Among the men making rapid progress and shedding luster upon the pages of history to be read with increasing interest by upnborn generations is the man whose career we now give to the reader.
Wesley G. PARKS was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, on May 7th, 1958 to George Washington and Annie Caroline PARKS. After taking the public school course, Dr. PARKS took private instruction, becoming a highly educated man. His degree of D.D. was conferred by Roger Williams University, May 12th, 1905; that of LL.D. was conferred by Virginia Theological Seminary and College, on May 27, 1912.
He was converted in November, 1874; licensed to preach in August, 1877; ordained in July, 1879, at Nashville, Tennessee, in the Spruce Street Baptist Church, the Reverend N.G. MERRY officiating.
Dr. PARKS has filled various position of trust in a satisfactory manner; among them: pastor of Olive Branch Baptist Church, Nashville; pastor of Mount ZIon, Murfreesboro; Mount Zion, Woodbury; Mount Zion, Shelbyville, First Baptist Church, Chattanooga; Mount Zion, Knoxville, Tennessee; and the Union Baptist Church, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his present location, to which he was called in March, 1905. At the time he took charge the church had a membership of 1800; it now has an enthusiastic congregation of nearly 2900.
Dr. PARKS served the Tennessee Convention as secretary for a number of years, and finally as president. He also represented the same State as vice-president of the National Baptist Convention. He was elected president of the Jubilee Commission of the National Baptist Convention in 1905, and he was elected vice-president at large of the National Baptist Convention at New Orleans in 1910, which position he now holds.
Dr. PARKS has traveled extensively, having visited England, Scotland, Italy, Egypt, and Palestine.
The church of which he is pastor is out of debt, having canceled a mortgage of $9,000 in one year and five months under his guidance. The membership is composed of fine, intelligent people, who are a credit to their leader. A new site has been purchased, upon which it is intended to erect a church edifice worth $28,000. The site was bought for $28,000 making the entire cost of the property amount to $56,000.
Dr. PARKS is a man of action – he does things but he is modest to a fault about exploiting his own achievements. However, he is recognized throughout the country, as well as in foreign lands, as an Afro-American of unusual ability as a speaker, a writer, a financier, and a moulder of opinion.
He has come in contact with people of all nationalities and has grown broad and deep in thought, as well as polished in manner. His consistent Christian life, his refusal to become self-centered, his devotion to his people, have endeared him to all who know him.
Our denomination numbers many brilliant men and women among its members, but there is non more honorable than the distinguished minister and race advocate, Dr. W.G. PARKS.
Source: Bacote, Samuel W. Who’s Who Among the Colored Baptists of the United States. New York: Arno Press, 1913.
