San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-11
s. A. bAPT fists
ORGANIZED
IN 1851
Progressive Denomination
Rise. From Small Body
to Leader in Texas.
By w. w. BOONE

! few Baptists, probably not more
lhan a dozen in number, had settled
In San Antonio during the ten or fiji
teen years preceding that date. These
pioneers of our faith were without an
organization and had no house of wor-
ship. They did meet from time to time
to read the Bible and to pray for the
upbuilding of Gods Kingdom in San
Antonio.
About 1850. Rev. J. II. Thurmond
the first Baptist missionary, arrived
in the field. and on the Goth day OF
January, 1861, little band, various
ly estimated at from seven to thirteen,
was organized into a church, with that
noble servant of God, Rev. j. III.
Tburmond. as missionary pastor. But
almost Immediately following the or
ganization of this little band of wor-
shippers, known as the First Baptist
Church of San Antonio, there came
the long and bloody struggle of the
Civil war. which made inroads upon
the male membership, thereby further
weakening the organization which was
already too weak numerically and fl
nancially, to stand alone. Whenever
occasion permitted, they met and held
preaching services in the courthouse.
and when there was no preacher, they
gathered in private houses for prayer
and supplication. The church almost,
IL not altogether. ceased to be an or
ganic body. During the war practical
ly all mission work was suspended,
except that which was done among
the soldiers. But by and by when the
clouds of war had rolled away, and
men could again think in terms of
peace and good will, then the minds
turned to the San Antonio mission,
and its needs.
EARLY BUILDERS.
In 1867. that noble soldier Of thu
Cross. J. II. Thurmond, had laid aside
his armor and gone home to God. But
in the meantime, God was raising up
other soldiers to fight his battles in
San Antonio. In 1869, the San An
tonic River Association appointed Il
committee to purchase lot and build
a house of worship for the church, and
Rev. j. W. d. Creath was appointed
agent to collect funds and build the
house. After n lons, hard struggle
and much heroic effort, this house OF
worship and pastors home was built
by the sainted and godly Creath. The
buildings being erected of stone and
located at the southeast corner OF
Travis and Jefferson streets. In rails
ing the money for these buildings,
Brother Creath Travelled on horseback
through large part Of the southern
states. He was, during this time, also
the missionary pastor, doing the
preaching for the mission when in the
city, but when he was compelled to
leave home and travel to raise funds
for the buildings, DIR. ]. Beall, city
druggist. filled the pulpit for him.
May / be permitted to digress here
long enough to say God bless a noble.
consecrated layman who is able and
willing to fill the place of his absent
pastor. All honors to such men, in
their efforts to put forward the King
dom of our Master. May their number
be greatly multiplied.
In 1876. the pastors home was COM
pieted. and the house of worship SUIT
ficiently advanced to admit Of services
being held therein. In the latter part
Of said year the Baptist state conven
ton appointed Rev. w. ii. Dodson az
missionary pastor. He commenced his
work here on January II, 1877; prob
ably recognizing the church at that
time. and starting with only ten or
twelve members. most of them finan
cially able to do but little. But by
1880. the church reported to the Bap
list state convention that it was in
dependent and self-supporting. With
church property valued at $4,000,
including the pastors home, and the
church house completed, except plas-
tering and painting the basement.
FIRST r-SSION.
In 1881, the church established a
mission in the western part of the city
near the I.-G. n. depot, in its own
property.
In March, 1884, w. II. Dodson re-
signed to accept call to the pastor
ate of First Baptist Church of Long
view, Tex. For five or six months
after his resignation the church was
without a pastor, but in September,
1884, this church invited DIR. j. a..
Hackett Of Shreveport, La, TO become
its pastor, which invitation he accept
cd, and for more than three years he
wrought with loving fidelity and
preached with great power. He then
resigned to accept the position of edi'
tor of the Baptist Record of Missis'
sippi. At this time Rev. T.. c. Gates
Of Mississippi, born leader of men
and n preacher Of uneXcelled ability.
was in Southwest Texas in search Of
health. The church invited him to oc-
cupy the pulpit just made vacant by
DIR. Hackett. A few months later. in
1883, the church unanimously called
him as its pastor. and for eight
months he was an ideal shepherd of the
flock; then God called him 10 the
church which meets around the Great
White Throne" II was during his
pastorate that this church established
a mission on South Flores street. The
services were held in n rented build
ing. DIR. J. n. Prestridge of Ken
lucky, n man as gentle and sweet
spirited as the Apostle John, was chos-
On as pastor in 1880. He took charge
in July of that year. but his health
failed and in December of the same
year he resigned. During his bri'f
passionate this church acquired tht
title 10 the lot later occupied by the
Sunset Baptist Church (now known
as Calvary Baptist church, and built
Daid for, and dedicated a house of wor'
ship thereon. In October Of the same
year this church purchased the lot
later occupied by the South Flores
Street Baptist Church (now Central
Baptist church, and on said lot butt
and paid for house Of worship in the
following spring Of 1890. Thus in tho
early part of 1890. this First Baptist
Church owned three lots in different
parts of the city, on each Of which