CALLED TO AUGUSTA AGAIN.
Rev. Silas X. Floyd resigned the pastorate of Tabernacle Church,
Augusta, Ga., Nov. 15, 1900. The resignation was not accepted by the
church, but Rev. Mr. Floyd decided to leave the pastorate and took his
departure Jan. 1, 1901. The Tabernacle Church, being now without a
leader, looked to its founder and first pastor for aid and comfort. In
June, 1901, a unanimous call was tendered to Dr. Walker to return to
his old work. Dr. Walker greatly loved the people of his old church,
and felt grateful toward them for standing by him so loyally in his
earlier years when he was not so prominent, and felt it to be his duty
to return to them. He notified the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church of his
intention to leave New York, Oct. 1, 1901, and take up again his old
work at Augusta. There was a spontaneous protest from the whole church
and from the entire city, as may be easily seen from the files of the
newspapers of the metropolis. The city was up in arms; the church
passed resolutions, imploring Dr. Walker to remain in New York, and
many other organizations did likewise.
The strong protest against his leaving New York culminated in a mass
meeting, held in Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, New York City, Wednesday
night, Nov. 6, 1901. The following circular, sent out by the church and
citizens, will illustrate the vigorous effort made to keep Dr. Walker
in New York City:
“Mass meeting of the officers, members and the congregation of Mt.
Olivet Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Charles T. Walker, Pastor, to be held
in the church, West 53rd St., on Wednesday evening, Nov. 6, 1901, at 8
o’clock.
“The purpose of this meeting is to give expression to our great love,
respect, affection and regard for Rev. Dr. Charles T. Walker, and to
show him how strong our desire is to have him remain among us as our
spiritual comforter, friend and adviser.
“We not only desire him to remain with us, but we also desire to show
him the sincerity and strength of this desire.
“We desire to show him how much we appreciate his Christian character,
his polished sermons, his matchless eloquence, his bright and
versatile intelligence, his noble manhood, his genial and kindly
spirit, his undying loyalty to his people, and all those good
qualities which have so endeared him to our hearts, and which go to
make the very highest and best of the Christian ministry.
“We want his people in Augusta, Ga., to learn from us how dear he is
to us, and that we cannot and will not allow him to depart from among
us, and to persuade them to give up all thoughts of inducing him to
leave a field of usefulness to us as a race, which cannot well be
filled by others (let them be who they may).
“Rev. Dr. Robert S. MacArthur, pastor Calvary Baptist Church, West
57th Street, will preside. Addresses will be made by Right Rev.
William B. Derrick, Bishop of the A. M. E. Church; Dr. Cook, pastor
Bethel A. M. E. Church; Dr. William H. Brooks, pastor of St. Mark’s M.
E. Church, F. R. Morse, assistant pastor Calvary Baptist Church, West
57th Street; Pierce B. Thompkins, pastor of St. James Church, West
32nd Street; Hutchins Bishop, pastor of St. Philip’s Church: Dr. W. T.
Dixon, Pastor Concord Baptist Church, Brooklyn; John D. Rockefeller,
Jr., James Alex. Williams, Consulting Physician and Inspector
Department of Health, N. Y. City; E. V. C. Cato, Superintendent of
the A. M. E. Church Sabbath School, and W. G. M. F., and A. M. S.
of New York; W. R. Davis, Alexander Powell, Assistant Inspector
Department of New York, G. A. R., and Past Commander Post 234; R.
H. Hutchless, P. E. G. C. K. of T.; Winfield Jackson, President of
Saloon Men’s Protective Association, No. 1, of New York City; Alfred
Christian, President of Bronx Republican Club, New York City; T. T.
Fortune, Editor of New York Age; Wm. H. Randolph, Commander Post
234, Department of N. Y., G. A. R.; David Prime, James Mann, John
R. Bradford, A. L. Askew, John H. Chase, Robert Franklin, Jeremiah
Stewart, Robert P. Gilmore, Theodore Warren.
“Music under the direction of Albert C. Fletcher, Choirmaster of the
church; Mme. V. E. Hunt Scott, Organist.”
The meeting referred to in the above circular was carried out almost to
the letter, and was said to have been the largest church meeting ever
held in New York City. The following letter sent to the meeting by Rev.
W. C. Bitting, pastor of one of the largest white churches in New York,
is so very full and explicit that we give it space in this book.
