Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-03-16

..
tleboro, VT, and on the 18th Of the fol
lowing October he was ordained to his
new charge.
The time of his pastorate was eventful.
Most actively Of any of the Portland minis
ters he espoused the union and the anti
slavery causes in the discussions preced-
ing the civil war, and at the cost Of consid-
erable criticism; but his remarkable power
in the pulpit and his ready sympathy and
helpfulness with all in suffering and be-
reavement speedily won him the affection
of the Portland congregation in a marked
degree. Here two sons were born to him,
Williston on July /, 1860, and Charles
Ambrose on Sept. 27, 1861, the latter dy-
ing on July %, 1869, and here, on Aug.
81, 1865, he lost his wife by diphtheria.
The death of his wife and his own exer-
tions in connection with the great Port
land fire Of July 4, 1866, broke down his
never robust health BY the spri2g of
1867, he was once more on crutches and
compelled TO return TO his fathers home at
Pittsford. 1t being evident that his i'll
health would be somewhat protracted, his
people reluctantly released him from the
Portland pastorate in October 1867.
A year later when somewhat improved
in health, but while still obliged to use
crutches and to preach sitting in a chair,
Mr.. Walker was invited to supply the pull
pit of the First church in New Haven from
which the Rev. DR.. Leonard Bacon had
then recently retired. As consequence,
he was settled over his new charge on
Nov. Is, 1868. Here his ministry met
with great acceptance, as at Portland,-
favor that was witnessed by the bestowal
upon him of the degree OF Doctor of Divi-
nifty by Yale university in 1870. On
Sept. 10, Of the last year mentioned, DR..
Walker married Amelia Read Larned of
New Haven, daughter of George Larned of
Thompson. CT.
But, though conspicuously successful in
his chosen vocation and greatly attached to
the people Of New Haven, DR., Walker
soon found that he had been unwise in as
suming the burdens of the pastorate once
more before his health had been fully re-
established, and, on May 10, 1878, he had
10 relinquish the pulpit for a second time.
| From October, 1873, to November, 1874,
| DR.. Walker sought renewed strength in
| Europe, living chiefly at Stuttgart and
Rome. At the close of the year, 1874, he
returned TO Brattleboro, Vt. For the next
! four years he dwelt with his father-in law,
! Mr.. Williston, in the town of his boyhood
| home, in the house in which he was accus
toned 10 spend the summer thereafter as
long as he lived. During much of these
four years Of continuous residence at Brat
tleboro he acted as pastor Of the Congrega
tional church OF that place, without ever
being formally inducted into its pastorate.
From Brattleboro, Dr. Walker was called
early in 1879, to the First church of this
city, and was installed in ministry on Feb
ha Df n,
considerable significance in the history o.
this ancient church. The shifting of thu
population which was TO make its situa
tion essentially downtown" had begun t
affect the congregation, a considerable deb
rested upon the society, and strong anC
moulding leadership was desirable. Unde
DR.. Walkers efforts the debt was speedil,
paid, the house of worship renovated,
new organ procured by the gift of gener
Gus member of the church, and a renewed
interest and pride awakened in its histor,
especially in connection with the celebra
tion of the 250th anniversary of the organ
iZation in October, 1888. In connection
with that event DR.. Walker prepared
most painstaking and valuable "History o
the First Church that was published in
volume of 5l5 pages in 1884. Assure
early OF the respect and affection of hi
congregation, DIR. Walker grew TO posi-
tion of influence in the city, especially il
what concerned the preservation of it
memories, illustrated, 10 specify a singl
instance, in his interest in the rescue o
the ancient burying ground and the assC
ciated Gold street improvement.
In the larger affairs of the Congrega
tional body DR.. Walker was recognize
leader. Thus, he served as one of tn
commission of p that prepared what ha
been generally known from the year of il
publication as the Greed of 1888" no
widely accepted as a statement of Congrt
gatonal belief In 1885, at the 10Th ann
, versary OF the American Board of Con
missioners for Foreign Missions, h
preached the commemorative sermon. Th
doctrinal discussions which turmoiled tn
board aroused his interest and enlisted h
participation as an advocate Of moderation
notably at the meetings of the board {
Springfield in 1887 and at New York
1882 and led TO his appointment, in til
, year last mentioned, as chairman of th
, Committee of Nineh which formulate
, the altered policy now pursued by IL
boasd in making missionary appointment
From 1887 to 1899, he was one of the co
porators of Yale university. In 1888 b
became member of the Board of Visi
: ors" of Andover Theological seminary-a
office which he held till his complete di
: ability compelled its REIMBURSEMENT, beir
during the latter part of his incumbenC
!, the president of the board. AS a "Visitor
, he had to pass upon the concluding fe
, lures of the trial of President E. G. Smyt
and the questions raised by the Andov
q theology.
\ In all the controversies in which
I was engaged Dr. Walker showed himself
4 fearless, incisive debater; but he carried
n judicial mind and an irenic spirit, so tn
!. his judgment was widely trusted and h
= wisdom generally acknoW lodged. And,
. he grew in age, without abating whit
/. his fire and energy of conviction, his syI
\ pathies steadily broadened and his spiI
g sweetened, so that those who were
sharpest opponents in controversy we
e largely won to personal friendship.
a DR.. Walkers Hartford pastorate, thoul
n a period of health compared with
J. earlier ministry, was not without its sci
Il Gus physical disadvantages. In him d
It spirit dominated over the flesh, as VIII
q just before preaching a discourse col
Is memorative of the Rev. DR.. Leonard b
d con, in 1882, he broke his leg by a fall
e an icy pavement, yet insisted on perforI
a ing the appointed service seated in a cha
IS His disabilities interfered with his wo
= less than similar impairments of streng
?. might have with many; but they were
d ways felt as a serious burden. A journ