175 



OBITUARY NOTICES. 



" It was in these pages I first made the acquaintance of my dear friend 

 Henry Walker, now nearly a quarter of a century ago. He had visited Praed 

 Street Chapel and given a sketch of the sermon he heard. When Westbourne 

 Park Chapel was opened 1 came into closer acquaintance with him, and soon 

 learned to appreciate very highly the fine qualities of his strong , balanced and 

 noble character. 



" First of all, I was at:;racted by his wide and accurate knowledge. He 

 had an open mind, and was an eager and strenuous student. To the study of 

 Nature he was devoted with the ardour and insight of a lover. If geology 

 stood first amongst the sciences in his esteem, his lectures on that subject 

 showed that it was first because of its manifold relations to other branches of 

 inquiry. His library forms, to some extent, a history of his mind. It is 

 distinctively choice. Its range is wide ; but its treasures are the best on its 

 specially selected themes. Still, his keenest interest was in questions of 

 Biblical criticism and interpretation. I have known few men who were mere 

 ' up to date' in the knowledge of all matters pertaining to the history of the 

 growth of the Bible, and the scientific exposition of its contents. He was 

 fully conversant with the best work in this department, and had no misgivings 

 as to the results of that work in the end of the day. Most likely he had 

 known and felt the severity of the conflict between the older and the newer 

 forms of faith ; but it was manifest that he had reached the perfect calm of an 

 unhesitating reliance on the infinite love. 



■' All his studies were dominated by a keen sympathy with human pro- 

 gress His book on the condition of the people in the East End of London, 

 and his papers on Liverpool, show the absorbing interest he had in everything 

 human. For his was an intrinsically religious spirit : and his motives sprang 

 from divine ideals for himself, for the individual man, for the city and for the 

 race. 



"The readers of the BavsWiitei- Chronicle need not be told that what he 

 knew and felt he could express with lucidity and strength. He was a master 

 of style. His tastes were literary ; and his speeches at the Westbourne Park 

 In-titute, and in connection with our Rambling Club will be remembered not 

 only for their fulness of information and rich allusiveness, but also for purity 

 and grace of expression. Nor shall we ever forget his unfailing courtesy and 

 gracious consideration for others. He made me think of Emerson's saying, 

 ' Good manners are made up of petty sacrifices. Temperance, courage, love, 

 are made up of the same jewels' Such jewels he wore with a naturalness 

 that added to their charm and an unconstraint that became their commenda- 

 tion. 



"In the removal of Henry Walker, Bayswater has lost one of its best 

 citizens, a man of blameless character, serene spirit, solid work, and high 

 ideals." 



We are indebted to Mrs. Walker for the loan of the excellent photograph 

 from which the plate was taken. 



