VIRGINIA BAPTIST MINISTERS (sixth series) By: George Braxton Taylor 920/T2lvi4

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1 VIRGINIA BAPTIST MINISTERS (sixth series) By: George Braxton Taylor 920/T2lvi4 VIRGINIA BAPTIST MINISTERS 79 a beautiful community spirit characterized the large crowd of people who gathered to do honor to the memory of this man of God, who for so many years lived among them the Gospel which he preached. Truly the occasion was one of rejoicing, for it had also been Mr. Swann's wish that he should be laid to rest beside his wi fe." BENJAMIN DONALD GAW th, pastor the ceme only of ty, and Not many men go forth to their life work with a fuller academic equipment. There were the elementary schools of his native county of Augusta, then two military academies, one being the Fishburne of Waynesboro, then Richmond College and Ewing College and finally Colgate University. A glance at his intellectual face and well shaped head sug gested his ability to profit by these years of training. All this labor and cost were not wasted though his Ii fe was to end when two score years were scarcely completely. The list of his pastorates, covering about a decade and a half, namely East End, Richmond; Randallsville, New York; West Washington, Washington, D. c.; First Church, Durham, North Carolina, does not tell us the measure of the man, so well as the memorial service held some weeks after his death. Not only did the Baptist pastors of Durham take part in these exercises, for Rev. S. S. Bost, Rector of St. Philip's Episcopal Church made one of the addresses and Rev. Dr. E. R. Leyburn, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church one of the prayers. Dr. Gaw's church in Durham grew and pros pered in his brief pastorate and as a director of the Chamber of Commerce, an officer of the Rotary Club and chairman of the Civilian Relief of the Red Cross he had a place in the civic and social work of the city. "He was a man of victorious faith. He had faith in men and in their capacity for better ment. He had faith in the church and the power to uplift and glori fy. He had faith in society and its possibilities for progress." Another service to honor his memory and life was held by the Jews of Durham. He was born in Waynesboro, Virginia (August 20th), but when he was still an infant in arms his parents (Mr. and

2 80 VIRGINIA BAPTIST MINISTERS Mrs. B. P. Gaw), moved to a farm some ten miles from Staunton, so he was a country boy. He united with the church of his parents, the Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church and then in his college days became a Baptist and then a Baptist preacher, his ordination taking place in Rich mond, Virginia, February 8, He was married twice; his first wi fe was Miss E. Wirt Williams, of Richmond (the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. George F. Williams) ; she died in October, His second wife was Miss Elsie Darsey of Washington City; she with one son, Benjamin Donald Gaw, Jr., survived him. He died January 10th and his body was laid to rest in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Washington. JOSEPH BRYANT JACKSON This sketch is based on the article prepared by Rev. Dr. R. B. Garrett for the minutes of the General Association and from material kindly secured by Rev. Dr. W. H. Baylor. He (his parents being Wm. Jesse and Susan Ellis Jackson) was born in Craven County, North Carolina. His earlier ministry was spent in his native state. He came to Virginia in 1912 and became pastor of the Ocean View Church, Portsmouth Association ( ), which in 1913 reported fifty-four members. The next year he became pastor of the Prentiss Place Church, Portsmouth (May 1914-November 1919), which then had 198 members. The next year he had added to his church by baptism sixty-one members. The next year there were thirty-five baptisms. For several years, dur ing his ministry, this church was helped by the State Mission Board. The last year of his service here and of his life the church had 380 members, there having been been in this twelve months twenty-nine baptisms. He was a man of deep piety and one of the sweetest spirited, most consecrated, faith ful pastors. He was taking steps to build a much needed house of worship for his church at the time of his death and his whole heart was in this project. He had planned to attend the North Carolina Con vention and the Virginia General Association but while carrying on a revival meeting in his church he was stricken wit pas. wa~ His Fric assi all c tion H Chu ( I9C was (bor was Sallie "~ matio Marcl Ameli in 181 honor; Caroli He Saund l in the. ville, : 1869-~ Heb 1909 Bibli, He "The T

3 T' DOCTOR GAW OF DURHAM To Rev. Benjamin Donald Gaw, D.D., who next Sunday enters upon his pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Durham, we extend on behalf of our brotherhood the hand of hearty welcome to North Carolina. Dr. Gaw is a native of Augusta County, Virginia. His father was a Presbyterian elder and his maternal grandfather was a Methodist minister. He prepared for college at a military academy where he spent four years. His higher education was received at Richmond College where he took the B.A. degree, at the Colgate University, where he took the M. A. degree, and at the Colgate Seminary, where he took the B. D. degree. Richmond College conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. Important and successful pastorates have been held by Dr. Gaw in Richmond, New York, and Washington. For nearly eight years he has shepherded the West Washington Baptist Church, one of the strong and influential churches in our national capital. Under his ministry the church membership has been multiplied by 3 and contributions have advanced 30 per cent. The West Washington Church is now the third in size of our churches in the District of Columbia. In recognition of the high place which he holds amongst Washington City Baptists, Dr. Gaw is State Member of the Foreign Mission Board, Trustee of the Seminary at Louisville, and member of the Education Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He was a useful member of the Judson Centennial Committee, which after four years of service, was last May discharged, having completed successfully its task. The literary work of Dr. Gaw includes "Some Teachings of Jesus With Regard to the Meaning of His Death", and "If a Man Die Will He live?" A pleasing speaker; a faithful pastor; a capable leader; a diligent Christian gentleman: Dr. Gaw is all of these and more. With open arms Durham receives him into the fellowship

4 ... BENJAMIN DONALD GAW and leadership of one of the greatest and noblest churches. Blessings upon pastor and people! BIBLICAL RECORDER, February 7, 1917, p. 3:1 205/B47

5 DR. GAW DEAD On last Friday morning Dr. B. D. Gaw died in a hospital in Washington, his trouble being influenza followed by heart failure. Dr. Gaw with his wife and baby had gone to Washington to spend the holidays when he was stricken, and the end came quickly. In February, 1917, Dr. Gaw became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Durham. He soon became a prominent figure in the city and commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him. His own people were delighted with him, were responding heartily to his leadership. He was to have preached the sermon at the approaching convention in Greensboro. Instead of printing his cut in connection with that event, we are presenting his fine face in recording his untimely death. We sympathize most deeply with the young wife, the aged parents and the bereaved church. (also a photograph) BIBLICAL RECORDER, January 15, 1919, p. 2:3 205/B47

6 NAME: Gaw, B. D. DATA: Photograph SOURCE: ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SERVICE TO GOD AND MAN (Durham First Baptist Church). NCCF