',■'■;■:■ m ■ » ... «*,v V .4^^. ' "*i' : - • in rV ] > * ?Q* BRUCE COTTEN COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLIN1ANA P Sr- 17 K \j YiaaP ■) LIFE OFt- Jll nuu ^ • u r^ U-L r^v N PASTOR OF THE ^ f fill «f f if • lilftll, M PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA, AND History of the Church BY REV. WILLIAM HENRY SHERWOOD, A. .B., Author of " Talent of the Negro Race" "Poetic Gleanings" "Founder of People's Voice" etc. PETERSBURG, VA. John B. Ege, Steam Printer and Book Binder, Sycamore Street 1S85. NcHp GiGh ±t CPREFAgE,2^ WHOEVER writes about human life, and especially the life of a chosen vessel of the Almighty Jehovah, should feel the mag- nitude of his responsibility. The greatness, the mystery of his being, the wonderfulness of his personage, the overwhelming matchlessness of his existence, in the future, all rise like a mountain before the writer. Therefore, he who writes of men of God must do it in remembrance of the image of the Divinity, in which their souls are made — a profound thoughtful- ness, a reverent and tender contemplation of an immortal, responsible, self- acting being. To write well of a man's life has been held as a great art, be- cause it is reproducing whatever one believes has transpired under the ob- servation of the writer, and is therefore taken for a true narative. To write what a great mind imagines, to write really what goes on in any human soul, is to do a far greater thing than any pen has yet accomplished ; yet, some in- cidents pf the life of a truly great man can be written and presented for ex- amples for others who follow in their tracks. If the politician can find time and talent to devote to the life and career of statesmen, and the theatre-goers genius to spend on the vicious tragedian, the Christian might afford to conse- crate a few short lines to the acknowledgment of incidents and examples of one of their most devout leaders. Unfortunately for us, too little value is placed upon the examples of our ministers and the records of our churches. Every other organization of man- kind makes records and writes histories of their leaders and those who are led. Why should not the glorious old mother of Virginia African Baptist Churches transmit to her children her most heavenly record, subjoined with the life of her beloved pastor ? The events recorded in this volume are such as has transpired under the observation of the writer to a very great extent, and are put in print by him as examples worthy to be imitated by the many youths upon whose shoulders the mighty responsibility of our religious and literary institution must shortly rest, as well as to offer to each family of his membership a volume combining the life and sentiments of their pastor with the history of their church. The pride which each member has in both his church and pastor, is a sufficient guarantee of the approbation with which this tittle book will be received. Yours for Heaven, WILLIAM HENRY SHERWOOD. m, -CONTENTS.*- Gordon's Ancestry, Birth and Early Training, Rural Life of Gordon, Gordon in High School — a Student — His Speech in Elizabeth City, Gordon a Teacher — A Change of Spirit — His Professional Choice Counteracted — A Sunday SchoofMissionary, Revivalist, &c, Gordon at Richmond Institute — a Lecturer, a Poet and a Tourist, Gordon's Tour in North Carolina,* Remarks and Comments, Gordon Received a Double Call — He meditates and finally ac- cepts the Charge of the First Baptist Church, Petersburg, Va. His First Sermon — Outlines — The responsibilities incumbent on the Pastor of this Church — His Manner of Preaching, &c. His abilities as a Moderator, Gordon's Building Qualities, History of the Church from 1774 to 1885 The Progress of the Church under the charge of Gordon, .... The Remodeling of the Church, The Congregation and Sunday School, „.".... The Choir, " Old Street Mission School, Blandford Mission School, Foreign Mission Society, , List of Churches and amounts raised by them, Elder Gordon's list of Donators, as taken from his scrap book, . . Church Constitution, :, . ' . . . . Articles of Faith, Church Covenant, '. . Church Officers v , Poem, dedicated to the Church, by Rev. W. H. Sherwood, . . . Poem, dedicated to Deacon Spencer Green, by Rev. W. H. Sherwood, Conclusion, Chapter II ill IV VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV CHARLES B. W. GORDON. Claries Benjamin William Gordon, |HE SON of Nancy and Daniel Gordon, i and the present Pastor of the First Bap- / tist Church of Petersburg, Virginia, was f^if born November ist, 1861, at Coalraine, Bertie county, North Carolina. He is a descend- ant of the Holly family and heir to ancestral greatness, with no compeer except General Nat. Turner. His great grand father, Charles Holly, was a slave, and was with his Master, as body-servant, during the great Revolutionary struggle. Before the close of the war he had gained con- siderable reputation as a bold and fearless servant, who in many instances saved the life of his master, as well as the life of himself, and for the gallant ser- vices rendered his master during the war he was afterwards set free. He many times previously swore that he would not be a slave, and fought Eng- land as hard for the freedom of America as if he knew that he was to enjoy it as a free and honor- able citizen. As a slave he was never treated, nor would he be. He was looked upon more as an overseer than a slave. He frequently dictated to his master the course best to pursue, which was al- ways received with much respect for the person from which it came. Physically, Charles Brown Holly LIFE OF GORDON. was the Sampson of his age. It was related of him that he could take two men and crush their faces together. He never was whipped but by his mother, who always ruled him, even down to old age. For his great strength and hardihood, his name was changed from Charles Brown to Tom Bull. He was known throughout the eastern portion of. North Carolina as a great and wonderful man. Tom Bull had only one child, Pricilla Holly, who married Willy Holly. She was simply an emblem of feminine vir- tue, that no worthy comparison can exaggerate. She was a very beautiful woman, and there was not a lazy bone in her frame ; she knew how to please the most difficult. All that knew her wanted her. She had a strong, sturdy and unyielding moral rectitude, that nothing could induce her to part with. She was sold by her master, who inherited her. Pricilla, as we have already stated, was fair to look upon. Eldridge, her master, intruded on her and used every possible means to seduce her, but she resisted him to the last, and swore that she would die before she would yield to him ; for that she was sold and forced to leave Nancy, the mother of the subject of our sketch, who was then a suckling baby and the idol of her heart, yet this embarrassing and heart- rending situation did not alter the firm and un- shaken heart of the fair Ethiopian woman. Willy Holly, the husband of Pricilla, was a mechanic by trade, and won a wide reputation in the mechan- ical circle. He was a man of great mental ability. With the cunningness of his mind and his economi- LIFE OF GORDON. cal management, he saved up money enough to buy his time. Thus his far-seeing wisdom and active in- dustry have set him free. Nancy, the mother of little Charley, married Dan- iel Gordon, the father of Charley. At the hour when the nation was approximating the greatest of all events, in the annals of her national history, when the star of freedom begun to rise, Charles B. W. Gordon is thrown into the world amidst the crisis of the Negro race — a son of thunder, a man of war, a child of heroic blood, as if born to rule the storm. In a short time thereafter his father, Daniel Gor- don, who had been in ante bellum days a preacher, joins the Yankees. * Before it was universally known that the Negroes would be free, the brave and heroic Nancy took lit- tle Charley in her arms, and went to Plymouth, where the Yankees were, who of course gave her protection. When the Mighty God spoke through the mouth of the cannon and dispelled the dark mist which enshrouded the South, bursting, at the same stroke, the shackles of four millions of human beings, and melting every slave pen within the shad- ow of the Capitol, Charles B. W. Gordon was only three years of age. Probably not a person who reads this has forgotten that, unfortunately for us, the color- ed race were all required by the Freedman's Bureau to re-marry or quit their former wives for life. Dan- iel Gordon did not re-marry Nancy. Thus the noble * With intent to come back for his wife, but before he could return she (Nancy) had gone to the Yankees. LIFE