Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-12-14
THE HANKS TRIAL.
Charges Preferred Against, a
Prominent Dallas Divine.
How He Was Twice ndicated-Triyial
Occurrences Magnified Into
Gross ImprOprieties.
Interested-Life of the Man and
Something of His Enemies.
Correspondents of the Gazette.

Correspondence of the Gazette.
DALLAS, Ten. Dec. l1.-Scandal is
always unpleasant, and when it attaches
to ones good name is unfortunate. If
scandal is true it is deplorable; if untrue
it is criminal with those who circulate it.
No scandal is more unfortunate than that
in which a reputable minister's name is
involved-not only because of the injury
which naturally befalls him personally,
but because it weakens an influence for
good to humanity, and casts shadow
upon the church in which his mission
hes.
Dallas is now in the midst of misfor-
tune of this kind, and it is one
of great moment, because it
seems that it is not of new
birth, but has had the growth of years.
The affair not only casts its blight upon
the minister in question, but upon per-
sons of high character in this community,
and upon the largest church in Texas.
1t is generally known throughout the
state that ugly things have been charged
iSdillSb IIlC INGN II L DdSlOl VI
the First Baptist church of Dallas. These
charges have implicated him in things
and deeds certainly unbecoming a Chris
tian minister. 1t remains now to be de-
termined whether he is innocent or
guilty, and council of pure
and worthy men are giving the
matter a close, thorough, just investiga-
ton. This correspondent has for some
time been engaged in careful search for
information about the matter, and now
presents the case to the public, and he
believes and hopes with perfect fairness
TO all parties that may b. concerned.
Many authentic sources of information
have been reached and sounded and
while the council is secretly bordering
over evidence for a solution, the great
public, whose verdict is surest of all may
likewise weigh the testimony in its bal
ances and reach conclusion. Whenever a
serious matter comes before public opinion
for Il settlement the evidence must neces-
sarily be full, and to this end we take
our readers back a few years in perusal
of brief history which bears strongly
upon the present.
LIFE SKETCH OF REV. R. T. HANKS.
Robert Taylor Hanks was born in
Pickens county, Ala D., on the 23d day of
April, 1850, and is therefore in the
thirty ninth year of his life. His father
was useful and highly respected minis
ter of the church; his mother possessed
the highest traits of womanly
character, and under the upright
training of Christian parents, the sub
ject of this sketch grew up to man
hood. He was educated in private
schools in his native county; read law
under Colonel J A. R. Hanks in Dalton,
Ga; afterwards entered the ministry and
attended Howard college, Alabama,
Richmond college of Richmond, Va,
and the Southern Baptist theological
seminary, then at Greenville, s. G.
After leaving law he preached through
out his student life. His first passionate
was at Dalton, Ga. where he resided
three years, on salary, 1t Is said, or
5000. The second pastOrate was at Al
bany, Ga. and lasted four years. The
Albany Baptsts were evidently more ap-
preciative of the young minister than the
Dalton Baptists for they not only gave him
a salary of $1,000 per annum but furnished
a parsonage also. About six years ago
while at Albany, he was called to the
First Baptist church of Dallas. He ac-
cepted the call and came at once to Dali
las, where for four years his salary was
SlSUU Il year ana Il parsonage DuI lOr tHo
past two years the salary has been $4,000
and parsonage.
THE PASTORAL WORK.
Mr. Hanks pastoral work has been en-
inently successful. No definite informa-
ton has been obtained as to his work in
Georgia, but it was evidently satisfac-
tory, judging from the progress indicated
by the calls to larger and
more important places and
the increased salaries. But his
Dallas work can be traced intelligently.
When he came to Dallas he found the
church divided. They had split over
controversy between two of its members
Dr. J. B. Link and DR.. R. C. Buckner)
who were running rival newspapers.
Both the majority and minority claimed
to be the First Baptist church, and both
had separate places to worship and sep
arate pastors. 1t was to the majority
First Baptist church that Mr.. Hanks was
called. The pastor of the minority First
Baptist church was DR.. S. A. Hayden,
now publisher of the Texas Baptist and
Herald Six months after the advent of
Mr. Hanks, the opposing churches made
friends, largely attributable to the fair
manner in which Mr.. Hanks treated the
minority. The making of peace was also
warmly advocated by DR.. Hayden.
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