PREFACE
The contents of this Manual is the result of no inconsiderable research, careful thought and labor.
The historical part, it is believed, contains a mention of, or allusion to, all the materially interesting incidents connected with the origin and progress of this Church.
The Statistical Table is as accurate as could be possibly made from an examination of the Minutes; and as a document of reference, will at least, gratify the curiosity, and may, perchance, prove interesting and useful.
The rest of the matter, as to the arrangement in the compilation, speaks for itself.
All the names appearing on the church roll are herein transferred and published, and localities are given from best information attainable. Blank pages are attached to facilitate the keeping a correct roll, as changes in the future may occur in the membership.
No apology is offered for the work. Whilst it is not presumed to be free from just criticism, yet as it is a free will offering to the Church, if it shall promote social Christian intercourse among our membership, or in any way in the least, advance the cause of Christ, it will fully satisfy the ambition of
THE AUTHOR.
Waco, February, 1877.
HISTORY
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THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,
AT WACO, TEXAS.
Was organized on Saturday, the 31st day of May, 1851, Elder N.T.Byars* acting as Presbyter, with the following named members, to-wit: James C. Johnson, George T. Holman, Noah Woods and Matilda Johnson.
The organization took place and the subsequent meetings of the Church, until 1857, were held in a board shanty at the corner of Jackson and Second streets, about the location of the present Presbyterian
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*Brother Byars was one of the first Baptist preachers in Texas. The Declaration of Texan Independence was written in his house. He has not only been a faithful minister of Christ, but a patriot, soldier and true friend of his country. His position has ever been one of danger, hardship and self-denial. Ever in the advance guard of civilization—preaching on the frontier—the fruits of his labor may now be seen in flourishing churches, in many towns and villages, which have been planted by him and fostered by his care. He is yet alive, and though an octogenarian, he is still unfurling the banner of the Cross, on our extreme frontier, as a missionary of the Baptist General Association of Texas; and our Church, from a sentiment of filial regard, esteeming him as our father and founder, among its other yearly contributions, appropriates fifty dollars annually for his especial support.
COMPILER
Church. This rude structure, (though a good one in primitive times in Waco Village) was constructed by planting cedar poles upright in the ground and weatherboarding the same with oak clapboards, the roof being made of the same material, the floor of cedar puncheons and the shutters to the windows and doors of rough cedar plank. This house was owned, or controlled, by the Methodists, and it was by their courtesy that the church used it for a while one Sabbath and Saturday preceding, and afterwards for two Sabbaths in the month. At that time it was the common preaching place for all denominations, the Baptists, the Methodists and Presbyterians being the only ones represented in the “Village” for several years after.
The present house of worship, corner of Fourth and Mary Streets, was commenced in 1856, and occupied in 1857, the building being, for a long time, only inclosed and covered, and the seats used, being rough planks laid on blocks or logs. The house was finished off in good style in 1859.
The church had no very large accession to its membership till the fall of 1857, when during a session of Trinity River Association with it, and while it was under the pastoral care of Elder S.G. O’Bryan, a very extensive awakening occurred, which resulted in one of the greatest revivals of religion that had ever been witnessed in the State. Through the instrumentality of the pastor, aided by such men as Elders Michael Ross, W.B. Eaves, J.J. Riddle and others, there were sixty-seven additions to the church, and quite as large a number joined other denominations. This at once made the church strong, and gave it a prominent and leader attitude. It has continued to grow ever since gradually, and there have been, since, a succession of revivals under the direction of Elders R.C. Burleson, Bayliss, Anderson, R.C. Burleson and Carroll, until the unparalleled revival of last year (1876) under the direction of the Evangelist, Wm. E. Penn, of Jefferson, Texas. Brother Penn commenced the meetings on 30th April and continued for eighty-one days, during which time he held one hundred and eighty-four services, resulting in three hundred and seventy conversions and two hundred and three accessions to the church, besides numerous additions to other neighboring churches.
Constituted with only four members, in a wilderness country, almost beyond the confines of civilization, this little church struggled on, and amid all the adverse circumstances of frontier life and the formative condition of society from a heterogeneous mass of immigrants from different States and nationalities, it battled manfully and successfully for “the faith once delivered to the saints”; and now, for the first quarter of a century or its history, finds it the strongest denominational organization, as to numbers, in the city of Waco, and probably the largest Baptist congregation in the State of Texas, its present membership being about 450. Though at the inception it was the only church in that vast region of country now tributary to Waco, now there is within this (McLennan county) along fifteen prosperous Baptist Churches, all of which have grown out of, or resulted from, the First Baptist Church of Waco.
This church has ever been true to Baptist faith, orderly in practice and strict in discipline, and has ever contributed liberally for the preaching and spread of a pure gospel and the maintenance of the various objects connected with our denominational organism. From the first year of its existence to November, 1860, it was connected with Trinity River Association. Since that time it has been a constituent member of Waco Association.
Pastors.
The following have served as pastors of this church:
Elder N.T. Byers from May 31, ’51 to Feb. ’54 2 ½ years
… S.G. O’Bryan* from Feb. ’54 to end of ’59….6 …
… W.H. Bayliss* 1860-1861 …………,,,………2 …
… R.C. Burleson 1862-1863……………………2 …
… W.H. Anderson 1864……………………..……1 …
… R.C. Burleson 1865-66-67………………… 3 …
… M.B. Hardin 1868-1869………………….. 2 …
… R.C. Burleson 1870……………………….. 1 …
… B.H. Carroll from January 1871 to present time
1877…………………………… 6 …
*Dead.
