Texas Christian Advocate (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 26, 1909 Page: 3 of 16
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TEXAS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
8
August 26, 1909.
SOME TEXAS HISTORY
By. REV. M. H. WELLS.
now
amount of money to pay for a year’s
low steeple charges do as well by their
years after I remember to have heard
fifteen
anxiety I may state that the balance
literally
concrete walks and red mud was plen-
seemed remote, the house was small
4
thought we of that muddy cottage away
out Austin Avenue.
During the year
they built a
%
GEORGE ADAM SMITH
instructed to sign a check and pass it
to Lem Black and it would be cashed.
During my long stay with them I nev-
er had an anxious thought about sup-
The face of Dr. George Adam Smith
on the front page of our general organ
awakens mingled sentiments of won-
der, admiration and regrets. The won-
der is that one who has accomplished
so much in the line of high scholar-
ship is yet but fifty-two years old.
It will be remembered that it has
been all of twenty years’ since he
gave us those two incomparable vol-
umes on Isaiah, teeming with fresh-
ness of thought and luminous with light
cents “just to break the monotony.”
When the time to leave came I ask-
ed of the bank a statement, not know-
ing whether the balance would be
a survey and some comments by the
brethren I was asked how I liked the
larger was due to the fact that I failed
to heed the advice of a good brother
and begin to “lay by in store” for "the
rainy day” that came later. .Like other
simple-minded Methodist preacners i
particulars to be given later.
*
Strange as it may sound, that nu-
in a protesting mood and dared to say
some very naughty things about that
shack. Among other things “flung in
their face” they were reminded that
during the Civil War when we went
into winter quarters me soldiers aid-
ed their Chaplain in building better
houses. And further they were told
that it would be humiliating to his
family to invite visiting friends from
Arkansas into such a shanty. In plain
English they were given to understand
that their parsonage was for rent or
about “laying up treasure upon earth.”
*
In a few days the stewards guided
me to what had been used as a par-
after our arrival the President of the
official board informed me that there
was on deposit to my credit in the
First National Bank $1,500. Of course.
a
it was a roomy and delightful audi- tion was reached. (Delivered in 1899.) of our professedly orthodox ministers
ence room, and the congregation was When the announcement of! that are practically infidels.” That is plain
pleased with the change. They had book was made, the writer "put in a speech, but it is indisputable fact,
never thought of the wrong done in call” in Washington, D. C., for a vol- There 4s no essential difference be-
practically turning the Lord out of ume. Five of the city pastors stood tween the teachings of Tom Paine and
house and home. With concerts and with outstretched hands crying, "me! Bob Ingersoll and the teachings ol
other light entertainments and re- me!" but they were too late. I got some of our theological professors,
freshments on Saturday night it was the coveted prize, and with as keen The latter are not so blunt and hon-
impossible for the people to feel prop- appetite as ever was felt set me down est about it; they use more eloquent
er reverence for the worship of Sun- to my new treat, “George Adam and studied sentences, but it means
day. It was not and never could be Smith's latest book.” The first few the same. Much of the so-called new
without a house of worship. Some time
previous they sold their brick church
on Fourth Street and invested the
proceeds in the college. True, they
reserved the right to use the chapel
as a place for religious services. The
college was well located, with a large
and beautiful campus, and the chapel
Winship, one of the stewards, tossed
his hat in the air, saying: “Thank
the Lord, we have the right man in
the right place.” After some per con-
tra talk the vote was made unanimous.
And thus ended the first chapter.
