and applied his heart
and mind and energy to the task. The instant success of the movement
attracted wide-spread attention, and long after he is dead, Dr. Walker
will be known in history as the founder of the first Colored Y. M. C. A.
in New York City. The work is bound to grow and increase with the
years that are to come. It is confidently predicted that within a year,
the Colored Men’s Branch will have a finely located building that will
cost upwards of $50,000.