Born: Newcastle, Virginia, July 4, 1863.
Died: 1946.

In this age ability is measured by accomplishment. No matter what a man may claim for himself, if what he accomplishes falls short of a high standard, the world will not wait for him to explain the difference between his ideals and the realization of these ideals. He will be told that the twentieth century does not recognize any ideals, no matter how beautiful they may appear, if he cannot or will not make them practical in realization. In fact, every preacher is now tried by the military rule of measurement, and that rule is Success. This may seem hard to some, but it is the divine rule in testing character. "Every man shall be tried by his works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil."

Now if the subject of this sketch be tried by this practical rule, he certainly will have no reason to fear the public verdict. Few men have accomplished more under like conditions than has W. H. Book, the son of Henry L. and Mary E. Book. He was born in Newcastle, Virginia, July 4, 1863, the day after his father fell in the fatal Pickett charge at Gettysburg. In November, 1882, he preached his first sermon, having attended Milligan College, Tennessee. He has held the following pastorates: Pulaski, Virginia, where he remained six years and built a beautiful house of worship, the congregation growing from 18 to more than 400 members. Clifton Forge, Virginia, five years of fruitful ministry. Martinsville, Virginia, five years. Here the house of worship was remodeled, a parsonage secured and many added to the church. W. H. Book has given much of his time to general evangelistic work, but is now in his twelfth year at Columbus, Indiana. Here he has added hundreds to the church and done much in missions, besides completing a $12,000.00 addition to the church building and securing a $5,000 parsonage. He has been blest with a fine family of five boys and five girls.

As a preacher Mr. Book's style is eminently practical. He cares little for ornamentation, and even less for philosophy. He has no use for anything that does not immediately help to drive home the great truths of the Bible. He is sometimes dogmatic, but he will tell you that no one can be otherwise who has a positive gospel to preach, and as this is the kind of gospel he preaches, he must sometimes appear to be very positive in his style. But W. H. Book makes no apologies for his style. Indeed, he cares nothing whatever for public appreciation if this is to be gained by the sacrifice of truth, but he knows how to get down to the people and win them for Christ.

While his academic scholarship is not of the highest, yet he is a thoughtful reader of the best books, and is especially an earnest student of the Bible.