November 10, 1999
THE LAST CLASS OF STUDENTS attending Baylor Theological School in Waco in 1907. (Photo courtesy of Texas Baptist Historical Collection)
1900-1909: Unity emerges
as a seminary is born
___By Alan Lefever
___As America celebrated the arrival of 1900, the last century of the millennium began with a sense of hope and optimism.
___The financial panic of the 1890s was over, and Americans were anticipating a time of peace and prosperity. For Texas Baptists, the new year began much the same way. With the exception of the schismatic "Hayden controversy," the conflicts among Texas Baptistsas well as Southern Baptists had ended. Texas Baptists were poised for what L.R. Elliott would call their "golden age."
___Although the conflict between S.A. Hayden and the Baptist General Convention of Texas lasted into the new century, it soon was resolved. In July 1900, a group of Hayden supporters formed the East Texas Baptist Convention. A year later, the convention changed its name to the Baptist Missionary Association. Hayden originally discouraged his supporters from breaking with the BGCT, but he eventually affiliated with the new body. From 1900 to 1911, a number of churches left the BGCT to join the new group. Since then, many have quietly returned.
___With the turn of the century, 80 years had passed since the first Baptist sermon had been preached in Texas, and more than 60 years had passed since the first Baptist church had been established on Texas soil. In 1900, Texas Baptists worshipped in almost 3,000 churches with a combined membership close to 200,000.
___The period from 1900 to 1909 marked not only the beginning of a new century among Texas Baptists but the beginning of new leadership as well.
___Former leaders such as R.C. Burleson, B.H. Carroll, R.C. Buckner and Fanny Breedlove Davis had faithfully guided the Baptist State Convention, the Baptist General Association and the Baptist General Convention for years but now were entering the twilights of their lives and careers. Although Carroll and Buckner would continue to play an active role in Texas Baptist life during the first decade of the 20th century, the transition to new leadership had begun. Individuals such as George W. Truett, L.R. Scarborough, J.B. Gambrell, Mary Hill Davis, Mary Gambrell and Willie Dawson would set the course for the next 50 years.
___Since formation of the first Baptist convention in Texas in 1848, missions had been the cornerstone of statewide Baptist work. In 1900, 164 missionaries were appointed by the BGCT to serve around the state. Their duties included forming new churches, conducting revivals, assisting weak churches and promoting the work of the BGCT and the associations.
___Although the motto "Putting God's Word to Work" only recently has been used to describe the ministries of the BGCT, Texas Baptists from 1900 to 1909 clearly demonstrated this practice. In 1901, a group of community leaders in San Antonio organized San Antonio Associated Charities to build a hospital, which was the forerunner to the Baptist Memorial Hospital System in that city. R.C. Buckner long had a vision of a Baptist hospital in Dallas. In 1903, under the leadership of Buckner and Truett, a hospital corporation was formed that purchased Good Samaritan Hospital. This hospital's name was changed to the Texas Baptist Memorial Sanitarium and reopened in 1904. It is known today as Baylor Health Care System. A third Baptist hospital opened in Houston in 1907.
___R.C. Buckner also was concerned about caring for aged ministers. In 1905, he opened the first of many cottages for retired ministers in Dallas.
___Education continued to be a major emphasis during the first decade of the century. During this period, Texas Baptists started five schools. Of these five, only San Marcos Baptist Academy and Wayland Baptist University survive today.
___Texas Baptists' greatest educational achievement, and the most significant event of the decade, occurred in the birth of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
___B.H. Carroll was the driving force behind this new endeavor. As early as 1873, Carroll was instructing ministerial students from Waco University while serving as pastor of First Baptist Church in Waco. Carroll continued instructing ministerial students in an informal capacity after Waco University merged with Baylor in 1886. Baylor established a Bible department in 1893, naming Carroll to the chair of exegesis and systematic theology. Eight years later, the Bible department became the theological department, and Carroll was named dean. Sharing a vision God had given him of the need for a theological school to educate ministers in the Southwest, Carroll presented a resolution Aug. 31, 1905, calling for Baylor to make the theological department a seminary. Baylor trustees approved the resolution, and Baylor Theological Seminary was formed.
___As the fledgling seminary began to establish itself, tensions arose between the literary department and the new seminary. Carroll presented his solutions to the board of trustees in the spring of 1907, stating: "A theological seminary ... must ultimately be placed on its own distinct habitat and under a distinct charter and management."
___At the annual meeting of the BGCT in November 1907, Baylor trustees recommended that Baylor and the seminary separate. After study by a committee of 15, the recommendation was adopted unanimously.
___The first meeting of the Baylor Theological Seminary board of trustees was Nov. 11, 1907, in the assembly room of the Menger Hotel in San Antonio. The group elected J.B. Gambrell as president of the board. The second meeting took place three days later at First Baptist Church in Dallas. At this meeting, the name of the seminary was changed to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
___Southwestern clearly needed a new home to avoid forever being overshadowed by Baylor. Carroll planned to open the fall session of the seminary in its new location Oct. 1, 1909.
___Fort Worth immediately launched a campaign to bring the seminary there. On Sept. 21, 1909, the board of trustees voted to move the seminary to Fort Worth, provided a proper site could be secured.
___The school that resulted from one man's vision and the personal sacrifice of many extended the reach of Texas Baptists around the world. The creation of Southwestern Seminary reflects the importance Texas Baptists have placed on theological education from the beginning of the century; an emphasis that continues today.
___As the first decade of the new century drew to a close, the "golden age" of Texas Baptists had clearly begun.
___For the first time in years, no internal conflict sapped the energies of Texas Baptists. Leadership was in place to guide the convention well into the 20th century, and new benevolent ministries were meeting the needs of Texans as never before. And education, which had been an emphasis of Texas Baptists since 1841, took on a new dimension with the founding of Southwestern Seminary.
___The foundation was laid for an exciting century of Texas Baptist work.
___Alan Lefever is director of the Texas Baptist Historical Collection in Dallas
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