He is studious, industrious, devout, urbane; and though he is now about 68 years of age, he is still so full of sunshine as to be acceptable to youth as he is to old age. His present wife heartily joins him in every good word and work.
He has succeeded in accumulating considerable property, and is greatly to be praised for the care he has bestowed upon the culture of his sons. He has been among the chief financial supports of all the worthy measures of the denomination. He is very sociable, and possesses rare powers as a preacher. No man in Alabama has so much power over the Alabama Baptists as Dr. Tyler; his works as well as words make him the beloved.
Walker, Rev. William, of Avondale, was born November 30, 1848, near Jacksonville, Ala. In August of 1866 he was baptized into Bethel Baptist Church, Alexandria, by Rev. George W. Brewton. Mr. Walker’s ordination took place in August, 1876, Revs. G. W. Brewton, S. L. McLean and James Miller officiating as presbytery. It was late in life ere he came upon opportunities for book learning, but finally some good white friends, seeing his desire to learn, assisted him in making a beginning upon which he has made a fair improvement. His preaching is characterized by self-abnegation, application to the subject, and earnestness of style. Indeed in several regards he is really a strong preacher. He is no less forcible in the pulpit than he is agreeable in the parlor. He has served the pastorates at Gadsden and Anniston, and now presides over the church at Ashville. The following will give some evidence of his standing among all classes: While the Wills Creek Association was in session a few weeks ago in Ashville the white Baptists allowed him the use of the house of worship for the session, and the Rev. Mr. Montgomery (white), of this town, informs me that the white people aid in his support, some of them constantly attending upon his services.
Rev. L. S. Steinback, Pastor Second Baptist Church, Demopolis, Ala.
Walker, Rev. T. W., of Birmingham, the son of Rev. Emanuel and Charlotte Walker, the property (?) of Benjamin Walker, of Coosa county, Alabama, was born in Coosa county, Alabama, September 5, 1852.
He joined the old Elam Baptist Church, Montgomery county, Alabama, in May, 1879, and was baptized by Rev. Jerry Cole in the same month. On February 26, 1884, he was ordained to the gospel ministry at the call of the Sixth Avenue Church, in the city of Birmingham, by Revs. W. R. Pettiford and J. R. Capers. His success has been marvelous.
The writer first met the subject of this sketch in Montgomery county in the year 1879, when, though he was not a Christian, he was acting as Sunday School superintendent. He says that on this occasion the question, “How can you lead others in the road to heaven when you, yourself, are not walking therein?” destroyed all his carnal security and false ease, and was the beginning of a change in his life.
I doubt if any man among us has had more power over the masses than he. While he was building the Sixth Avenue Church there was a constant demand for more room for his audiences. And since he has been serving at the Shiloh Church, the writer has seen not only the building filled to its utmost capacity, but hundreds of eager listeners standing without at the door.
Those who know him best feel that his power over the masses is largely owing to his common sense, goodness of heart, and his simple, steady faith in God, his cool self-reliance and his hard work for and among the masses of the people.