OF GORDON. Q woman is left a widow, and her children, the offsprings of her and Daniel Gordon, are fatherless. Hence the act that made the fortunes of thousands of African boys, legitimate heirs of the fathers, and deeply laid for all time to come the foundation of their fortunes and education, threatened the prospects of this prom- ising youth and offered poverty and penury in its stead. But born of a pious mother, which is always the best sign, (but probably not the only good one), he is destined to lead his thousands to the portals of heaven. Moses, the meek but most heroic of all the Israelites, came into the world atjustsucha crisis as Charles Gordon. Thrown into the dashing waves of the Nile, tossed among the bullrushes of her mad current, he who is to face the proud mon- ach of hell and protest against his tyranical scep- tre, and sound aloud the trumpet of Jehovah in the land of bondage, later to lead them forth in solid phalanx, a once enslaved and downtrodden, but now free and jubilant people, is protected by an angel of heaven until found by Pharoah's daughter, and rescued from the raging seas, and placed at the feet of the Egyptian sage, where he is instructed in all the arts of the age. Nancy, the unfortunate widow, is left like a noble hen to scratch for her brood. She was a seamstress of the highest domestic accomplishments. Taught by necessity and prompted by an undying ardor, she summoned all her discouraged efforts to ener- getic millinery workmanship, which art was then at a very low ebb among African women. Nancy TO LIFE OF GORDON. worked hard and faithfully at her needle to raise her children in credit. She sang sweet songs of her brightest visions, and breathed many earnest pray- ers for the greatness of her children. She was, of all her sex, the most admirable. She was possessed of but a very limited education, as were most mo- thers of the African race, yet she constantly read the Bible to her children and strictly performed its precepts in her family, which is always sure to result in great and powerful men and women for God and their country. Despite the shock of widowhood, to which she was suddenly reduced by the Freedman's Bureau, she gained with her needle, in a short time, the means requisite to educate her children. It will probably not be out of place to mention just here that the old proverb is not altogether with- out significance, that "What is bred in the bone will not come out of the flesh ; " for, as did her mother, Pricilla, she stands to-day a living monument of un- tarnished virtue and true womanhood. Although abandoned by her husband and left at liberty to love and marry another, she has ever since remained sole mistress of her person, and strictly devoted her time and talent to the religious, moral and intellect- ual training of her family, which had sprung up during coverture in ante bellum days. Nancy Gordon remained at Plymouth, Notrh Car- olina, until Lincoln's Proclamation of Emancipation went into effect, when she moved to Roanoke Is- land, where Charles entered school, being about five years of age, to Mr. Thomas Nixon. He was among LIFE OF GORDON. I I the first students that were enrolled, and he displayed, within a few weeks, such powerful talent, and made such rapid advances in his studies, that he was the acknowledged genius of the public school on Roa- noke Island. When Charles had been in school one session, his fame as a speller had gone over the Island. He stood at the head of his class, and did not allow a word to pass him. On the clays when the school would have spelling matches, Charles was sure to wear the laurels. On some Fridays the scholars made speeches. In his first speech, delivered in one of these Friday evening exercises, Charles grew exceedingly eloquent, creating quite an intense in- terest and holding the school spell-bound ; mean- time the teacher was gazing on the noble little ora- tor as if a spell of amazement and wonder had cap- tivated the whole school. It may justly be said that on this occasion Charles portrayed the hidden treas- ures of wisdom and the germ of oratorical power with which he is endowed. Unfortunately for Charley, he was forced to quit school and go home as soon as he was large enough to be of service there. His mother had a large family and no one to look to but herself and God. She therefore worked hard, and made all around her work who was able. Much to the regret of the boy, whose aspirations had swollen so high, he leaves school and accepts the situation. Charles had a sister, Huldian Gordon, who was the first colored public school teacher in North Car- olina. In those days it was very difficult to teach a 12 LIFE OF GORDON. public school. The vouchers were to be properly filled out and sent to Washington, but Hulda was the pioneer, in that she broke the ice, and her hand was the first of all our throng of colored teachers to smite the rock of the public school fund, from which so many streams are now pouring forth. His mother now moves to Perquimans County, North Carolina, where Charley is compelled to work; meantime he studied every day and every night. On rainey days, when he could not work, he would go to school to his sister, who was teaching in the public schools of that county. Thus Charles grap- pled with disadvantages and difficulties. He would enter school in the leisure months, after the crops were laid by, and study until the crops called him again ; hence he made use of every moment of his time. Charles had fixed rules to study by. At night, when he had finished the lessons that were to be recited the next day in the school room, he would ramble amidst his little grabbed-up library for the best speeches, from which he would select the wisest, notwithstanding they were hard to commit to mem- ory. Whenever the children were called out, Charles would step forth with something new, fresh and vivid. In this way Charles B. W. Gordon laid the corner-stone of oratory which was so soon to distinguish him and make his name so great and laudable. LIFE OF GORDON. 1 3 CHAPTER II. RURAL LIFE OF GORDON. When Charles was fourteen years of age, he asked his brother-in-law what was the best thing for him to pursue that he might give his mother a better support, as well as school himself. His brother suggested that they would farm on shares — in partnership. This was agreed upon and sanctioned by Charles' mother. To carry out this project they purchased a yoke of oxen — it was the custom in those days to have the use of an ox two years for breaking. This was simply fun for the high-spirited youth. Although he had a hard time with his oxen, he succeeded in conquering them and subjecting them to the yoke. He was once, during the time he was engaged in breaking oxen, thrown from the cart and barely escaped death. They, however, had great success the first year. By hard, earnest labor they were able in the fall to house one hundred barrels of corn, and ship three bales of cotton, and put up fifteen hundred pounds of pork, beside raising a large amount of small grain, such as beans, peas, potatoes, &c. Thus they had means and facilities for widening out their prospects for a better farm. Meanwhile, Charles' mind was maturing steadily and his muscular strength fast developing its re- sources. Not unlike most boys of the rural circle, Charles had grown very wicked — had a great love for dancing parties. The prosperity of the first year, 14 LIFE OF GORDON. therefore, opened up a convenience for the further- ance of this amusement. They bought, in the fall, a fine horse, and commenced to farm on a broader basis ; rented a two-horse farm. With two oxen and one horse they set out for another crop, having firmly resolved to gain an independent fortune and a good education. Charles would sometimes ride ten or twelve miles to attend a dancing spree. In the gay circle of his companions, he was always the master player. Whenever a candy party was to be had, the ladies not unfrequently wished to know if Charley Gordon would be there. If told that he would not, they would say, "well, there won't be any fun, then." At a time like that, we may readily see the many attractions with which Charles was surrounded. The colored people had but a short time been free, and piety was no virtue among them. With them, to be great was to be gay ; and Charles always en- deavored to adapt himself to the times and circum- stances, as well as the society with which he is sur- rounded. But while he was wild and sinful, yet some traits of his character, amidst all of that folly, partook of a strange bearing to that of most boys. He had an unbounded affection for Sunday school, and was strict to attend it. He held the position of teacher and was generally regarded as a very im- portant factor. In fact, all through his boyhood he was a leader. When at school he would organize armies of the school boys and drill them for war, with as much influence over them as ever Washing- TIFE OF GORDON. 