“I would be sorry to see Mr. Walker leave our city. Our colored
brethren have suffered horribly from incompetent and uneducated
leaders in this city, and are suffering in the same way now, in many
churches. What a well prepared man can do has been demonstrated by
the pastorate of Mr. Walker. I wish that he could see his way to
remain with us, and that the example of Mt. Olivet Church in calling
and keeping an educated pastor would be followed by all the other
churches. We would have a different story to tell about our work if
our colored brethren would not take up with pious and illiterate
tramps. This will show you my feeling about Mr. Walker’s work and
continuance among us.
“It is a matter which I suppose he will settle between the Lord and
himself, and I also honor him enough to believe that he does not need
begging to keep him here if he sees it to be his duty to stay, and I
also honor him enough to believe that he will go if he believes it
to be his duty to go. I have not much heart to meddle with what must
by nature be a matter between God and Mr. Walker. Nevertheless, I
earnestly hope he may see it to be his duty to stay and help not only
Mt. Olivet, but all the other churches, and his race and the city
by the continuance of what has been in many respects a remarkable
ministry. Such a man ought to be allowed to have his own way.
“Yours sincerely,
“W. C. Bitting.”
[Illustration: Robert Stuart MacArthur, D. D.,
PASTOR CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW YORK.]
One speech made at the mass meeting is deserving of more than passing
notice; it was delivered by Col. Alexander Powell, Past Commander Post
234, G. A. R. It reflected the opinion of all present. Extracts follow:
“I state my conviction to you and to my comrades of the Grand Army
of the Republic, who are members of this church, by saying that
Dr. Walker owes a duty to the members of this church which has so
wonderfully prospered under him, that should be as sacred as the one
he seeks to discharge in that far distant city of Augusta, Georgia.
He has instilled into the hearts of all who have been so fortunate as
to hear him preach, a clearer understanding of Christ crucified and
the forgiveness of those who trespass against us; the work he bravely
and uncomplainingly has done in the building up of the Young Men’s
Christian Association, together with his undying loyalty to us as a
race, has not only touched the hearts of those who know him best, but
has been felt far and wide. I know, too, something of the injustice he
has suffered while doing the bidding of our Heavenly Father, but with
a Christian spirit he has forgiven those who would spitefully use him,
and prayed for those who wronged him.
“The gathering memories of olden days always gather about me as I
cross the threshold of this church, and to-night more so than ever.
The traveler standing in the beautiful Valley of Chamonix, at the
base of Mont Blanc, fails to realize the stupendous height of that
snow-capped peak, but when miles distant he turns back and beholds it
towering far above its compeers, he recognizes its claim to be called
the Monarch of Mountains.
“It is so with Dr. Walker. Now that his resignation has been placed
in your hands, your judgments have matured and you realize the
difficulties he has overcome, the Christian works he has accomplished,
and the blessings he has brought to the people, his retention becomes
precious and priceless to you.
“He is the beau ideal of a minister. His Christianity is the natural
growth of his life. His fame as a preacher has come to him unsought,
his administration of the finances of your church has been successful
because it has been based on honesty. His achievements since he has
been a resident of this imperial city compel admiration; they touch
the finer chords of our nature. They inspire feelings akin to those
we experience in listening to the grand strains of an oratorio. His
success is not the success that makes fools admired and villains
honest. It is not the success of accident, which bursts forth like
a meteor and as suddenly disappears; it is not that acquired by
selfishness, that is tinctured with envy, jealousy, hypocrisy, or
refuses to lend a helping hand, but it has been a success that was
established upon morals, worth, courage, justice and honor.
“Rev. Dr. Walker, I give you my hand, and I want you to understand,
Sir, that when I give you my hand as Assistant Inspector of the
Department of New York, Grand Army of the Republic, 78,599 of the boys
who wore the blue in that memorable crisis are taking you by the hand
and urging you to remain among us.
“The G. A. R. bids you remain. We wish that your life may be spared
many years; that abundance, prosperity, and happiness may attend you
and this church. This, I am sure, is not only the hearty wish of every
one present, but also that of every colored man, woman and child from
the Battery to the Spuyten Duyvil.”
It is not to be doubted that the great interest shown by all classes in
having Dr. Walker remain in New York had much to do with his subsequent
decision.
