i
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Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church, Augusta, Ga., and
Treasurer of the National Baptist Convention of the
United States
-BY-
SILAS XAVIER FLOYD, A. B.,
Editor of the Weekly Sentinel
■ P
harles T. Walker, D.
PASTOR OF TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH,
AUGUSTA, GA.
BY
Silas Xavier Floyd, A. B.,
EDITOR OF THE WEEKLY SENTINEL.
AUGUSTA, GA.,
Sentinel Publishing Co.
1892.
9
Charles Thomas Walker was born on the 11th day of
January, 1858, at Hephzibah, Ga. Hephzibah is in Rich¬
mond county about 14 miles south-west of Augusta. He
is the youngest of 11 children of whom 6 are dead and 5
are living. His father, Thomas Walker, was buried the
day before he was born. His mother, Mrs. Hannah Wal¬
ker, died in 1866, little Charley being, at the time, only b
years old.
Thus, even before Charles was born, his mother was
draped in the weeds of widowhood, and he first opened
his eyes on the light of this worl^ as a fatherless child.
Thus, also, in early childhood, even before he had any re¬
alizing sense of his true condition he was compelled by
the stern, but beneficent discipline of an Alwise Provi¬
dence to wail forth the cry of complete orphan age-
On Wednesday before the first {Sunday in June, 1873,
while young Walker was hoeing cotton, he decided to
seek the Lord. He left the field that day and went into
the woods, and remained in the woods from Wednesday
afternoon without eating, drinking or seeing an; one, un¬
til the following Saturday afternoon when he was conver¬
ted. He was baptised on the first Sunday in July by his un¬
cle, the Rev. Nathan Walker, then pastor of the Franklin
Covenant Church, a faithful servant of the Master, who
still lives, shedding light and love among the people.
Voung Walker immediately became an active and
zealous christian, and was impressed with the thought
that he was called of God to preach the gospel. Accord¬
ingly in 1874, he entered the Augusta Institute, a theolog¬
ical school located at Augusta and presided over by the
late Joseph T. Robert, D. D., L. L. D. This school has
since been moved to Atlanta and is now the Atlanta Bap¬
tist Seminary. In school. Mr, Walker was soon celebra¬
ted for his great ability, for his thoroughness of scholar¬
ship, and for his exemplary deportment, L'ehad only 6
dollars when he entered school, The first term he did
his own cooking; he cooked only twice a week—on Wed¬
nesdays and Saturdays; so great was his desire for knowl¬
edge that he felt that he could not spare the time to cook
every day. When he had spent his six dollars he picked
up his little bundle and was on the eve of leaving school.
Some of his student friends finding out the reasons of
his proposed departurejijad-peaii^ing what a lost it would
le to them and to the^'3^e0^ife\^p§r«4ed with him and
3
urged him to be patient a day or so longer. One of his fel¬
low students, the liev, Dr, Love, of Savannah, Ga., went
so far as to promise him that he would provide for him
personally until arrangements could be made. Mr. Wal¬
ker consented to remain; meanwhile Dr. Robert had been
informed and he, in turn succeeded in interesting three
gentlemen of Dayton Ohio, in young-Walker and through
the kindness of these gentlemen, the motherless and fa¬
therless boy was enabled toprosecute his studies for 5
years at the Augusta Institute.
In 1876, in the 18th year of his age, Mr Walker was
licensed to preach, and on the first Sunday in May, 1877,
he was ordained to the sacred office of the gospel ministry
He soon became noted as a preacher, possessing, a* he did
supreme eloquence and a fair knowledgd of the scriptures.
In 1878 he was elected pastor of the Franklin Covenant
Baptist church, of which he was a member and by the
time he was 21 years old he was pastor of four country
churches and one city church; viz: Franklin Covenant Bap
tist church, Hephzibah, Thankful Baptist Church,
Waynesboro, McKinnie's Branch Baptist Church, Burke
county. ftbenezer Baptist, church Richmond county and
Mount, Olive Baptist church Augusta, Ga. In 1880, he
pastored the First Baptist church in LaGrange. In 1882,
he was called to the pastorate of Central Baptist church
Augusta, Ga. and the following year resigned and or¬
ganize! the Ta^arnacle Baptist church, of which he is still
the honored and distinguished pastor.
Rev. Walker built the Tabernacle church in 1885 at a
cost of 113,500. It is a handsome brick structure, and was
dedicated in three months from the day it was commenced.
In the begining its membership was 200. At present the
membership is 900, and Rev. Walker knows them every one
by name. Recently a new pipe organ has been put in the
edifice at a cost of $1,500. The building has already proved
too small to accommodate the great crowd that go to hear
this great man preacher, and efforts are being made to re¬
model the house of worship and make it much larger.
Among the office of trust and responsibility which Rev.