1 5 ton had over the American troops. This intrinsic talent to lead and conduct public affairs, grew with his growth and strengthened with his strength, de- veloping itself at every stage of his boyhood and manifesting itself in all his conduct, with but a single exception. Like a "chip of the old block," he would fight before he would be imposed upon, at any time or in any place. This, however, is regarded by those who know Charles Gordon, to be one of those in- herent dispositions that came down through the trace of a hundred years of ancestry, and is still a living impulse of Charles — to respect every person's rights, and to demand respect from them in return. In the fall of the second year, they housed one hun- dred and fifty barrels of corn and twelve bales of cotton, besides greatly increasing their supplies of meat, peas, potatoes, beans, &c. The same fall a brother of. Charles', who had been living in the North, seeking rest and finding none, came home. Charles, however, concluded to take him as a partner ; so they divided the spoils, the former partner being only a brother-in-law. Charles and his new partners' labors were attended also with great success. During these years of ru- ral life, Charles was studying his books as attentively as ever. He would, after working hard in the day, walk three miles at night to attend night-school. This he kept up regularly until the leisure season, then he would go to school in the day, thus making every edge cut that would cut, and such as would not cut he made them bruise. The young men of 1 6 LIFE OF GORDON. the neighborhood had a Debating Society, of which Charles was a member. Charles was such a power in argument that the young men of the lodge finally became so apprehensive of him that it was hard to find one willing to take the lead, if Charles Gordon was on the opposite side. He was nominated for the most prominent places within the gift of his com- panions, and was always elected without opposition. This, however, was for his keen and penetrable un- derstanding and his parliamentary management, as well as to avoid the vollies of oratorical thunder- bolts that he commonly dealt upon the heads of his opponents. CHAPTER III. GORDON IN HIGH SCHOOL HIS SPEECH IN ELIZABETH CITY. He was secretary of Hurtford Sunday school, and was chosen a delegate to represent it in the Sunday school union, or Eastern Sunday School Convention, in 1877, which convened at Bethel. In this convention of over two hundred delegates, Charles Gordon was the centre of attraction. There were prizes offered for the three best speeches to be delivered during the sitting of the Union. There were many contestants, two of which were Gordons. Till now, it is not decided which was the better ora- tor, Charles B. W. Gordon or his cousin, B. S. Gor- don, but this day decided the question. Charles LIFE OF GORDON. I 7 won the first prize and B. S. Gordon won the second. That Charles Gordon was the coming orator of Eastern North Carolina, was a foregone conclusion. While he spoke, sudden stillness prevailed until, when Charles would draw such fine pictures of the logical situation of the Negro, painting every para- graph with the richest and yet the most simple and suitable language that a Webster could use, the au- dience would burst forth with loud applause, which told that he was playing upon the cord that reached their heart as well as exciting their wonder and ad- miration. When the convention adjourned for din- ner, the speech of Mr. Gordon was the topic of con- versation, and wherever on the ground he might be standing with his associates, they would point him out. During these years Charles' brother married, and Charles became very tired of farming, although he had been blessed with repeated success ; but he had set his aspiration too high to be clogged and tied down upon a farm. His mother had always told him that God would open up a way for him. He now said to his mother, "I want to study and prepare myself for the bar;" "I want to be a lawyer." His mother re- plied : "I had rather, my son, to have you be a Christian." This expression sank deep down into his heart, and haunted his mind wherever it wan- dered. But having purchased her a comfortable home and settling her, he again avows his desire to go off to high school, as he had advanced so far that the common school could do him no good. His 1 8 IIFE OF GORDON, mother considered long and well, then she said : "Charles, you are now going into your eighteenth year. You have been dutiful to your mother ; you have had a poor chance for an education. I now give you freedom, and you can make yourself a man." Charles immediately wrote to Mr. Rooks Turner, the principal of Elizabeth City Normal School, and ap- plied for admission. He entered that school in 1878, after having stood a most rigid examination entered the middle course and walked square into the school Lyceum. He distinguished himself in the first ar- gument he made, and in every recitation he proved his genius. His fame soon spread over the city as the orator of the school. He made rapid advances in his studies, and read law at intervals or at such time as he could get from his text books. Charles was what one might call a hard student, and what- ever he learned he learned it once forever. One of his mottos was, "Hold every foot of ground you get;" this he always did, as will be seen from his history. CHAPTER IV. GORDON A TEACHER A CHANGE OF SPIRIT HIS PRO- FESSIONAL CHOICE COUNTERACTED A SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSIONARY, REVIVALIST, &C. While he was in school, the A. M. E. Church of Elizabeth City gave an entertainment. There was a very valuable prize given the lady who, by her LIFE OF GORDON. 1 9 energy and perseverence, raised the most money, and a speech was to be delivered in honor of that lady, as well as in the furtherance of that cause. The lady who won the prize, to-wit, Miss Clora Bar- nett, and the managers of the entertainment, se- lected Mr. C. B. W. Gordon as orator of the day to deliver that speech and present the prize. When it was known in the city that C. B. W. Gordon would speak, it was easy to foresee what a crowd of both white and colored people would be there. At an extraordinarily early hour the house was densely packed with both white and colored, (notwithstand- ing an admission fee was charged at the door). When the moment was up, Mr. H. Cale, who was then the representative in the Legislature of North Carolina from Pasquotank County, arose and intro- duced Mr. Gordon in the following happy style : "Ladies and Gentlemen : I rise to introduce to you one of North Carolina's most promising sons ; one who, if he continues as he has started, is des- tined to carve his name upon the very top round of his country's honor, ere many months go by — (ap- plause) — one upon whose gallant brow is wreathed the very token of fame and approaching greatness. (Applause.) The rural lad, the city genius, the rus- tic farmer, yet the polished suburban flower; in short, I rise to introduce to you the coming orator of East- ern North Carolina. (Applause.) I need not say that I refer to the right worthy Charles B. W. Gor- don, who will address you." (Gordon — applause ; Gordon — loud applause). 20 LIFE OF GORDON. A small, slender and rather delicate looking form arose from the audience, and while advancing to the rostrum he is met by two gentlemen, who escorted him, while the crowd burst forth a long and loud ap- plause. Mr. Gordon ascended the rostrum, made a slight bow, stood erect, lifted his brow while a grad- ual smile broke over his youthful face. Opening his mouth he said : "Ladies and Gentlemen : While I feel highly flat- tered by my venerable friend who introduced me in such complimentary terms, and in so magnanimous a style, I am, nevertheless, happy and proud, as well as honored and flattered, with the privilege to speak to you on this auspicious and momentous occasion. I am very much obliged to my friend for the good things he has said of me, while I fear the manner in which I have been introduced to you will cause you to be disappointed, which, if you are expecting a fine speech from me, you certainly will be. Yet, if the hard, earnest labor which I have undergone in grap- pling with difficulties and disadvantages, have as- sured my friend Cale of my future greatness, it is all the more gratifying to me. It is probably my first duty to congratulate you upon the rapid pro- gress you have made and the many noble deeds you have done, but I will leave that to the task of another and content myself with inciting you to nobler researches and stiring you up to more en- ergy, perseverence and self-reliance. While we have made progress, such, too, as has had no precedent in the history of races, and while LIFE OF GORDON. 