*
Dr. Connor resigned as President of
the Waco Female College and the
Trustees honored their pastor with
the position. That gave us nice rooms
on the second floor. In some respects
the ointment. That salary remained
at that figure for ten years or more,
despite thte fact of large increase in
wonder of scholarship. To read them
work But at that day it ranked high.
in the college as a residence. Little
compared with some salaries
construed the Master too
an enormous
Sam Jones offer to raise it
prospect. Somehow I happened to be
paid, that was not
merous wealthy congregation was
port. When I needed money I was
and forbidding in appearance. After
handsome parsonage,
sale, just as they might elect. John
And so it was. How many high or
pastors? But there was one fly in
membership and wealth. Some six
was in my favor. That it was not
tiful and sticky. The location then
sonage. It was before the day of
of research. To many they are a
for or against me. To relieve any
December, 1874, Bishop McTyeire
transferred me from the Little Rock
to the Northwest Texas Conference
and asigned me to the Waco Station.
That was then considered one of the
very desirable appointments in the
State. Thus and then I was made a
giraffe without knowing it and before
the thing had a name. The day
threw wonderful light on the dark Yet this is the idol of certain college
days of those Bible times, and one re- centers and summer schools of the-
plete with master touches. But cer- ology. Of him the young preachers
tain agencies had doubtless long been take their views of the Pentateuch and
at work in Mr. Smith’s mind, and these Jonah. To them he is “authority.”
were beginning to blossom out. It was Mr. Torrey, in his “How to Pray,”
in his Yale lectures that the full frui- page 106, makes bold to say: “Many
made a house of worship. Soon the pages were like the odor of roses, wet learning and higher criticism is sim-
pastor began, in a very tentative way, with the dew of morn, the teeming ply Tom Paine’s infidelity sugar-coat-
to suggest that they had made a seri- promises of a great and beautiful day. ed. Professor Howard Osgood, who
ous mistake. He was warned to play But not many pages had been read is a real scholar, and not an echo of
mum at the peril of his longer stay till something jostled my bower, and German infidelity, once read a state-
among them. One influential member the dew began to fall from my roses, ntent of some positions, and asked if
advised him to have his plunder ready and their fragrance began to fail. Then they did not fairly represent the schol-
for shipment back to Arkansas if he a shudder shot me through. I looked arly criticism of today, and when it
dared mention the need of a new and my idol was fallen from its ped was agreed that they did, he startled
church in public. But the day came estal and lay in fragments at my feet, his audience by saying: “I am reading
when he felt, ‘sink or swim, survive I could scarcely realize what had hap- from Tom Paine’s ‘Age of Reason.’”
oi' perish, he must be true to his pened. I awoke as from a dream, sad; “There is little new in higher criti-
Master and protest from the pulpit, and the memory all comes back when cism.” The young men who are to be
They might have sold every college I look at this picture on the Christian our future ministers, educated under
in the country to help one Church Advocate’s front page. I hide its view these men of peculiar views, too often
out of trouble, but never the reverse. from my eye as one would bum the come out of school skeptics at heart
At the close of his say Col. Fort picture of a lost lover. Not that love and go out to dig away the founda-
arose and proposed to pay one-tenth has died, but alas! we can not walk tion of the simple faith of the people
e CoSt ofa new church. And he arm in arm. How can we except we in the blessed old Book. Such men
added, ±he finer you make it the be agreed? But we are not. Why as George Adam Smith we must cen-
better will I be pleased.” That pledge so? Here it is in plain Scotch honesty sider as exceedixgly dangerous men.
he more than kept. Dying far away and King’s English: Page 91: “Clear- Dangerous because young men in
from home he said to his good wife: ly, then, on the grounds of chronology their admiration for him are too apt
y neighbors give me credit for be- alone, we cannot regard the early to conclude that the very things that
ing generous, but could I live to get chapters of Genesis as actual his- cripple him most are the secret oi
back I would cheerfully pay every dol- tory”-said in the presence of a class his greatness. Not his higher criti-
arof its indebtedness. That day we of divinity students ready to grasp at cism, but other noble traits make him
crossedto the other bank of the Rubi- anything new or sensational! (Beg- great; in spite of this we all lament
con.Wehad but little trouble in ging the question of whole long-waged and pity in him. We part company
securing money to begin the work of battle on these chapters!) Again, with him at "raw myths and legends’
erection: But we. came upon another Page 92: "But the absence of history and such like dodges of issues.
