r, clerk. After
approving the credentials of the delegates the Moderator stated the
purpose of the meeting. He further stated that the council had also
been asked to examine William J. Walker as to his fitness and
qualification for the gospel ministry, and if found worthy to ordain
him, as the church had called him as its pastor and recommended his
ordination.[33] It was so ordered and done by the council.

The church continued to meet in the homes of the members, but it grew
so rapidly that it soon became necessary to secure larger quarters.
The little frame building on the north side of L Street, between 16th
and 17th Northwest, was then bought, and the church moved into it and
remained there until 1868. The church prospered greatly and soon
outgrew its first meeting house. Steps were then taken to purchase a
site and erect a building sufficiently large to accommodate the
growing membership. The present lot was secured, and in 1868 a
commodious frame structure was erected thereon and used until 1883,
when the church tore down the frame building and erected upon the same
spot the present brick edifice.

William J. Walker, the first pastor, played a large part in building
up the Baptist denomination in the District of Columbia and adjoining
States. He organized four churches in Washington, namely, Zion
Baptist, Enon Baptist, Mt. Zion Baptist and Mt. Jezreel Baptist
churches, and two churches in Virginia, all of which are strong and
prosperous organizations. He also founded the Baptist Sunday School
Union and the Woman's Baptist Home Mission Society.

For a year or more after the death of William J. Walker the church
remained without a pastor. During the greater part of this time
William H. Scott served as supply, and it was while he was serving the
church that the Walker Memorial Baptist Church was formed out of the
members who drew out of Shiloh. Dr. J. Anderson Taylor became pastor
in 1890 and remained with the church until near the close of 1906.
During his ministry the church greatly increased in membership, and
enlarged its building at a cost of $10,000. When Dr. Taylor gave up
the pastorate of the church about 200 members withdrew from Shiloh and
formed the Trinity Baptist Church and called him to take charge
thereof. Shiloh Baptist Church, then, has been divided twice within
twenty-three years. In spite of these handicaps, however, the church
has prospered financially, numerically and spiritually. Dr. J. Milto