21 we are happy over the worthy achievements our hands have wrought, and the inexpressible boon of freedom which we enjoy, let us not forget that there is yet very much to be done before our people will be great or our freedom be permanent. But we are to persevere. It is an old but true proverb that "those who persevere will succeed." This old pro- verb was born with the wisest sages of antiquity, and came down through the whole line of posterity, touching at every point of destiny and proving the truth of its assertion by the thousands of failures who trust to other theories. How many now sit down and hug the delusive phantom of luck and fortune ? Men blessed with all the glorious gifts of nature, yet they are sad failures, and why ? Because they fail to persevere. We are, too, apt to cast our short-coming at the gate of fortune, and excuse our- self from the contest by saying, we can't ; we have not talent, and that we were unfortunate. You are just what you make of yourself. Every man is the architect of his own fortune. If we have luck, we must have pluck. That undeserving parties some- times succeed, while honest, energetic effort fails, I will not attempt to deny ; but this is a rare occur- rence, and is often attended with circumstances as incomprehensive as the occurrence is rare ; but if history be philosophy teaching by examples, then we must rest our logic where the verdict is cast. Was it fortune that made Napoleon the greatest and most victorious man of the eighteenth century ? So may some think, but I do not. Why the old, 2 2 LIFE OF GORDON. venerable soldier, Moreau, had the same chance. In the time when France had no leader, and was at the mercy of all the world, and forty thousand armed soldiers were at her gate, Moreau had the chance but refused to march against the enemy. It was late in the night when the terror-stricken conven- tion sat. All was in consternation, when one Bar- ras arose and broke the awful stillness of that cham- ber. "I know who can defend us," he nervously said, "it is the young Corsican officer, Napoleon Bonaparte. He is a man who will not stand upon ceremony." They called Napoleon down and asked him if he was willing to take the responsibility of defending France. "Yes," he replied. When asked if he knew the magnitude of the situation and the disadvantages attending the defence, he said, "I do." The next morning when the sun arose, Napoleon was ready to defend the convention, although he had only five thousand men, while the enemy had forty thousand. But watch the brave lad, only seven- teen years of age, riding at the head of that fearless few. The awe-stricken convention which appointed him, is still in session. Napoleon, with his gun loaded to the muzzle, was ready for the first fire, but he would not assume the responsibility of opening the contest. He did not wait long. The first volley opening upon the little handful of defenders was the signal for the instantaneous discharge of all the artillery, which belched forth its slaughter and death till the whole pavement was covered with the dead and wounded. The day was won, and Napoleon LIFE OF GORDON. 23 had taken his first advance to fame. Was it luck ? No ; for Moreau had the same opportunity and failed. The fact is that the young Corsican soldier had perseverence and pluck. Oliver Cromwell had a birthday that he always regarded as a lucky day, yet he died on that very day. "A man is mortal till his work is done," may be true in some sense, but not true in fatalism." Was it luck which raised Andrew Johnson from the tailor's bench in Raleigh and carried him to the Chief Mag- istracy of the Nation ? No, no. Such men as Johnson, Clay and Webster, would have risen in spite of any circumstances. Dr. Johnson has well said, "all com- plaints against fortune are unjust." I never knew a man neglected who was possessed of merit. Well matured and well disciplined talent is sure of a mar- ket, provided it exerts itself, but it must not cower at home and expect to be sought for. Perseverence is a sure road to success. There is fortune for the dullest of us if we will only bring it into active ex- ercise. A barking dog is worth more than a sleep- ing lion. (Applause.) Many a man has lost his hold on the world because he lost his perseverence. It is perseverence that crowns men with honor that lives while they sleep the sleep of the dead. It amasses wealth and brings success to well-directed efforts. (Applause.) Men have only to resolve and then act out the resolution. Do not stand still and wait for something to happen, but go to work and make something happen. Don't wait for some- thing to turn up, but with your own hands turn 24 LIFE OF GORDON. something up. (Applause.) "At it, and always at it," was the motto of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church. (Applause.) "Learn to labor and to wait," was worthy of the pen of the learned Longfellow, and is worthy of adoption by the am- bitious youth who is anxious for success. The har- vest does not follow the next day after the seed are sown, but must have time to germinate, and bring forth after its kind. Patient perseverence is the price which the ambitious youth must pay for suc- cess, and every item is paid in advance. The moun- tain top is reached by plodding up it step by step. (Applause.) The mighty stone wall around China was reared by laying- rock upon rock. The mam- moth structure of the National Capitol was formed by laying stone upon stone. So we must build our way in the world, and rear for ourselves a monu- ment that will speak for us when we shall have played our part in the drama of life. (Applause.) Truly we have been slaves and deprived of ad- vantages, but we have been free thirteen years — long enough to outgrow every mark of servitude and every sign of slavery. (Applause.) Shall that be any reason why any one of us should not be great ? It was none for B. K. Bruce. It didn't al- ter the will of Douglas. (Applause.) Are there difficulties in the way ? These were made only to be conquered and overcome, and in overcoming to develop strength. If we would be successful we must be energetic. What made Demosthenes the great Grecian orator, but repeated energetic strug- LIFE OF GORDON. 25 gles ? I pity, yes, pity the poor blind-guided novice who lulls to sleep his energies and dissipates his mind with the fearful delusion that the stars in their courses are righting for him. Never was there a sophistry more foolish than this, that "to be born lucky is better than to be born rich." . (Applause.) Energy and perseverence will conquer in the long run, despite the circumstances. It will always out- strip mere brilliancy ; the list of mighty names on the annals of our history proves this. Many who in their youth were remarkable for nothing but stupid- ity have, in after years, achieved fame. Julius Cae- sar, the conquerer of the world, when a youth, was very ordinary in mind and aspiration. It took a long and weary season of the severest experience to arouse his dormant energies and develop his as- tonishing ability to command unconquerable legions and give the age the type of unbounded ambition. Sheridan, the brilliant and witted orator, in his boy- hood, was regarded as a stupid dunce. There is no royal road to success. To gain it, one must make up his mind to work hard at his purpose. (Ap- plause.) Connected with these facts is self-reliance, a qual- ity that should not be overlooked. We colored people of the South are in the habit of looking and relying on the North for the purpeturity of our free- dom and our grandeur, but we make a mistake. The North boasts of having freed the Negro, which I grant, yet I have always regarded it as the out- come of Providential arrangement. God sent it, if 26 LIFE OF GORDON. the devil brought it ; and it behooves us to make the best of it. (Applause.) If God sent the North to free us, He did not send it, nor will not send it, to take care of us. (Applause.) God never meant that you should be maintained at the expense of another. If we ever educate, our own effort must do it. What if we begin poor ? If you commence life at the bottom round, it is no lower than the greatest men of this century started. Look to no man nor set of men, but to God and yourself. (Ap- plause.) We are now without excuse, and much is expected of us. Let us show to the world that the Negro can and will be an independent and intelli- gent people. (Applause.) A word to the young people, and I am done. Young gentlemen, I look over the door of your Legislative hall, and what do I see ? I see written there, wanted ! I look over the door of the United States Congress, and see written there, wanted ! I look over your farm-yard and see, wanted ! Look over your machine shop and see, wanted ! Look over your merchandise and see, wanted ! Look over your school room and see, wanted ! Look over your publishing house and see, wanted ! Who is wanted ? Men wanted ! Educated men, indus- trious men, intelligent men, refined men, skilled men ; that is who is wanted. (Loud applause.) Young ladies, look over the doors of your literary houses and you see, wanted ! Look over your man- ufactory and you see, wanted ! At the gates of your printing and sculpture buildings, wanted ! At your LIFE OF GORDON. 