The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-03-23

Pastor of the First Baptist Church,
(Colored) of Henderson-fiighT esti-
monials to His Ability, Character
and Usefulness Among His People.

FdSlOT VI SuS EHSI Oopllot SuoI (us
(Colored) of Henderson-Hlgh Testi-
monlals to His Ability, Character
and Usefulness Among His People.
In view of recent troubles in the
First (colored) Baptist church OF
Henderson, friends of the pastor, Rev.
Richard |. Walden, d. d., desire that
q statement be made of that matter
through these columns. 1t appears
that n member of Rev. A. p. Eaton $
family, a small girl, was sent by him
to this church, where he held his men,
bership. for admission. She was
taken but when it developed that she
belonged to Redbud church (ofwhich
Rev. Eaton had been pastor) she was
sent back to his church (St. james,
for that church and the Redbud to set
tie the matter between themselves, she
having gone to st. James without q
letter when Rev. Eaton split off from
Redbud and started another church.
And here is where the trouble began
Rev. A. p. Eaton tried to force the
First Baptist church to take his
daughter back and SO extremely per-
sistent has he been that he is charged
with disOrderly conduct and disturb
ing the regular church meetings.
Four Saturdays he hindered these
meetings and the services of q law
officer were invoked to take him
away. He was turned out of the
church but the matter did not end
| 40 hn
be forced out he has continued to stir
up trouble until the matter has got
ten into court. Charged with disor-
derly conduct and disturbing the
meetings OF the church, Rev. Eaton
was bound over to court i'm hundred
dollar bOnd-and the end is not vet.
This is not the first church trouble
Rev. A. p. Eaton has had, it seems,
though he has not been turned out
or got into the courts of law before.
He had trouble with his church in
Durham and went off and started
another one. He became pastor of
Redbud church and had trouble. An
other pastor was called and with
some OF his old members as follow
ing, his daughter, about whom the
difficulty with the Henderson church
arose, being among the number. he
organized st. James church.
Throughout the whole affair Pastor
Walden has maintained a conserva-
tive, consistent, peaceable course in
the matter, trying to avoid trouble,
but it was forced upon the church.
! He regrets the turn matters have
taken as do the right thinking MEM
bers OF his congregation and others.
| While it is believed that DR.. Wal
den's course and conduct during the
years he has lived in Henderson and
the reputation he bears in the COM
munity is all the testimonial he needs.
the following may not be out of
| order:
The late Senator Ransom. who
knew Rev. Richard |. Walden we'll
and intimately, said this of him in a
letter bearing date OF May 4, 1897:
Il have known the Rev. Richard |.
Walden since his childhood He is min
ister OF the Gospel OF the Baptist church.
He lives in few miles of my home. He
is representative of the colored race, of
the very best type. Self-educated he is
able, learned, mOral-a useful man in all |
the walks of life. He is an educator of |
the youth OF his race, OF very high |
order. He is the principal of and founder |
OF male and female college of great sue
cess. He is minister of constant piety |
and exertiOn-a speaker of real ability
good citizen and a good man. He is |
DONG great deal for his people-for So |
ciety and the country. His service will !
a oil %<>h IT.
ample will have a good effect in all re-
spects. l commend him to the friends Of |
education-the friends of the colored peo-
pie and humanity
Hon. I. Nj. Cooke, of Louisburg.
under the date of Aug. %, 1900,
wrote the following endorsement:
This will certify that the Rev. Richard
L. Walden, who has been pastor of the
colored Baptist church of this town for
the past sixteen years, stands we'll in the
community. His character for morals is
good. He is esteemed as a faithful min
lister OF Christ, good preacher of the
gospel. and wise judicious and capa-
Die pastor. He stands among the first
OF his race for their education and better
ment''
The above was signed by Sheriff
ID. Z: kearney, Clerk of the Court w.
n. Williams, Hon. E. W. Timberlake
and number of prominent business
and professional men of the town.
Mayor j. T. Gooch, of Weldon, in
a letter dated June 4, 1895, saws:
L cheerfully testify to the high charac-
Ter, moral worth and usefulness among
his people OF Rev. Richard l. Walden ,hay,
ing known him fer the past quarter of a
century. take pleasure in saying he is a
man OF sterling character and worth and
heartily commend him to Favorable
And after residence of between
and IA years in Henderson as pastor.
teacher and leader of his people Rev I
4. l. Walden has established q char
acter and reputation in the commun-
ty in keeping with the testimonials
above given. He has devoted him
'elf to every line of work that had for
is object the betterment of his race
He has ever been strong temper
ince advocate and has been especial
y active along educational lines.
DIR. Walden has church at Louis-
ourg also having been pastor there
1T seems that General Kuronatlin /
tipped up in not KNOWING wharo tho