and.serious strouble. Thes question gof from these chapters, this fact that Must we give up our simple, old-
location bothered / Much useful their framework is woven from the time faith in the eternal verities of
2reath.hassbeen spent wrangling over raw material of myth and legend, can- the Bible which our mothers taught
2 ig.H uesti on.Pe P1 get intensely not discredit the profound moral and us and rush into the arms of this
self sh.a dw n rary: But a hright religious truths with which they are insidious influence afloat, this creep-
day came. W. D. Jackson, a photogra- charged.” These myths and legends ing palsy which is stealing over the
phersandgcomraratively poor man, had he thinks, were imported from Baby- hearts of so many, deadening the in
sarssbeforehought four lotsonthe lonia and “reached Israel in an early ner life and giving a less offensive cot
Southwestcornergof Fith.Street,Pay- age." one must be astounded at the oring to so much which tends to
48 osa Computing the marvelous wisdom that can thus put weaken the force and sacredness of
taxes paid and the increase in value beyond question the origin of Israel’s the Scriptures.
said lots were then well worth $2500. history' We protest that many of us are
The lots were offered the congrega- But ‘that is not the 1 ast straw On totally lacking in that Jesuitical cast
tion if they suited for church and par- pag 94 he Nuts himself clear beyond of mind which grows wonderful de-
sonage. Of course they were accept- th pais of patience Savs he- "The vout over an admitted “pious fraud;”
ed, Brother Jackson thanked and a Paes ,Pauence. PaS ne: 1 , and this precludes f‛it in m ali
i . nation. which Drod0e0 this gtorvr al- •su tuib —-~cluuS Ldlll in an eV1S-
handsome.parsonageabuiltaatonce and most certainly before 700 B. C had cerated Bible on participation in the
mother church of Waco Her isth already advanced far beyond the stage ecstacies. of „some of these more de-
otner enuren ot Waco,. Her daush- of tribal morality” I paused to catch vout critics. No doubt this by some
ters will be the prouder of her when -d .—0rd-: i pausea to eaten , thought a weakness, h rn
they read these struggles and tri my breath, and read again—“produced .•5 noun, a weakness, but from
umnhs it was not thfn fa shion a So this story almost certainly before 700 childhood we have been accustomed
to name churches for individuals else B. C’” What story? Why that of the to associate the idea of the most au-
to name enurenes foi individuals else early chapters of Genesis' gust sincerity and truthfulness with
that one would have been dedicated as 5m,- -haP,8 or —enes1s: the Bible and with dealings
Jackson-Fort Memorial. Others made But wait. What could I think of with men, and for the life of me I can’t
sacrifices and gave generously. Their this statement, found on page 101 of dispossess myself of this habit It
names and deeds are on record be- these Yale lectures: “So now we must is the basis of all faith, the rock-bed
yond the reach of moths and rust and admit that whi.e archaeology has richly of all hopes Take the verities nt
where no thieves ever enter. illustrated the possibility of the main of the Bible and what have we left?
During the four years I had the hon- ° ut ne 0 the. Book of Genesis from Not “myths and legends,” not “tri-
or to serve them the membership was Abraham to Joseph, it has not one bal personifications,” but the simple,
more than doubled1. As they honored. Wn1t 01 prooE to otter for the personal sweet gospel Jesus taught—faith in
the Lord with their substance and existen,e of the patriarchs them- “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Ja-
devotion He honored them with the senyes' Above We read ‘ Babylonian cob”—is the power of God unto salva-
smilings of his face. They contribut- myths and legends; woven from the tion. This we love and will declare
ed for all purposes about $60,000. raw material; not one whit of proof, while we have breath to speak.