27 music hall, wanted ! In your school room, wanted ! Over your dwelling house, wanted ! Over your dec- orated parlors, wanted ! Who is wanted ? Ladies, educated ladies, industrious ladies, accomplished ladies, refined ladies, modest ladies, energetic ladies and progressive ladies ; that is who is wanted. (Ap- plause.) Then let us prepare ourselves, for we will be called upon to fill these important places. (Ap- plause.)" This is only a portion of his speech, the main man- uscript having been misplaced. After this speech Mr. Gordon was greeted and congratulated on every hand by both white and colored. At the moment when the prize was to be pre- sented, Mr. Gordon walked to the decorated ros- trum, lifted the valuable prize and called out Miss Chlora Barnett. Bowing, he said : "Dear Miss: The high, the glorious opportunity has been afforded me of presenting to you this val- uable prize, which your energetic labors have so richly merited, and which bespeaks the many achievements that are within your reach. While there were many who honorably struggled, you have the honor of ex- celling. As you excel in this contest, so you will in every one if you will continue. This prize, although beautiful and valuable, is only a token of that glo- rious and incorruptible prize which awaits you at the end of the race of life. It points^ you away to the paradistical regions of an unbeclouded heaven. In the name of perseverance and the donor, I give it you. (Another loud applause.) 28 „ LIFE OF GORDON. Charles remained in school till 1880, when he be- gan to teach at Brick Kiln, in Purquimans county. It was a hard county to get the first grade certificate in, but Charles received the first grade. In the fall of the same year he was elected principal of the Windsor public school. This was a large school, and required a man of considerable tact, but Charles Gordon was acknowledged to be the best teacher that they ever had, before or since. During Charles' second session in school, an awful change came over him. He had surveyed the whole professional cir- cle, and made choice of the legal profession. He had calculated the number of months he would need to stay in school, and the expense attending it; weighed them carefully and minutely, placed them before him, and embarked for the shore. He had not sailed long before a mighty storm arose and the winds dashed with almost boundless fury against his foundering bark. The dark mist of his sins had hidden his star from his eyes forever. Like Saul of Tarsus, he cries to God and is saved. What a glorious change ! His aspirations changed with his spirit. He is not satisfied with knowing that it is well with his own soul, but he is anxious about the souls of others. He is filled with the Holy Spirit, and as was said of one of old, he went about doing good. He was appointed Sunday School Mission- ary for the Union, and established many Sunday schools. He conducted a revival among his schol- ars with great success, meantime he felt that God had enjoined on him to preach the gospel. LIFE OF GORDON. 2Q CHAPTER V. GORDON AT RICHMOND INSTITUTE A LECTURER, A POET AND A TOURIST. To prepare himself for this calling, he opened correspondence with Mr. C. H. Corey, President of Richmond Institute, in September, 1881, and closed school at Windsor, North Carolina, to enter that school. It was a sad time with his patrons at Wind- sor ; they said they could not do without Mr. Gor- don. Many said that if he left the school was ruined. Well, to write just as it was, language is inadequate. Everything was done to induce Mr. Gordon to remain, and to have him teach on for them, but the Lord had spoken and Charles had re- sponded. He made a fine mark in Windsor. During the vacation of 1882, Mr. Gordon trav- elled in the Eastern portion of North Carolina, and preached and lectured with great success. He wrote two poems in 1882, one dedicated to the memory of Rev. L. W. Boone, and another en- titled "The Good Shepherd." Both of these poems were read with interest by thousands, and won for Mr. Gordon a considerable poetical reputation. Besides these, he commonly corresponded with pa- pers, contributing many rich essays on various sub- jects. An extract from the volume of Poems entitled " The Good Shepherd." HELP THE HEATHEN. There is a land of grief and woe, A land far across the ocean wave, Where heathen nations know not God, Nor seek to find the blessed way. 30 LIFE OF GORDON. This is the way the nation is gone, Since in darkness they were born ; The way of God they have not known, They bow to idols of wood and stone. They work in darkness with great delight, They seek the road to keen despair ; Thousands are travelling without the light, Thousands have made their journey there. It was for them that Jesus died, But His name they have not known ; The Shepherd here has given the 'larm, But unto them he has not gone. The voice of God is calling now, For soldiers strong and bold ; To carry the gospel to them there, That Jesus' name there may be told. Oh, that we could hear some one say, "Lord here am I, send me ! I'll take the gospel and carry it there, That they may know salvation's free." If you cannot go, you can give your means, To help to send the gospel there ; That thef heathen may know the name of God, And for judgment day make some prepare. If you cannot give the rich man's sum, You can give a penny or a shilling ; If you cannot pay the preacher's full fare, You can show to the Lord that you're willing. He returned to Richmond Institute and resumed his studies October, 1882. He was employed as general agent for a large publication house, and made an extensive tour through the Eastern portion of his native State. In another chapter is given a few of the dates and incidents of this tour. • LIFE OF GORDON. . 3 1 CHAPTER VI. Gordon's tour in north Carolina. He left Richmond on the 20th of May, 1883, on his way for North Carolina ; reached Norfolk on the same day, and on the night of the 26th he preached in Bute Street Baptist Church. From thence he went to Hertford, North Carolina, on the 28th of May. He remained two days, during which time he preached. Found the people of Hertford mak- ing very poor progress. On the 30th, he arrived at Elizabeth City. He found the people still on the way up the hill, every sphere of life showing ad- vancement; found Rev. M. Fisher in charge of the A. M. E. Church, and Rev. E. Griffin in charge of the Baptist. Stopped with brother Frank Simmons, first deacon of the Baptist Church ; found his wife a great worker in the missionary cause — yes, I may say she is worthy to be classed among the best workers. She is leading a missionary meeting in the church that he helped to establish and assisted in organizing. He is just now in receipt of a letter from her, stating that she has a great many mem- bers. On Friday, the 1st of June, he was requested to deliver an address to the young men of Prof. R. Turner's Normal School. When he entered the school room he was greeted by a long, unbroken cheer from many old acquaintances and school- mates, who had assembled to give him a warm greeting. As Charles was formerly a student of this school, the reader can imagine with what grat- itude and enthusiasm he was received. 