Baylor was not such a born leader or planner as his illustrious
co-laborer, Wm. M. Tryon, but he was rather an inspiration
for every good plan by whomsoever originated. He was emi-
nent as a peacemaker in society and among his brethren.
While he was a Landmark Baptist, he loved devotedly all
Dr. Kufus C. Burleson.
695
Christ's people, whether Protestant or Catholic. But he was
never ashamed of his religion or of being a Baptist. In the
forests, in log cabins, in palatial halls, every man recognized
in him an humble, devoted Christian and a Baptist. Who
can ever estimate the influence of such a man in a new and
formative state of society as Texas was in 1839 to 1873! The
last ten years of his life was devoted to religious duties, read-
ing the Bible, meditations, prayer and preaching. On the
10th of December, 1873, in his 82nd year, he fell asleep in
Jesus, as gently as sinks the gale when storms are over. May
the noble example of Rev. and Hon. R. E. B. Baylor live in
the affectionate remembrance of Texas Baptists. May the
Lord raise us up many such men as Wm. M. Tryon and R. E.
B. Baylor and their co-laborers, and may the glory of the
''New Guard" excel the glory of the "Old Guard," is my earn-
est prayer.
ELDER NOAH T. BYARS.
f^
N. T. BYARS.
This name justly deserves a prominent place among "the
pathfinders and foundation builders" of Texas Baptists. Eor,
though an uneducated man, he did in his sphere a glorious
696 The Life and Writings of
work not surpassed by Baylor, Trjon, Hiickins, or any other
man. He aided and was largely instrumental in organizing
three associations, covering at that time all Western Texas
and sixty churches. And his name and Christian labors
should ever be held dear by every Baptist.
He was born in South Carolina, May 17th, 1808. His
parents were pious, but poor, and unable to give him an educa-
tion beyond reading, writing and arithmetic. But he used
this limited education for great and glorious purposes during
his long and useful life. He was converted when sixteen
years old, and felt a strong desire to exhort sinners and lead
them to Christ. But his education was so limited he could
not realize that an Alhvise and powerful God would call such
an ignorant youth as he was to discharge the glorious work of
leading lost sinners to their only Savior. He, therefore,
smothered these convictions, and learned and pursued vigor-
ously his trade as blacksmith. In 1830, when twenty-two
years old, he removed to Georgia, and five years later, hearing
the mighty call from Texas to come and repel the Mexican
invaders on the west and the bloody savages on the north, he
came to Texas and located at Washington, on the Brazos,
then the capital of Texas. He opened a large blacksmith shop
and armory to make and repair implements of warfare for Gen.
Houston's army, and also agricultural implements. His
friend and brother, Eichard Ellis, a devoted young Baptist
and patriot, was remarkably skilled in the use of the whip-
saw, and furnished Brother Byars with the material to erect
his shop; and as this was the largest hall in AVashington, it
was used for an assembly of the Constitutional Convention.
And there the immortal Declaration of Independence of Texas
was made March 2, 1836. Brother Byars hoped amid stir-
ring, exciting scenes of war his convictions in regard to preach-
ing would pass away. But as he saw scores and hundreds of
young men far away from home and mother and churches, he
heard the call tenfold louder by day and by night, "Woe is me
if I preach not the gospel." And when the grand old hero.
Elder Z. !N". Morrell, proposed to establish an appointment for
preaching every Sunday, prayer-meeting every Wednesday
night, Brethren IST. T. Byars, H. S. Cartmel, A. Buffing-ton,
Richard Ellis and J. R. Jenkins promptly responded to hi-
De. Rufus C. Bukleson. 697
call. And in 1837 they organized a Baptist church, the first
ever organized in Texas, and the influence of that church has
been widely felt throughout Texas, and its influence ^vill never
die till the stars fade away. In addition to Brother Byars^
work in his armory and blacksmith shop, he discharged the
duties of sergeant-at-arms for the Senate of Texas, but when
the Capital was removed from Washington to Houston the
town of Washington was for a few years almost deserted, and
the members of that heroic little church were scattered abroad,
but, like the early Christians at Jerusalem, though "scattered
abroad" on the murder of Steven, they went everywhere
preaching the gospel and sowing the seeds of light and knowl-
edge. Brother Byars removed to the Colorado Valley and
settled above Bastrop. Here he became Associate Justice of
the county for two years and was re-elected for two succeeding
years. But as there was no preaching in that vast
destitute region, he could resist the call to preaeli
no longer, and he and others united in organizing
the little church, Macedonia. He was immediately licensed to
preach, and in less than a year the church called for his ordi-
nation, and he was ordained October 16, 1841, to the grand
work of his life by Elder Z. IST. Morrell and John Woodruff.
