The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1890-10-18


born at Mechanicsville, Sumter County,
South Carolina, July 18th 1852 of Rev,
Mark Gilbert and his wife Mary Ann
Gilbert. The parents of Rev. M. w.
Gilbert were slaves until the proclama-
ton of freedom at the close of the civil
war. In his early years he attended the
public schools in the country at Mechan-
lcsville and also at Meanwhile where his
parents removed soon after. the war.
Immediately after the war. the father of
Mr.. Gilbert was a Methodist preacher,
but his mind having undergone change
of conviction on the subject of baptism
he embraced the principles of the Bap-
lists and became a Baptist minister and
is still useful preacher in that denom-
nation. Young Gilbert was, accordingly
early brought under the religious infu-
ences of godly parentage, and in the
sixteenth year of his life he made pro-
tession of faith in Christ and was bap.
tized by his father in the fellowship of
st. Mark Baptist church OF Meanwhile.
Feeling conscious of a divine call to
preach, he was sent by his father to
Benedict Institute at Columbia. S. c., to
make preparations for his llfe-w work in
the fall of 1879. He remained in this
until 1883 when he graduated from the
college preparatory course. While at
tending this institution he was licensed
by his churched to preach in the spring
of 1880 before he was Is years old and
was ordained by her sanction in 1882 be-
fore he was quite 20 years old. In the
summer and fall of 1882 be was appoint
ed State Missionary by the Baptism
Educational. missionary and Sunday
school conventions of South Carolina.
During his vacation as student he has
taught school in Anderson and Fairfield
counties, S. c. During his last year in
Benedict i'll addition to his studies he
was called to the passionate of St. Paul
Baptist church of Lexington C. H., S. C.
which he filled until the fall of 1883 when
he entered the Freshman Class of Madi-
son University Of Hamilton, N. Y, re-
ceiving the the third highest mark in
examination among 20 white applicants.
He maintained very high standing in
Madison, especially in philosophy, the
languages oratory. In his Sop 'lomore
year he captured the First Kingsford
Prize in public contest in oratory, he
being the only Colored man to compete
and the first Colored man that was ever
appointed in that institution to compete
in such contest. He was the secretary
and treasurer of his class during bis
college career, and was class historian in
his senior year. In 1887 Mr.. Gilbert
graduated with honor, with the degree
of A. B. Upon his graduation he was
Immediately called to the pastorate Of
the Spruce Street Baptist Church Of
Nashville where he has labored since, ia
the satisfaction Of his people. Since be
has been in Nashville more than SOC
/ souls have u tied with bis church. Last
spring Mr.. Gilbert visited the com.
mencement of his Alma Mater and the
degre of A. NJ. was conferred upon him.
While attending the commencement he
was chosen member ofa COMMITTEES
to which Ex-Post Master General, Hon.
Thos. L. James belonged, to decide the
contest in oratory between IL young
white gentlemen. In addition to biz
pastoral labors, Elder Gilbert has edited
for q while the Baptist Headlight. He
has written tract entitled Demands
on our Ministry" which has been pub.
i lished by the American Bantiaf Puhlica.
ton Society. He mas served the Amer
lean Baptist Home Mission Society dur.
! ing his college vacation as missionary
among the Colored people in South
4 Carolina. In 1882 he was marie d t.
Agnes Boozer of Columbia, s. G TIRE
children have been born to them. Mr.,
4 Gilbert is one of th trustees of Roger
Williams University ct Nashville, Tenn.