32 LIFE OF GORDON. Mr. Turner, after making a few remarks of con- gratulation, and expressing his gladness to meet Mr. Gordon, his former student, and seeing him in so promising a career, introduced him to the school. The following is an extract from the speech : "Mr. President and Fellozv Students : I feel es- pecially honored in being called on to address you, although I have prepared nothing new or interesting to say to you. I shall only undertake to encourage you in your efforts to educate yourselves, and to prepare for the many places of importance that awaits you. Character is not a garment, to be put on all at once, but is of continual growth day by day, like the island of the sea, which begins with a few pebbles, and by a constant growth it may become a body of itself, covered over with God's green carpet. So is man's intellectual growth. He came into the world an unimproved creature, endowed with five senses, also a mind capable of indefinite expansion, and by a daily growth may acquire great knowledge. As the island stands in its beauty, so may the man in the grandeur and majesty of his manhood. A man with an integrity of purpose, and who has faith in that purpose, whose object is to do good, will find the road to success. I claim that all men should go forth with an object in view. When the blind man came to Christ, near Jericho, the at- tention of Christ was first attracted by his cry, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me ;" and when the man was brought near, the first words of Jesus LIFE OF GORDON. 33 were, "What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?" And the blind man's reply was, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." Having learned his desire, he said unto him, "Receive thy sight." The question is, would the blind man have received his sight had he not desired it ? I venture to say no. A young man, whose aim is to make his mark in life, will meet with many oppositions. Troubles come in such ways that at times everything seems dark and gloomy. You should always regard diffi- culties as being stepping stones to success. Never stop to ponder over life's work, but as has been said, "first be sure that you are right, and then go forward." Do like a man ; choose a purpose in life, and allow no opportunity to pass without embracing it. You should remember that, in forming life's purpose, no man can have a successful career who has reference to himself alone. Therefore, we are under the greatest obligation to form this purpose with reference to our fellow-man, for "no man can live to himself alone." The second and great com- mand is, "Love thy neighbor as thyself;" therefore, we should live equally for the good of others as for ourselves. When we are building and strengthen- ing our own characters, we should be building and strengthening equally the characters of others. By so doing, you may accomplish a work, which will stand upon the pages of history after you shall have passed from existence. Young men, you have entered upon a life of in- finite possibilities, and one of the grandest oppor- 34 LIFE OF GORDON. tunities. God has endowed you with faculties cap- able of indefinite development. You are upon the arena of life in an age in which true manhood and efficiency are in great demand, because your labor will go towards the making of our educational and religious institutions and public government, not for the present only, but for the future. You will soon be called on to fill responsible positions. Many of you will be governors of families — you will have to control educational and religious institutions ; you must make and execute the laws for the advance- ment and protection of society. Every act, accord- ing to its character, is constantly making a living influence for good or for evil. In our daily life we are putting influences into motion which will pulsate through the veins of humanity, and down to eter- nity. No young man, with a sound mind, can stand at the entrance of life and view future generations ris- ing up before him, endowed with immortality, knowing that their destiny will depend in a great measure upon the young men of the day, without realizing the necessity of bringing about a living in- fluence by his honesty and daily deportment, which will create a burning zeal upon the hearts of those by whom he is surrounded ; that will constrain them to go forth upon that great enterprise of life, and to carry into effect such plans as will create a well regulated system of education in every family. Young men, you are under a great responsibility, not for what you are, but for what you ought to be. LIFE OF GORDON. 35 You are not only under an obligation to do all for which you have the ability to do, but for all which you can acquire an ability to perform. The man with one talent was not condemned because he had but one, but because he did not gain another. If we are endowed with one talent, we must gain an- other to it. Young men, your being great depends upon your own efforts. Nothing can be accom- plished without labor. Every man who has ever lived in history, obtained his ability by daily toil. Perseverance is genius, and Along the lines of truth It will be rewarded. If you want to be noble, Work and toil to make the way. If you want to be happy, Seek to find the brighter day. Though your way be dark and dreary,' And your heart be sick with fear, Never stop in doubt to wonder, Though you may have to shed a tear." This is not all of the speech, but simply an ex- tract which we chanced to stumble upon in our re- search for facts and incidents. During his stay in Elizabeth City he preached at the Baptist Church, and by request delivered an ad- dress in the same church on the 4th of June. The following is an extract from the lecture : "Friends and Brethren : We cannot say that we know every man's responsibilities, neither can we say that we know every one's particular circum- $6 LIFE OF GORDON. stances ; but we have a knowledge, every one of us for ourselves, to the effect that we may engage in a good work ; yes, a vigorous work, one that would give us a fair degree of success through life. It matters not whether a man be young or near the middle of life, he may have forty or fifty years of usefulness before him. What, can he not ac- complish in this time a work that will stand for years, and remain for the generation which are to succeed him ? Yes, by acquired ability he can ac- complished a work that will stand upon the pages of history when he shall have passed away. Some men boast about having great natural abil- ity, and they make great failures in life. Man is un- fit for his life's work unless he has undergone a pro- cess of discipline of mind and head. To succeed in life, this must be done. That there must be the natural ability, as capital with which to start, I frank- ly admit ; but there must be a careful development of these powers, and these powers, for their suc- cessful development, depend upon self-effort. The arm of a child pinioned to its side, wastes and dies. The same is true of every faculty of mind and heart. When growth ends, decay begins, and as our arm may be destroyed by disuse, so may our capacity for truth. Development, growth, there- fore, comes by effort. There is no truth more clear- ly demonstrated than that great men and great achievements come not by chance. Hiram R. Rev- els and John M. Langston became great men by in- vesting their talents and acquiring other talents. LIFE OF GORDON. $7 All great men became great because of acquired ability. Natural endowment constitutes the man embryo, and it is highly essential to the being of man, for "as the flower is in the bud, so is the gen- eral or statesman in the boy." But men generally have only enough natural ability to start with, and along the lines of well directed efforts, they day by day acquire more for this life's work. For instance, a young man says that he has been called to preach. At the time of his calling he may not be able to teach the smallest child. He has good natural abil- ity, but to teach the Bible he must have acquired ability, and to receive which, he puts himself under an instructor. Years are given in the disciplining of the mind and head before he enters upon his work. What is true in this case was true in the cases of Fred. Douglas and John M. Langston ; if not in the college walls, it was by some benevolent friend. Some men fail in life because they fail to find the work for which they were made. They try to do what God has intended that other men should do. Every man should seek to find a sphere, and. then go forth with some decision of character. Success depends upon self-effort. Never be an imitator of other men ; be an independent thinker. "Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice ; Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment." It matters not what a man's calling is, he should remember to live a successful and useful life. He 38 LIFE OF GORDON. must carry an influence daily that will enter the house and hearts of the people for good that can- not be limited by time. He who would live to be a success, should remember that the beauty of life is self-controlment Some men make great failures in life because they fail to control their resentful passions. Man should learn to govern himself, and then he can better govern his people. "Beware of entrance to a quarrel ; but, being in, Bear 't that the opposed may beware of thee." The man who intends to be felt among the na- tions of earth, will not find every man his friend. Every man owes his success to himself. He who fails to toil will fail to succeed. Douglas and Langston have stirred and swayed the hearts of nations for good only after years Of toil, of rigid discipline. Newton was able tQ say why and by what law the apple fell from the tree to the ground, only after years of growth and discipline. There must be application to the work in hand. Every power must be brought in action to a direct conse- cration to the work in hand. There can be no growth in any direction that is not entered upon enthusiastically, and the higher a man places his mark the greater will be his achievement." All of these exercises of Mr. Gordon's were at- tended with large crowds of old and young — many to criticise, some to skepticise, some to wonder, some to greet, and many to admire. Scores of heartfelt wishes for his success were breathed upon LIFE OF GORDON. 