In the meantime, realizing the great truth, "it is not good for
man to be alone," and that a guardian angel was very neces-
sary on the frontier of Texas, he married a lovely woman, who
became a heroic helpmeet to him for a long life of struggling
for the glory of the Redeemer. Brother Byars immediately
became pastor of Macedonia Church, and established another
church in what is now known as Burleson County, on the
Yegua river. The brethren here erected a comfortable house
of worship, which Judge Baylor said was the best in the Repub-
lic of Texas at that time. In 1842 he Avas commissioned by
President Sam Houston as armorer and blacksmith for the
Indians. He accepted this position for a twofold purpose;
first, he hoped he could thereby gain access to the hearts of
the Indians and Christianize and civilize them; second, he was
sorely pressed for means to support his growing family; but
after a faithful trial he found it impossible to win the Texas
Indians to Christ and civilization. He resigned, and resolved
to devote his whole life to preaching to his countrymen, and
698 The Life and Writings of
especially in destitute places. He removed from the Colorado
to Richland Creek, in Navaro County, and to supplement his
meager support he reluctantly accepted the office of Kotary
Public for Wavaro County. But finding this office conflict-
ing with many calls for preaching in remote and destitute
places, he resigned. Brother Byars carried out fully the early
Texas motto, ''Crowd upon the track of the Indian and buffalo,
and wherever you see the smoke of the white man curling
there unfold the banner of the cross."
In 1843 he was the only preacher between the Brazos
and Trinity rivers, from Grimes and Walker Counties to Red
river. The Southern Baptist Convention was organized in
1845, and soon after he was appointed as missionary to this
vast territory. The Baptist State Convention of Texas was
organized at Anderson in 1848. Brother Byars was sick in
bed, but sent his best wishes and prayers for the success of the
convention. He was the first missionary appointed under the
convention, and continued his labors under the Convention
Board for ten years, during which time he organized over
sixty churches, and aided very materially in organizing three
associations, and traveled thousands of miles over vast prairies,
often during the melting rays of the summer sun and under
the freezing northers of winter.
In 1851 he organized the first Baptist Church in Waco
with seven members. He organized churches and Sunday-
schools in every part of his vast territory. And he always
organized on the strictest principles of gospel churches, accord-
ing to Baptist usages.
No missionary work has ever stood the test of time
better than the work of Brother Byars. But this vast mis-
sionary labor, often swimming creeks and sleeping under trees
at night, and preaching in log cabins or under live oak trees
or brush arbors, sadly impaired his health, especially brought
on throat trouble, and his physicians declared that he must
suspend his missionary labors, for a while at least. And as he
and many other brethren had growing families they were not
able to send to older and more expensive institutions, they
were eager to have a Baptist college on the frontier, where
they could educate their loved ones nearer home and cheaper.
Brother Byars resolved that he would unite with these
Dr. Eufus C. BuRLEsoif. 699
brethren and establish a Baptist college at Palo Pinto, a
healthy and beautiful village in North Texas. He entered
upon this great and difficult work ^vith his usual zeal and
energy. Our beloved and grand old pioneer preacher and
stock king, Elder G. W. Slaughter, started the subscription
for "Brazos College" with $1,500 cash. Brother Byars spent
over two years traveling through Texas and part of Mississippi
to secure money to erect the building. The buildings were
erected, but for some defect in the walls they gave way, and
after being used a few years, like so many Baptist schools in
Texas, utterly failed. The physicians now urged Brother
Byars to go to the coast country on account of his throat
trouble. He settled near Galveston Bay, and as his voice
strengthened he preached to destitute places, and labored to
build up an institution called "Byars Institute." While in
this part of Texas he was Moderator of Tryon Association.