During a meeting in which three hun- But here iS the word archaeology’’ as-----
dred persons professed faith in God safety valve I turn to my American AAA-EN egegi, A
many very notable events were real- Standard Dictionary for a definition GENERAL CON-
ized. Miracles of grace were wrought, and read: Archaeology, the theory of FERENCE.
One incident is named:- Twenty years the origin of things.” To the Yale I want to say “amen” to Bro. Wm.
before on a Sunday night Maj. Downs students this statement of “not one J. Wilson under above heading in the
began a sermon that was stopped by whit of proof in archaeology” may have Advocate of July 15. I believe we
a storm. Not until this meeting had meant in the study of ancient in ought to practice what we preach;
he again attempted to preach. His scriptions, Egyptian history and such quit saying the Baptists are wrong
friends insisted, and he yielded by sources of knowledge; but he has not and get some preacher to preach on
using the same text and beginning said this, and we are to think Mr. the mode of baptism and say he prov-
where he left off and finished that Smith’s “archaeology” means his own ed the Bible mode to be by sprinkling,
sermon. As I write many faces and theory of (the origin of Genesis.” and before we quit talking about it
forms appear to memory very dear. That we have interpreted his theory 80 out to some trough or mud tank
That cemetery holds the dust of many aright is seen in these statements: and immerse some one. “Oh, consist-
a saint. We will have much to talk We are uncertain whether any writ- ency, what a jewel!”
about when we meet on “the other ten law, has reached us from Moses I am in favor of our General Gon-
shore.” The living have come into a himself," and “These chapters (of ference taking the word immerse out
large and gracious inheritance. I often Isaiah XLLXVI) we know to be by the of our Discipline, and when we have,
wonder if they are living worthy their great evangelist of the Exile,” page aPP -can s for immersion, tell them
sires. God bless them everyone 162. Post exilic history, and not to wait until we have time to teach
Columbus Miss ' prophecy at all. them the way of the Lord more per-
Could the most destructive higher fectly; and if they will not be taught,
critic ask more? True, Mr. Smith en- tell them our good Baptist believe in
trenches himself by using the word immersion and will take you, but we
“revelation,” as though the Old Testa- do not believe in it, therefore can not
ment writings, while woven from the immerse you. Give me a well indoc-
“raw material of legend and myths,” Urinated Church and I will show you
Bv REV C H BUCHANAN are bona fide revelations. alive, working Church. We can not
y ’ Turning to page 507 of “Twelve afford to intimate either by word or
fixed an epoch in one’s life, even Prophets we read: “We have seen that example that Christ did not mean
though one must part company with the Book of Jonah is not actual his- "h athe Said when he said, ’Think not
the author on some points of interpre- tory, but the enforcement of profound that - am come to destroy the law or
tation. His treatment of Isaiah made religious truths * * * cast in the he prophets., amnotcome to destroy,
that part of the Scriptures to live form of Christ’s own parables.” Again Dut to ui., I Christ was fulfilling
and have meaning, and at once George on page 498: “It offers us all the the aw. o the prophets he was not
Adam Smith took rank among the marks of a parable or allegory.” immersing the people, and to give
great Bible scholars, at the age of These will suffice to show us where cre enee to hisstatement we have
thirty. • Mr. Smith stands. With aU our ad- 40 rightto imme rse e ither. 1 hope
His “Twelve Prophets,” which came miration for this brilliant man as a strike out Genera Conference will
later, while great books, did not add writer, an expositor and preacher, hav- fun-making a? us for not Psomuueh
luster to his tame. In fact, they were tag read a volume of his sermons. What we preach.USLers ner Promtising
rather a disappointment. Perhaps we these views close our lips against the brethren I N ANDERSON
were expecting too much. True, they mention of his name in the pulpit. Hermleigh, Texas
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Rankin, George C. Texas Christian Advocate (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 26, 1909, newspaper, August 26, 1909; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1586362/m1/3/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Library and Archives Commission.