Mr Walker has held are the following: Moderator of the
Western Union Baptist Associate n. President of the Ex¬
ecutive Board of the missionary Baptist Convention of
Georgia, Secretary of the Sta^e Baptist Sunday School
convetion for 8 years. Member-: of the Board of trustees of
Rev. C. T. Walker, D. D.
• Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church. Augusta, Ga., and
Treasurer of the National Baptist Convention of the
5
the "VValker Baptist College and treasurer of the A meri-
can National Baptist Convention, and Business Manager of
The Weekly Sentinel.
The honorary degree of " Doctor of Divinity" was con¬
ferred upon him in 1890 by the State University of Ken¬
tucky.
, During the summer of 1891, Dr. Walker in company with
the Rev. E. R. Carter of Atlanta, Ga. took an extensive
trip through Europe and the Holy land and besides stay¬
ing for awhile in England and on the Continent and in
Asia, he took a peep over in to Africa. On his return he
lectured throughout the South and in Boston and New
York and every where with profit and success. Many of
the leading newspapers throughout country spoke in terms
of praise and admiration of the wonderful preacher and
lecturer.
The Rev Dr Walker is only 34 years old—quite young
indeed to have accomplished so much for the advance¬
ment of Christ's Kingdom
When Rev. Mr. Walker was leaving Hephzibah, in 1880, for La -
Grange, one of his white friends, Col A. C. Walker, gave him a let¬
ter of recommendation which speaks for itself. Here is what the letter
said:
"The bearer, Rev. C T. Walker, is the fourth in desent from a
family o? Negroes brought from Vii*ginia toiBurke county by my grand
father in ]T(3- As slaves they were noted for their admirable qualities
and as freemen have sustainedtheir reputation.
Charles, by his energy, has obtained an excellent education and
for two years has been licensed teacher of one our public schools. His
character is irreproachable in all respects and by none is he esteemed
more than by the more intelligent white citizens among whom he
lives. It gives me great pleasure to testify to his worth and I most re¬
spectfully ask for him the generous consideration of the new people,
with whom he is about to cast bis lot. We sincerely regret his de¬
parture from among ue, as he was exercising a most happy influence
with his own race here"
Rev. Walked came to Augusta in 1883. In 1885, upon the comple¬
tion of Tabernacle church, and on the day of its dedication all the
papers of Augusta spoke in highest praise of the work accomplished
and invariably referred to the edifice as an everlasting monument to
the perseverance and energy of the pastor, Rev C. T. Walker.
Rev. Walker spent the fall of 1886 in the North, soliciting funds
to complete the payment of his church property. His church had by
theia' own efforts paid $10,000 of the $12,000, which the lot and edifice
cost. He carried many letters of recommendation from 1 eading men
of the South.
Dr. Love, of Savannah, pastor of the largest Baptist church in the
world, wrote: "Rev. Charles T. Walker is one of the leading men of
Georgia and is alright."
Prof Wm. E Holmes of the Atlanta Baptist .Seminary, wrote: "I
cheerfully recommend Rev Mr Walker and his cause to t.h« n..v>u,.
6
and bespeak for him the success which he richly deserves."
Hon Patrick Walsh, editor of the Augusta Chronicle wrote: "Rev.
Walker is doing- a great good among- his people. His church is a great
credit and both he and his people are worthy of substantial aiu"
Hon R. H. May, then Mayor of the city of Augusta, wrwt "He is
perfect gentleman, devout christian and deserving of all confidence."
The testimonials Rev. Walker carried with him on this trip
might be multiplied ad infinitum.
In New York Rev Justin Dewey Fulton wrote: ''My pjople who
heard him pronounce hiin a preacher of more than ordinary ability.
His voice is good, his learning modest and impressive, his language
excellent, and the aim of his preaching is to glorify Christ."
In Boston, Rev. J. Horatio Carter, D. D., wrote:
"Brother Walker is an able, earnest, logical and eloquent preacher,
and worthy of support."
Rev. Walker was present at the c organization of the American
National Baptist Convention in 1886 at St. Louis, Mo., and served on
the committe of constitution, and otherwise played a most prominent
part in its organization. He has attended every session every year
since, and is one of the most prominent'membsrs at its annual sessions.
In 1889, at Indianapolis, Ind., before this body, the Rev. Mr. Wal¬
ker preached the National sermon and that with telling effect.
At its concluson, the Rev. William J. Simmons, D. D., L. L. D., Pres.
of the State University of Kv\, walked up to the minister, shook his
hand and said, "You have won your D. D., and I'll see that you get
it." The following sunnier, at the close of the soho >lyear S9 —90, Dr.
Simmons, true to his words had the trustees of the State University < f
Kentucky to confer upon Rw. C. T. Walker, the honorary degree of
Doctor of Divinity which he has worthily borne ever sine,1.
Writing up this session of National Baptists th ) Rev. Dr. Daniel
A. Gaddie, took occasion to say the Rev. Mr. Walker was "a young
man full of life and piety, beautiful and attraetivo in delivery. He is
an electrifying- orutor and waxes warm in the end. He is a great re¬
vivalist, a finished and pointed workman."