But finding his throat trouble not improving, he moved to the
State of Mississippi to gain rest and secure the education of his
children. His throat improved, and in 1869 he became State
evangelist and missionary of the Sunflower Association. But
it is a well-known fact, no man who has ever breathed the
fresh, pure air of Texas, and gazed upon her boundless prai-
ries, carpeted with unending green and fragrant with flowers,
Brother Byars returned to his beloved Texas. He imme-
years in the Salado Association; then two years under the
Texas Baptist General Association. After this he served the
Brownwood Church for a year and a half. Then, as he
expressed it, "he was like an old ship laid up in ordinary." His
first wife having died some years before, he married a worthy
lady near Brownwood, and came in possession of a little home,
where he spent his last days in comparative ease and quietness.
The beloved pastor of Brownwood, Rev. J. D. Robnett, who
has recently joined him and our grand army of Texas pioneers
in glory, did all he could to render the aged missionary com-
fortable and happy. Thus lived and died Elder ^ah T.
Byars, one of the most indefatigable and useful missionaries
'that God ever gave to bless Texas.
roo
The Life and Writings of
ELDEK HOSEA GAKRETT.
HOSEA GARRETT.
Our venerable brother is the oldest member of the Old
Guard now living. He was bom in Laurens District, South
Carolina, l^ovember 26, 1800, just the same age of Gov. A.
C. Horton, and nine years younger than Hon. R. E. B. Baylor,,
and just nine years older than Rev. Wm. M. Tryon, his noble
and departed peers.
He moved to Texas in 1842, and settled on the place
where he now lives. He has lived and acted and preached
in the same neighborhood for nearly half a hundred years
without a breath of suspicion on his name as a neighbor, a
patriot, a Christian and a preacher. Hence no man in Wash-
ington County or Texas in more honored or beloved that
"Father Garrett." Though his long life in Texas is utterly
void of those thrilling events that characterize "the Heroine of
the Alamo," and many of the Old Guard, and his early educa-
tion was limited, and though he has none of the grace of person
or oratory, yet he stands pre-eminent in usefulness, and the
unbounded confidence and love of his brethren and all good
citizens. He is a monument of what uneducated, strong
common sense, incorruptible honesty and devoted, humble
piety can attain.
De. Rufus C. Burleson. 701
He is one of tlie founders and for forty-two years a trus
tee of Baylor University and for thirty-five years President of
the Board of Trnstees. He has been President of the Baptist
State Convention and Vice-President of the Southern Baptist
ConA^ention. He was converted and baptized about 1830:
was ordained in 1834. His first pastorate was in his native
district in South Carolina. He has been the efficient pastor
of many of the most prominent churches in Washington,
Burleson and Austin Counties.
The grand old pioneer church of Providence, "Washington
County, Prospect, Caldwell and Post Oak, in Burleson
County, and Bellville, Austin County, were especially blessed
by his long and faithful pastoral labors. Though some of
these churches were thirty and forty miles from his home, and
over streams, often swimming, and without bridges, he rarely
•ever missed an appointment.
His sermons are always plain, without any of the graces
of declamation, always logical. Scriptural, "with tears." I
never heard him preach a sermon that did not give food for
thought. And it has been truly said, "Good living is the
tallest kind of preaching," and, according to this standard, his
was of the highest order. ,
Indeed, he was an eminent example of what a devout
Christian preacher can do by daily reading the Bible and good
books and Baptist papers, and meditating on them. A promi-
nent Methodist preacher, Re.v. Thomas Woolrige, said to me :
"Brother Hosea Garrett is the closest student I ever knew.
He is always thinking and always studying at home or abroad,
on the farm or on the roadside. Riding, walking or sitting,
lie is always thinking."
And it is my deliberate comdction that no preacher in
Texas has made greater improvement in knowledge in the last
forty-six years than Brother Hosea Garrett. Though he was
probably never inside of a college till he became a trustee, yet
by reading, conversation and observation, he is profoundly
acquainted and skilled in the gi-eat interests of colleges —
"their value and means of advancement.
In this age I am rejoiced to hear so much said about edu-
cation for the ministry, and am equally pained to hear so little
-said about education in the ministry. It is appalling to see
T02 The Life and AYritings of
how soon many of our promising young preachers stop growing
in the ministry.
