Notes from Norman

History of the Churches of Christ in Texas (4)

Eckstein, Stephen Daniel, Jr. History of the Churches of Christ in Texas: 1824-1950. Austin, Texas: Firm Foundation Publishing House. 1963. hardcover 378 pages.


Once statehood became a reality, a flood time of immigrants rushed toward Texas. Most of them left states below the Ohio River, especially Tennessee.. As Tenneseeans poured into Texas, they brought their religion with them. It was inevitable that churches from the Restoration perspective would spring up. The movement that had gained a foothold along the Cumberland, now moved in the direction of the Brazos.

The preachers who came were often farmers and tradesman who filled the pulpit on the side. Eckstein describes them as “toiling, self-sacrificing, often unremunerated evangelists.”

During the antebellum period, itinerant evangelists preached all over the state, although West Texas was still thinly populated, and still largely controlled by Indians. The preachers usually held meetings in the summer when, “the crops were laid by.” The period between annexation and the Civil War was a time of rapid growth and church planting. However, there was a downside. One of the best-known preachers of that era was Carroll Kendrick, who moved from Kentucky to Salado in Bell County. He was so greatly concerned about the lack of corresponding spiritual growth of the new converts that he reported he was greatly satisfied when only 8 people were baptized in one particular meeting. He said he was greatly encouraged because he was primary interested in edification.

Two controversies dominated conversation during this period. The first was the slavery issue. Many church members were slave owners, and most favored secession. There were exceptions however. Eckstein reports that Solomon McKinney, an Iowa preacher, was asked to speak on “The Responsibilities of Slaves and Masters.” After delivering a sermon that he considered conciliatory, he was thrown in jail, whipped, and run out of town.

Military service was the other issue. Most able bodied members were ready and willing to fight for the Confederacy, but there were those who sided with Tolbert Fanning, editor of the Gospel Advocate, in his espousal of a the view that Christians ought to engage in spiritual warfare, and avoid engagement in carnal conflicts.

Eckstein does not devote an entire chapter to the Civil War period. Apparently spiritual interest was at low ebb from 1861 to 1865. The suspension of mail service meant they didn’t receive “the papers.” The Gospel Advocate was actually shut down during that period. Prior to the war, the Millennial Harbinger frequently published reports from Texas. Only two appeared between the years of 1861 and 1865. Thus the period of rapid expansion was followed by a period of spiritual indifference.

NEXT INSTALLMENT
An Era of Considerable Advancement
1865-1906

posted by Norman @ 2:56 PM