In this same convention Rjv. Walker won for himself a national
reputation for his wise and conservative stand when the body had un¬
der consideration th 3 outlawry, lynch law and other outrages of tlu
South. He was referred to, bv the leading newspap >rs of the country,
as a strong man in a crisis. The other members of the holy, almost t >
a man, indulged in wholesale abuse of the South; maligned its name,
hit the white people o!' the S.mth some death dealing blows; excite¬
ment ran high, Rev. Walker gained the floor and made an able speech
counseling wisdom and moderation and stating that he believed that
the best element of the white people in the North were trying, toci*e-
ate a public sentiment so powerful against these outrages that they
will become impossible.
On 21st, of May, 1882, Rev. Walker delivered the an¬
nual address before the Atlanta Baptist and Spelman Sem¬
inary on the Needs-and Responsibilities of the Colored
Race. It was a masterly effort. In opening the speaker
said:
"When our mind like the swiftly passing scene of a
panorama take a retrospective'view of the past history of
(
our race, and when we remember that for over two centu¬
ries, ignorance, the mother of bigotry and superstitition,
the bane of society, the prolific mother of weakness, held
our people with its slavish chains, we must admit that
many of our people have made commendable progress, and
that the influence of religion, morality and intelligence is
Increasingly felt."
The speaker dwelt at length upon the Needs, and then
took up the Responsibilities, Said he:
"We are responsible for our souls. The soul is immor¬
tal, and cannot like the tody, undergo decomposition. It
will live forever. When the mountains are melted in the
general conflagration, when the .pyramids of Egypt are
levelled to the ground, when the refulgent-stars, . the si¬
lent messengers, shall cease to dance in their golden sock
ets; when the moon, the queen of night, refuses to give her
silvery brightness; when the sun, the king of day, the cen»
tre of the solar system, shall be blown out; when earth is
shrouded in her regalia of mourning, and when ocean shall
gather all her waters together to chant her funeral songs,
the soul will be living somewhere in God's distant uni¬
verse "
In 1884, Rev. Walker delivered the annual address on
the first day of January in Augusta. His subject was "A
Review of the Past1'. It was a wonderful ^exposition of
the progress of the Negro in America. In the course of
his remarks, he paid the following tribute to Abraham
Lincoln;
' 'Probably no man since the days of Washington was
oxer so deeply and firmly imbedded and enshrined in the
hearts of the people as Abraham Lincoln. He won for him¬
self a place in the hearts of our people that time can nev¬
er efface. By his noble deeds, emanated from- his kind
heart, he wrote his name on the page sof future time asleg-
ible as the stars on the brow of evening,"
In his address at the laying of the corner stone of the
new building of the \tlanta Baptist Seminary, in 1889,.
Rev. Walker said among other things:
"If all men would recognize the "fatherhood of Clod, the
brotherhood of man, pledge implicit obedience to the . di¬
vine law and practice the scriptural code of ethics, there
would be no race problem. The race problem is born of
wickedness, inflamed by modern fanatics, stimulated and
encouraged by speculative, unworthy politicians. The Ne-
8
gro is a loyal, peacable, law-abiding citizen; among them
you will find no anarchist, nihilist, liberalist, communion-
ist or strikers; the Negro has always been found on tne
side of the constitution of his State and the Union; he isn't
asking for supremacy or social equality; he only desires
an equal advantage in the race of life; he asks that you do
not throw impediments in his way; don't close the gates of
prosperity against him because of his color; dont hate him
because he was a slave, he was not so by choice; dont des
pise him because of his ignorance, it is not his fault; dont
ignore him on account of his poverty, he has had no rich
ancestors -o bequeath him landed estates. He is unfortu¬
nate, pity him; he is struggling, help him. A bright day is
dawning. Citizens of every rank and section of this country
are uniting hand in hand to advocate such legislation as
will remoye illiteracy. The last legislature of Georgia de¬
serve honorable mention for making appropriation for
public education. Our distinguish State School Commis¬
sioner, J ndge J ames S Hook, is trying to put Goorgia in
line with other states intellecually and he is succeding ad¬
mirably. Since God has raised up so many friends for us,
both at home and abroad, let us cultivate a friendly rela¬
tion with those among whom we live. Let us have a hand
in solving our problem, shaping our destiny and making
for ourselves a creditable history"
In the foregoing, we have attempted to give a short
sketch of the career of Dr. Walker, together with a fpw
testimonials from his friends and some extracts from his
addresses. The half has not been told. The full history
of his life would make a large volume. It ought to be
written, and will be some time. Suffice it to to say that,
as a man, Dr. Walker is modest to a fault, generous in the
extreme, patient, forbearing and unselfish; as a minister,
he possesses great fervor and eloquence, and as a pulpit
orator probably he is excelled by no man in this country.
The common people hear him gladly. His highest aim is
to be an humble servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.