Every man ought to grow in body till he is twenty years
old, and he ought to grow in knowledge till he is three score
and ten, or till he dies. How mournful to see many of our
preachers begin to decline in pulpit power at thirty or thirty-
five, and at forty-five rust out, and leave their congregations,
because their congregations have left them. To all such I
commend the example of Father Garrett.
I pray that his example may impress the 1,400 Baptist
preachers in Texas with the profound importance of Paul's
command : "Study to show thyself a workman approved
unto God. Give attendance to reading; meditate on these
things that thy profiting may appear unto all men." But,
next to his ardent piety, the great source of his power is in his
sound, practical judgment — his wise counsels. I was most
intimately associated with him during the ten years I was Pres-
ident of Baylor University, at Independence, for he was Presi-
dent of the Board of Trustees all that time. And I never
knew a man whose judgment was on all occasions equal to his.
It was his sound judgment, more than any other man's,
that saved Texas from rushing headlong into all the ultraisms
of "Old Landmarkism Beset," on the one hand, and to the bit-
ter antagonism to our indefatigable, earnest and beloved
Bro. J. R. Graves on the other. All the Old Guard, except
three, were genuine Old Landmarkers from the beginning.
When they were converted, baptized and ordained they were
"set" firmly on the Old Landmarks, and never needed "reset-
ting." Bro. J. R. Graves and the great Dr. J.M.Pendleton had
received members into Baptist churches on Pedo-baptist or
alien immersion, and engaged in union meetings and needed
"resetting" the worst kind, but alas! in resetting their Old
Landmarks, and not being very familiar with the old lines,
they took in "Pulpit Communion" or affiliation and other
points that were not included in the old landmarks set by our
fathers, that God commands us not to remove.
In the midst of the fierce and ever-to-be deplored con-
troversy between Dr. R. B. C. Howell, my dear old pastor,
and Dr. J. R. Graves, Brother Garrett spent several months in
Tennessee seeking a cure for a cancer that was eating away
Dr. Rufus C. Burleson. TOS
the life of his first angel wife. While there he studied prayer-
fully and carefully the ''Landmark Question" and the Howell-
Graves difficulty.
He came home iresolved to guard Texas "against all
"entangling alliances/' and to hold Texas Baptists firmly on
the old landmarks, without any "resetting;" in other words,
to let Tennessee settle her own difficulties, and to avoid all
ultraism and new issues about Pulpit Affiliation, the Interme-
diate State, "Did the Divinity Suffer ?" and "Inter-Commun-
ion," and to consecrate all our energies to make Texas the
greatest Baptist State between the oceans.
March 9, 188Y.
REV. DAVID B. MORRILL.
This name deserves to be recorded by the side of Rev.
James H. Stribling on the roll of "The Old Guard" of Texas
Baptists. I met him first in Galveston in 1848 during a
great revival I conducted in that city.
Brother Morrill descended from the illustrious New
England family of Merrills, but he was bom in New York,
and came to Texas a poor boy, and engaged to drive a hack
from Galveston to Matagorda for Mr. J. W. "Winnie. He
was so industrious, frugal and devoted to business he had
become part owner of that great stage line and was the super-
intendent. He invested all his earnings in Galveston city
property, and was laying the foundation of a splendid fortune,
all of which he surrendered for the life of a pioneer Baptist
preacher. His partner, Mr. Winnie, said to me : "You have
spoiled the finest business young man in Galveston." I replied,
"It is the Lord's doing, and not mine." Brother Morrill
immediately entered Baylor University at Independence to
prepare thoroughly for his life work.
At Baylor University he met a true yoke-fellow, Rev.
Jas. H. Stribling. They studied hard and prayed earnestly
all the week, and preached on Sunday in all the surrounding
neighborhoods. They conducted some of the greatest revi-
vals known in Texas, and at ISTew Year's Creek over seventy-
five souls were converted.
Brother Morrill was still a student in Baylor University
when I became President in 1851. He was reading Horace,
T04 The Life and Writings of
Homer and the Greek Testament with great zeal and fluency.
But his beloved yoke-fellow had gone into the great West to
preach Jesus, and often wrote him of the vast destitution and
hundreds of destitute towns and settlements, and "the Mace-
donian cry" was ringing in his ears by day and by night,
"Come over and help us," till at last he said to me, "I can stay
no longer." About this time a devout Baptist young lady.
Miss Laura Hatch, came to visit her old pastor, Kev, G. W.
