October 29, 2001
Historical Society hears about railroad "chapel cars"
___By Ferrell Foster
___Texas Baptist Communications
___DALLAS--The Texas Baptist Historical Society took a trip back in time at its annual fall meeting Oct. 29 as it honored Texas Baptists who have written church histories recently and heard a presentation regarding railway "chapel cars."
___The society's 2001 Church History Writing Awards went to:
Ron Ellison for "East Texas in the 1840s: A Battleground for Primitive and Missionary Baptists."
___Wilma and Norman Taylor, from East Morristown, Ind., presented a paper regarding the evangelistic role of railway chapel cars in Texas from 1895 to 1904. The Taylors have traveled 30,000 miles during the past seven years researching chapel cars.
___Thirteen chapel cars once carried the gospel from city to city in America, most of them being used west of the Mississippi River, Wilma Taylor said. The American Baptist Publication Society operated "Good Will 4" in Texas.
___In 1894, the Baptist General Convention of Texas was "anxious about the spiritual condition of thousands of newcomers settling along the lines of the new railroads stretching across their state," Mrs. Taylor said. Good Will 4 came to Texas "coupled behind the engine, brightly varnished and gilt-embellished" to reach those new Texans.
___The 76-foot-long car featured an oak-paneled sanctuary, trimmed with art glass and equipped with pews, podium, Estey organ and storage for Bibles and literature, Taylor said. A small living area--consisting of a kitchen, sleeping berth, dining and study area and a restroom--occupied the other end of the car.
___Texas Baptists were in the midst of strife over missions, and some were not pleased with the presence of the chapel car, she said. But the "coming of the chapel car was a testament" of the BGCT's commitment to missions.
___"As praise for Good Will's work in churchless towns and with needy churches began appearing in the Baptist Standard, there was more demand and appreciation for the chapel car," Taylor said.
___The chapel car Good Will "traversed Texas seeking the lost among the thousands of settlers who had made their homes along the tracks," she said. "During its eight-year journey, it helped to heal the rifts of denominational politics while bringing the gospel to more than 100 railroad towns."
___Alan Lefever, secretary-treasurer of the society, reported that membership has grown to 144.
___The group elected five officers: Royce Measures of Pasadena, president; Carol Holcomb of Belton, vice president; Lefever, secretary-treasurer; and Steve Warren of Sherman and Ron Ellison of Beaumont to the executive committee.
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