39 him as he passed through the streets of the old city, where he had taken his first entrance to fame. Not a few invitations to dine and tea were accorded Mr. Gordon, which he was compelled to decline, owing to the limited time he had to remain in that city. From thence he went to Edenton, N. C, where he preached twice ; from thence to Plymouth, N. C, from thence to Windsor, N. C, from thence to Washington, N. C, from thence to Tarboro, N. C, from thence to Wilson, N. C, from thence to Golds- bo ro, N. C. ; from thence he went to Kingston, N. C., from thence to Newbern, N. C. He visited many other cities, but these are the principal ones. CHAPTER VII. REMARKS AND COMMENTS. The whole tour of Mr. Gordon through the old North State was one grand travel of success and enthusiasm. Whenever it was known that he would be at any particular point, great preparation would be made to give him a pleasant stay in their midst ; but the prime point in his tour is the sway of his ministerial influences. He was heard of from town to town as the pulpit orator. His preaching was at- tended by astonishingly large crowds. His preach- ing, however, was not confined to the Baptist church alone ; he very often preached in all the churches of a city before he left it, and in whatever city he was not received, which was very few, he left on the 4-0 LIFE OF GORDON. next train, if it was a freight train. In all of Mr. Gordon's course in preaching at different points, and to different people, the same stalwart, manly appeal to the wicked prevailed. Everywhere he lifted his sword men fell before him ; in whatever society he was thrown he still lifted up Jesus to the people, with seemingly an irresistible influence. Such men are truly the men to preach in this age. God calls for valiant-hearted men to do his work, such as are not afraid to launch out in the deep and let down their nets and sound aloud the trump of God in the holy mountains. Charles Gordon seems to have been born for that sphere. Wherever he went he did not scruple to open his mouth for God, and the word did not return void, but was blessed with gracious out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, and resulted in the reclaiming of scores of sinners. There was something magnetic about his preaching that gave it a power of attraction. What it was, with the exception of the Holy Ghost, history is left to conjecture. But when and where this young man was to preach, great crowds turned out to hear him. Every step he made was onward and up- ward. His looks soon betook the manor of his dis- position. But yesterday a gay, sporting, frolicsome youth, to-day a model Christian ; but yesterday the centre-flower of the gay circle of his companions, to-day the solemn spokesman, whose only conver- sation is religion and its solemnity. What a change ! Truly "God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform." LIFE OF GORDON. 41 No heart rejoiced more under the preached gos- pel by this young herald of the cross, than his faithful mother, who had consecrated him to the Master years before, and who had prayed for his confirma- tion. Now she lives to witness the fruits of her earnest labors ripen into a monumental Christian soldier — a workman that need not be ashamed. She now sees, with the eyes from which so many tears have fallen in anxious meditation over her child, the Father accept him as his embassador, and crown his labors with abundant success. Charles had con- secrated himself fully to God, and laid hold of the high calling, with all his soul in the work. This is the key-note to the work of preaching the gospel — consecration. To do anything successfully, one must be consecrated to that work. The apostle has it right when he declares, "Though I speak with the tongue of an angel, if I have not charity I become as sounding brass or a tinkling symbol." His preaching was filled with proofs that he himself felt what he preached. He went about it like he loved it, and dealt out the gospel as one having authority. Boldly and fearlessly he proclaimed the unsearch- able riches of the word. He seemed to have but one aim and but one end in view. The salvation of souls was the grand object of his whole life, and the soul and centre of his preaching. The manner of delivery seemed to add an unusual flavor to his preaching, an essence which captivates and carries the imagination upward. His sermons are of two- fold substance — body and soul. The body is the 42 LIFE OF GORDON. word, its sentences, its figures of speech, full of il- lustration, rhetoric, logic and philosophy — it com- bines literary, logical and oratorical enforcement, by which the intelligence is captivated, the ear pleased, the taste gratified, and man is put into a mood of enrapture. This is the part in which the genius and power of the preacher exhibits themselves, in which the power of argument wrestles with the great sub- jects on which it writhes its strength, and in which the tact, taste, skill and imagination of the man in the pulpit do their finest posturing ; which has its part in getting praise and creating sensation. Then there is an unusual glow of the brightest lustre about him — something of the soul which Christ had touched, which is kindred with uper worldliness, which so distinguished him. There is something of faith, hope and love, something unselfish, solicitous of doing good, genuine, spirit-seeking, unsensual, pure, which is heavenly in its virtues, and helpful affectionateness, which separates Christ from man and indicates his divineness. This lights up the sen- tences of his sermons, and breathes into them the quickening sparks of the hallowed fire, and charges it with the power of healing, comforting and bless- ing. LIFE OF GORDON. 43 CHAPTER VIII. GORDON RECEIVES A DOUBLE CALL HE MEDITATES AND FINALLY ACCEPTS THE CHARGE OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, PETERSBURG, VA. HIS FIRST SER- MON OUTLINES THE RESPONSIBILITIES INCUM- BENT ON THE PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH HIS MAN- NER OF PREACHING, &C. He entered school again in the fall of 1883, and remained until January, 1884, when he received a call to the Mount Calvary Baptist Church, of Rich- mond, Va. In the same month he was called to the charge of the largest membership known to history, between four and five thousand, the First Baptist Church, of Petersburg, Va. This call is one of the mysteries of God's ways. This church had set down on young men as pastors. Rev. Gordon had never visited the church but once — then by special in- vitation — and is only twenty-three years of age and unmarried. Yet the whole church seems united on him as a pastor. No one vouched for him but God. This is an evidence that God has chosen no more men than he has prepared fields of labor for. The evidence of a man's being called to the work of the gospel ministry is evinced by his success. If after many years of hard labor the man is unable to ac- complish anything, he may rest assured that he has hold of the wrong profession. To be a successful minister, a man must be endowed with a power of will. "Where there is a will there is a way ;" not a Solomon, not a Plato, not a Harrington has said it, 44 LIFE OF GORDON. but in the unpublished book of the Universe this wholesome truth is recorded, and the world accepts it as an authentic maxim. The world does not hes- itate to believe it, and never