Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-09
REV. JOSEPH WALKER
Death Near ScotiSYiIle Of This Venerable
Minister Of the Gospel
SKETCH OF HIS LONG LIFE.
Had Been Preaching Nearly Three
score Yenrs-Ckurches That He Had
Some Of His Characteristics.

was well known throughout the North
as well as the South, is dead. Having
lived more than twenty years beyond the
allotted three score and ten, and devoted
nearly sixty years to the Masters SER
vice, he has gone TO his reward. His once
erect form, that had become bent with
age. and his snow-white locks that had
become frosted In his extended mission
OF preaching the Gospel OF glad tidings'
will no more be seen on the streets OF
Richmond and Manchester. where they
had been so long familiar, but his hal
lowed memory and good deeds, will long
be cherished in the hearts Of those who
knew and loved him.
Rev. Mr. Walker, 20 whose sickness
reference had been made in this papx,
died Sunday afternoon at the home or
Rev Joseph Cox. near ScOttsville. where
ne had spent the greater part of the
last year His strength had been failing
for several years and the immediate
cause of his death was ossiiication OF the
heart and brain The end was peaceful,
and as he had lived In faith he died in
thu full assurance OF Il blessed minor
tality.
The funeral will take place from the
BAPTIST church. In Scottsyile. to-day at
noon and his remains will be Inferred
i'm the Baptist burying-ground there.
special TO the Dispatch says that the
church has been draped In mourning out
Of respect 10 the deceased. who was
greatly beloved in that community. Rev.
Drs. Hatcher and Landrum Will attend
the funeral, as representatives, Of the
Baptist Ministers Conference, Of this
city. Of which Mr.. Walker had been
member for several years. ard Will take
part I'm the services The conference yes
terday directed DR. Pitt to prepare
paper 10 be spread on its minutes as
testimonial 10 the deceased.
SKETCH or his LIFE.
Though Of northern b'r,t Rev. Mr..
Walker had spent the greater part OF his
life In Virginia. lie was born I'm Chester
county, Pa. April -. 1904, and would,
therefore. have been 81 y'irs old had he
lived until tomorrow ON his mothers
side h. was Of German descent. and OF
English extraction on his fathers side.
The days Of his youth AMI early manhood
were devoted 10 labors on the farm and
other forms of toll incident 10 country
llfa. At y years Of age he was received
a. a catechumen in-o the Lutheran
Church, In which he remained fifteen
years. In 1881 he removed from Norfolk
To- Richmond. and tho same year WAS bap-
tized i'm james river and became a MEM
her Of the Second Baptist church. Of this
city. Seven years afterwarl. at the age
Of 20. Mr. Walker was regularly ordained
hy the General Baptist Association as Il
minister OF the Gospel The presbyte~y
consisted OF Rev. ). Il. Taylor. John Good
an. Thomas Hume. Cumberland George.
and Alfred Bennett Of New York.
SERVED MANY CHURCHES.
Rev. Mr. Walk rs clear voice had been
heard in many pulpits throughout the
country. re served the following
churches MS pastor. Purgo,eague. I'm Ac-
comac county; Hampton and Charlottos-
viile, Va; StrdG. Ny-Street Baptist
church. n Al. shcny City. Pa; Third
Baptist church. of -. Louis. Mo; K0lia
Pap:'st church. Rolla. No; S. James
Baptist church, - james, Mo; North
Run H,urico. Va: Gay Street. George
town. -. g., Asa'lnp Mos-ingforI. and
charlotte Court.ou-'. In Charlotte cogn-
~. Vain aH. twelve lie h3d supplied
seven. among which were the Second
ami Grlcr-Strest churches. Richmond.
Franklin square. baltimore and rdin-
bfil-e-Stroat. Manchester
life Was STATE missionary in hNrylHnl
for ono y'ar. CORE pouding secretary Of
the Home Mis- ion Board Of IN Slutherl
Baptist convention for four years. eli'or
Of the Christian Index i'm Goorein. for
nearly three years. and OF several other
small ptpars a. different times and
u different PLACES lie was Il post-ch.p-
tam O. t1c hospitals around Eichmold
during tha War under the conf d,rate
Goyorum -.
CELEBRATED HIS BIRTHDAY.
Mr. Walker celebrated his Sgth birthday
pv delivering in the Grlca-S Street Baptist
church on Monday night. Auril 10. 1873,
an al lr ss of a reminiscent character.
T'oy Mr.. Thornhiil presided ON behalf
~ the Baptist ministry Of Richmond AMI
N1uehc Pop. Who wor. nearly all I'm tho
pulpit with him. when Nr. Walker en-
tered the room. leading IN the arm Of
Dr. Hatcher. TN minister's ami al the
people arose and remained standing iii
he hal taken his scat. The choir then
broke forth into the Old hymn, How
Firm Il Formulation. " Saints Of the
Lord"
In his address on this occasion. Mr.
Walker stated that he came 20 Richmond
as an engineer on the Oh Reservoir. His
preaching from tle first was popular but
feeling the need Of more thorough train
in-, be- spent tNo years i'm Richmond COL
lese lie became an excellent scholar in
Creek AMI Latin. and read the whole Of
the OH Testament through IN Hebrew.
Il day every day for many years in close
study. and he continued TO be an earnest
student up TO the time Of his death
SOME OF His CHARACTERISTICS.
Ia the Dispatches report Of this birthday
address which was furnished by a brother
minister, appears the following true pic
turr OF the deceased:
"lle Is eyer welcome to the pulplts Of
Richmond, and his power To entertain
while he instruots is the wonder OF his
brethren. As a lecturer he is indie,
scribably fine. His ,alr Is white as
snow; his eye CLEANS with the freshness
Of youth. his voice is singularly mclodi-
Gus and clear. and as he stands upon the
platform leaning upon his cane. or else
unconsciously braniishlng 1t In gesture.
he is Il picture OF beauty and dignity.
His story ripples along as fresh and
bright as a mountain stream, and IT car
rics deli .iOus refreshmcnt to every mimi
and heart. 1t one moment the crowd
breaks into kindly laughter at the odi
surprises Of his wit. and then almost In
a moment they are hushed into loving
sympathy by some tender reference 10
the sOrrowfu part. Even the little chill
dren, many Of whom were present heard
him with rapt delight. His peroration
was a gem. He said he was near thu
end. and that he felt that he would soon
enter the promised land. Now. then.
suddenly dropping his speech, he broke
into song with unutterable tenderness
his fine. old voice rang out a stanza OK
the hymn waiting, only Waiting" As
he sat down the congregation burst
spontaneously into singing THE Sweet
Bye-aud-Bye."
HAD NO RELATIVES.
It is said that Mr.. Walker did not
have n near relative living. tie was
twice married, but his second wife pre-,
ceded him TO the grave by many years.
He did not leave any children. though
Mrs Joseph Blanton. OF Manchester. is
his adopted daughter. Re spent much
Of the latter part Of his life at Mr..
Blanton's home.
Mr. Walker was man OF fine nativ,
ability, had a splendid and well-cultl-
waited mind. was a great student. an
extensive reader. polished speaker. and
an easy, graceful writer. He was 4 man
OF great clsarncss and force. Always
aggressive and outspoken. he was on
that account none the less amiable and
lovabie. and held Il high place in the
affections and esteem OF his brethren.
Address TO McGiIi Union.