The following have been the additions to the church under the several pastors:
Under Elder Byers by baptism, 5 by letter, 17
… … O’Bryan … 67 … 121
… … Bayliss … 31 … 51
… … Burleson … 33 … 29
… … Anderson … 5 … 28
… … Burleson … 74 … 48
… … Hardin … 4 … 9
… … Burleson … 25 … 24
… … Carroll … 243 … 261
But it must be left to another day, and it is to be hoped a far distant one, to record a full history of the ministrations of our present beloved, able and efficient, Pastor.
Deacons.
The following have served as Deacons of the Church: James C. Johnson,* Wm. R. Kellum, + J.C. King, + B.D. Arnold,* M.R. Carroll,+ Edward Kellum, * Wm. A. Dunklin+, James. E. Harrison,* E.H. Hardin,* M.D. Herring,++ J.W. Speight, S.B. Humphreys, J.H. Bagby, Richard Harrison,* O.L. Battle,+ J.C. McCrary, E.F. Reese, Andrew Givens,+ A.G. Prewett and W.H. Long.+
Clerks.
Noah Woods,* was Clerk from the organization to August, 1957. J.W. Speight served as Clerk from September, 1857, to December 31, 1873–sixteen years–when he resigned, and W.H. Long served from that time to August, 1875, when re resigned, and J.W. Speight was again elected and served to February, 1876, when he again resigned and F.W. Vesey was elected, and having served about three months he resigned and J.W. Speight was again elected, and is now Clerk of the Church.
*Dead. +Dismissed by letter. ++Resigned.
ADDENDA
FIRE
About noon on the 22nd of February, 1877, (after this pamphlet had gone to press,) our old Church-house enshrined in our hearts by so many endearing and hallowed memories of the past twenty years, was laid in ashes by a fire, which, originating in the City Market-Opera House, consumed that splendid structure and a private residence as well as our church. The organ, seats and other furniture in the house only were saved from the devouring element.
Many a sad countenance gathered around to witness the conflagration, and, as piece by piece the massive timbers of the roof would tumble down, the silent tear was seen to trickle down the cheek of many a noble Christian-hearted sister.
Pack. Richardson, (colored) the faithful old Sexton, whose smiling face and polite demeanor has won for him the fraternal regard of the church, and the respect of the stranger, stood nobly to his post of duty, and, as if anxious to drink in the last sweet familiar chime of the old bell, kept ringing, amid the crackling flames, until it came down with the cupola, crashing, to the lower floor.
This was a sad calamity and a great loss to the church; and while unexpectedly it fell like a pall for a short time upon the membership, yet they have set out as a unit resolutely to build another structure more suitable to our wants and necessities and more worthy the worship of the ever true and living God in our beautiful and flourishing city.
At a special conference, held on the 25th February, 1877, to consider the situation and inaugurate measures to rebuild, the following was unanimously adopted:
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS in regard to the burning of the First Baptist Church, Waco, Texas.
PREAMBLE
In view of the sudden destruction of our Church building by fire on the evening of February 22, 1877.
Therefore be it resolved:
- That we accept with cheerfulness and unqualified submission, the providential loss thus sustained.
- That, believing “that all things work together for good to them that love God,” we recognize the fact that we have long needed a more convenient and commodious house; our old building having the following deficiencies:
- It was not large enough for our present Sunday School even.
- It was not constructed with reference to the best interests of Sunday Schools in the division of classes, there being no separate rooms for the Bible class and infant class.
- Nor with reference to a baptistery, should the Church desire one.
- It was not large enough for our ordinary congregation, consequently the children of the Sunday School could not remain to hear the word preached from the pulpit.
- We have been at sore disadvantage for years because we have had no audience room adequate to our necessities on extraordinary occasions.
- That as, notwithstanding these necessities, we were standing still, because the old house was considered too valuable to destroy and not good enough to repair or enlarge–we accept the fire as a solution of our trouble.
- That submitting the whole matter to Divine approbation and guidance, we do, without murmuring or croaking, go about at once the building of a church suitable to our present and speedily coming necessities.
- That we will make it a matter of prayer and fasting, gravest reflection and continued sacrifice until the object is accomplished.
- That we regard this the occasion needed to more thoroughly UNIFY us, as furnishing us something TO DO, commensurate with our numbers, capacities and resources. Something to enlist more heartily our sympathies and engage more earnestly our prayers. Something to fill full our minds and hearts and hands. Something worthy of the consecration and sanctification of our property.
The following was also unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, That the First Baptist Church of Waco by united contribution and influence, assisted by the liberal, enterprising and energetic citizens of Waco, can and will rebuild a house for worship adequate in all respects and an ornament to our city.
That we will set about this work at once and in earnest on the following basis, to-wit:
- No plan shall be adopted, or contract made, until a sufficient amount shall be raised in money, property and solvent notes to guarantee completion of the walls and roof without incurring any indebtedness therefor.
- The following named persons are appointed and constituted a Standing Committee to solicit donations in money, property and solvent notes, with power to fill any vacancy that may occur from any cause, to-wit: Rev. B.H. Carroll, N.W. Battle, P.B. Jaudon, John L. Dyer, C.B. Pearre, F.W. Vesey, J.W. Speight, W.P. Martin and M.D. Herring who are requested to solicit the co-operation of E.A. Sturgis, W.B. Hammond and John T. Flint, or such other persons as the committee may select; and who are invested with the full authority to stipulate the time of payment, and the terms and character of all contributions.
- Said committee re earnestly requested to enter upon the discharge of their duties at once, and if possible to be able to report sufficient progress at our Stated Conference in March to justify the appointment of a Building Committee at that time.
Other steps were taken, looking to a vigorous and speedy prosecution of the work, and it is confidently hoped and believed there ere long we shall have completed a building suitable to our wants, and that will be an ornament to the city and an enduring monument to our children, of our taste, our liberality and our self-sacrifice and devotion to the cause of Christ.
COMPILER*
*J.W. Speight
FBCWaco History 