will until it goes tri- umphantly up that golden way opened for its ever- lasting march by the almighty will. Rev. C. B. W. Gordon considered one month and then responded, accepting the call to the First Baptist Church, of Petersburg, Va. Awful and weighty are the incum- brances upon the minister who goes in and out be- fore this people, A church one hundred and four- teen years travel towards Zion, with upwards of four thousand members to be looked after, is no child's play, and the servant who undertakes such responsibilities must truly possess more zeal and Christian courage than is ordinarily met with among us. To guide this host of Israelites through the dark and thorny desert, to pilot this large ship of Zion through the fiery trials and tempestuous waves of this sin-cursed world, is a great test of religious manhood. Surrounded, as he who preaches to this people is, with every temptation that earth affords, one must be pure gold to stand the test of fire — that overcomes temptations, that controls his passions, and must preach the gospel without mixture or er- ror. He must be able to preach the gospel in its purity and with marked intelligence. Truly, to suc- cessfully lead this people, one must be more than the average preacher, and more than the average Christian. In the morning congregations of this church, the LIFE OF GORDON. 45 cream of the literary men and women of the city, and the most expert critics and skeptics, make up the majority of visitors. To properly benefit this class of persons, the preacher must certainly be an intelligent man — acquainted with all the various doctrines and isms of infidelity, and how to handle them with convincing scriptural arguments, capable of counteracting them and captivating the reason- ing faculties of such persons, before these baneful isms shall have deranged their souls beyond the hope of recovery. To speak without a figure, the preacher must be able to present the plan of salva- tion to such men philosophically, logically and irre- futably, or such people are not benefitted, and for the lack of which, many poor souls are lead captive by satan to the gulf of misery, from whence no traveler returns. If to meet this class of people was the only special requisite, the preacher might have an easier task ; but this is not the case. At night there is a large outpour of such of our race as are compelled to labor or are in service in private families. The majority of these require plain preaching put to them, unlike that of the morning congregation ; hence his con- gregation is made up of two distinct qualities of people, combining every stage of human society, every profession, vocation, as well as every ism and cism among men. To be pastor of this church, therefore, is to be a man such as we rarely stumble upon. From the day Rev. C. B. W. Gordon took charge 46 IIFE OF GORDON, of this church it has flourished. His first sermon was from Matthew 28th chapter, and 20th verse, using as a text these words : "I am with you always, even to the end of the world ;" the subject was "The Redeemer's Promise." He handled his subject ably and eloquently, making three grand points. 1. He noticed the sanctity of the promise, refer- ring to many proof-texts and comparisons. 2. He showed the authenticity of this promise. 3. The comfort this divine promise affords. In this sermon Rev. C. B. W. Gordon did great credit to himself and elicited many complimentary remarks from all the papers published in the city. His preaching was filled with wisdom, pithy oxism, and abounded with philosophy and practical life. Since he has been pastor of this church he has created and put in motion a healthy stream of mor- als, that is as clear of spots and as untarnished as the shining rays of sunlight. Although the flower of youth has barely shed its bloom, he nevertheless carries in his every day walk an undaunted solemnity that tells the world that his mission is to cry "Behold the Lamb." There is a silent preaching in his every day or daily deport- ment that constrains men and women to say, "sure- ly he is a man of God." The sinful pride so com- mon among ministers, and most especially those who hold good charges, has no resting place in his bosom. Yet he has a high appreciative self-respect and encourages the same in the pulpit. Besides being logical and philosophical, his preaching is di- LIFE OF GORDON. 47 rect. He has a certain Christian aim in view, seem- ingly distinctively fixed in his mind. He then lifts his voice and fires directly at his purpose. Some- times his aim seems to be to preach a Christian doctrinal sermon, to magnify a Christian virtue, to glorify a Christian character, to interpret an obscure scripture, to secure the performance of a certian duty — say, for instance, building or repairing the house of worship, or any other Christian duty that demands his immediate efforts. Like a gospel marksman he fires right into the world and brings home game at every discharge. There is no crack- ing away at random with him ; it is straight shooting every pop, and never fails to enter the heart with the piercing arrow of the Holy Ghost. His preaching has not a commanding, but a persuasive air ; that is, it does not force but wins, does not drive but leads men to God and to the performance of their Chris- tian duties. CHAPTER IX. HIS ABILITY AS A MODERATOR. Probably there is no qualification of ministers more important among the African churches than this. Church government almost entirely depends upon the minister's deciplinary management. Where every member is allowed the same authority as an- other, some one will try to carry that authority too far, and general disorder will naturally result ; and if the moderator is either lacking in knowledge or 48 LIFE OF GORDON. manhood, it is a hard drag. But in C. B. W. Gor- don is combined both knowledge and spinality. His is a level-headed, firm and unshaken mode of ruling, with an essence of serenity and calmness that oils the wheels of his church business, and makes everything go sweet and harmonious. On being asked by the writer, one of the oldest church officials of Petersburg (Deacon Spencer Green) said that, "Rev. C. B. W. Gordon was the best moderator he ever saw." There is no dodging the question in him; his ruling is like his preaching, scriptural and di- rect, knowing no man. The only question with him is the facts and the law, with these he condemns or clears. Amidst the wildest strua-pfles Q f excitement he is still undismayed and self-possessed, and when his meetings begin to drift off from the Christian land- mark, he detects it in a moment, and applies a wise remedy ; hence good order, felicity and joy is the result. CHAPTER X. Gordon's building qualities. Rev. C. B. W. Gordon, as we have elsewhere said, is not only an orator, but he has other endow- ments equally as valuable as the oratorical endow- ment. When he came to this church he found it not as he thought it ought to be in many respects, most especially the building. He therefore com- menced to preach a series of direct sermons, strik- ing every lick at a direct object. He knew that in LIFE OF GORDON. 49 order to affect any change in the building, he must affect the people. They had to be stirred to the heart before the work could begin. To do this re- quired two grand things, viz., to prepare and bring before them a sound reason for all they were re- quired to aid in doing. 2nd. To show the ways and means of doing it — that is, the people must be made to see the need of money, and then instructed as to the best way to raise it, without making a drag or waterhall, and besides, they must be reached through the minister in a wise and effectual man- ner. He therefore made an estimate of the work and the amount of money to be raised, and began to preach directly at that point with all the power he could summon. There was no beating about the bush, or boyish play about it ; it was business, direct, positive and efficient. He soon made his congregation feel as he did, and the work was im- mediately begun. He planned the whole remodel- ing of his church within a short while, then he called his official members together and presented his plans, and like men of God they went united into the work. It was no child's sport to plan the differ- ent improvements made on the building, and yet to plan is easier than to carry into execution. All of this vast business rushed upon him and demanded a portion of his thoughts, while his membership is very large and himself constantly called out to of- ficiate, either at some wedding or burial. Thus to properly estimate the building qualities of Rev. C. B. W. Gordon is more than a task for the writer. 5