Meanwhile the people of Augusta were not sleeping; they had a mass
meeting, also, as the following circular will show:
“A mass meeting of the officers, members, friends and well-wishers
of Tabernacle Baptist Church will be held in the church on Monday
evening, November 18, 1901, at 8 o’clock. Ministers of all the
denominations (white and colored), professional and business men,
the presidents and prominent men of the fraternal and benevolent
organizations, together with the political and prominent educational
leaders of the city of Augusta, will be present to join in the urgent
request to Dr. Charles Thomas Walker not to alter his determination to
resume his pastorate at Augusta, Ga.
“All citizens of Augusta and vicinity are invited to attend a mass
meeting to be held at Tabernacle Baptist Church on Monday night,
November 18, 1901.
“The object of this meeting is to give expression to our feelings
regarding the return of Dr. C. T. Walker to the pastorate in this
city, and to demonstrate the regard in which we hold him and the real
need we feel for his presence.
“We desire to show the country the supreme regard in which we hold
this man whose labors for the betterment of no race or clan, but of
all humanity have made him a worthy servant of his Master and an able
leader of the people.
“We want our brethren in New York City to feel that we desire not to
take from them that which is theirs, but merely to claim our own.
Under sufferance we have remained silent until this time, when we are
forced by absolute necessity to call upon our metropolitan friends to
return our Joseph to his brethren and our Moses to his people.
“Bishop R. S. Williams, of the C. M. E. Church, will preside.
“Addresses will be made by Rev. W. J. White, D. D., pastor Harmony
Baptist Church; Rev. H. Seb. Doyle, M. A., pastor of Trinity C.
M. E. Church; Rev. C. S. Wilkins, D. D., pastor Thankful Baptist
Church; Rev. W. C. Gaines, pastor Bethel A. M. E. Church; Rev. D.
S. Klugh, pastor Union Baptist Church; Rev. F. M. Hyder, pastor
Christ Presbyterian Church; Rev. D. J. Flynn, pastor Congregational
Church; Rev. S. X. Floyd, A. M., District Missionary American Baptist
Publication Society; Rev. J. W. Whitehead, pastor of Mt. Moriah
Baptist Church; Rev G. W. Harrison, pastor Macedonia Baptist Church;
Rev. R. J. Johnson; Rev. A. W. Wilson, pastor Hosanna Baptist Church;
Rev. F. M. Hauser, pastor Woodlawn Baptist Church: Rev. Thomas Walker,
Dr. George N. Stoney, Dr. W. T. Prichett, Dr. G. S. Burruss, Dr. N.
A. Mixson, Dr. A. N. Gordon, Dr. R. C. Williams, P. H. Craig, Esq.,
Principal Nellieville School; A. W. Wimberly, Esq., Collector Internal
Revenue; G. J. Scott, Esq., President Union Relief Association;
Prof. N. W. Curtright, Principal Walker Baptist Institute; Rev. G.
H. Dwelle, pastor Springfield Baptist Church; Prof. A. R. Johnson,
Principal Mauge Street School; Prof. I. Blocker, Principal Second Ward
School; Dr. Geo. W. Walker, President Paine College; W. J. White, Jr.,
Associate Editor Georgia Baptist; L. E. Moseley, President Morning
Stars of Benevolence; H. B. Sweet, President Brothers and Sisters of
Love; John G. Williams, merchant; H. C. Young, merchant; F. M. Dugas,
undertaker; A. J. Winter, President Painters’ Union; R. R. Battey,
wheelwright; H. D. Paschal, shoemaker; T. B. Newsome, tailor, and
other citizens, white and colored. Music under the direction of Wesley
Warren, Choirmaster, and Prof. W. H. E. Carter, Organist.
Thus, two churches, separated by more than 800 miles, were claiming
and clamoring for the same man to serve them as pastor. The battle
waged for many weeks, or until Dec. 1, 1901, when Dr. Walker decided to
continue the pastorate of Mt. Olivet Church with an assistant pastor,
keeping his headquarters in New York City, but, in obedience to the
wishes of the Augusta church, he agreed to become the nominal pastor of
Tabernacle Baptist Church. Under this arrangement, he is to visit the
Southern church two or three times a year, and, in his absence, he is
to supply the pulpit. This arrangement pleased all concerned, and, for
the present, seems to be working well.