Baines, and his family. The devout son of ISTew York and
the lovely daughter of Mississippi "met by chance, but the
usual way," as directed by Divine Providence. As two
transparent dewdrops of the morning mutually attract and
flow together, so these pure and noble young hearts attracted
each other, and on the I7th of February, 1852, they met at
the hymeneal altar, and the Eev. George W. Baines made
them one in name, and one in destiny, as they were already one
in affection. 'Never were two hearts more devoted to each
other or more consecrated to the church of the Redeemer.
Brother Morrill became pastor of Victoria, and Brother
Stribling at Gonzales, but they held meetings together in all
the growing towns from the mountains to the Gulf. This
arduous frontier labor was seriously impairing Brother Mor-
rill's health and depriving him of the opportunity of study he
so much desired. Hence he accepted the pastorship of the
church at Crockett. But while pastor at Crockett he gained a
clearer insight into the sad condition of the Baptist cause lying
east of the Trinity river.
Brother Morrill, therefore, accepted a call to the Mont-
gomery Church, and spent two years in earnest, successful
work and profound study of God's holy word. But his soul
pined for a wider and more laborious field for organizing the
•denomination in Eastern Texas. In 1859 "an open door"
was given him; he was elected general agent and missionary of
the East Texas Baptist Convention and corresponding editor
of the Texas Baptist. Thus, in' the three-fold capacity of
agent, editor and evangelist, he visited all Eastern Texas from
the Red River to the Gulf of Mexico.
His noble wife stayed at home and supported the family
w'hile he traversed all Eastern Texas and aroused the brethren
and chui'ches to a greater zeal for Jesus and our native land.
Dr. Rufus C. Burleson. . 705
Brother Morrill and other noble spirits in Eastern, Northwest-
em and Central Texas saw that to meet the growing needs of
all these sections there should be organized a General Asso-
ciation to act in perfect harmony wdth the dear old Baptist
State Convention, which for twenty years had done such glo-
rious work in Texas. To achieve this grand result. Brother
Morrill visited every association and nearly all the churches,
and aroused the whole of Eastern and Northwestern Texas to
the importance of a wider and stronger and grander organi-
zation.
While engaged in this noble work of love and union God
greatly blessed his preaching, and many glorious revivals fol-
lowed and hundreds were converted. At Ladonia alone seven-
ty-five souls were converted. The East Texas Convention and
the district associations cordially approved the new
organization, and appointed messengers to meet for general
consultation in Tyler during the regular session of the Chero-
kee Association, in October, 1867. After a full and broth-
erly consultation in Tyler, it was unanimously resolved to
meet at Chatfield, Navarro County, August, 1868, for per-
manent organization. Brother D. B. Morrill was appointed
to preach the introductory sermon and to continue his general
agency for Eastern Texas. The spirit of prayer and broth-
erly love was so earnest in this Tyler meeting God gave us a
glorious revival, and over 125 souls were converted. But,
alas, with a sad and almost bleeding heart, I saw Brother
Morrill had entirely overworked himself, and, like Spurgeon
and many of our noblest workers, neglected to hear the com-
mand of our all-wise and merciful Savior, ''Come ye apart and
rest awhile." I saw his whole nervous system was prostrate,
and I shuddered and wept when I saw that powerful consti-
tution he had when we toiled together in Galveston twenty
years ago was now utterly broken down. He removed to
Ladonia to supply that church as pastor and be nearer his
great work on Red Eiver and Northwest Texas. Though so
prostrate from overwork, work was essential to his happiness.
Great revivals and a new spirit of missions abounded wherever
he went. In February, 1868, he went to the beautiful town
of Honey Grove to preach an important doctrinal sermon
repelling some assaults on Baptist doctrine and history.
706 The Life axd Writings of
Though so feeble, he preached Avith wonderful power for two
hours, utterly anihilating all the false charges against the
Baptists. He rode home that evening ainid a piercing norther,
snow and ice. Reaching home, shivering with cold, he said
to his devoted wife: "I have preached my last sermon. I
am going home, where chilling winds are felt and feared no
more." The whole town was aroused. Unceasing prayers
were offered for his recovery by day and by night. But he
cheerfully said: "I am going home. Tell my brethren
everywhere I die in the arms of Jesus and in the path of duty,
and I want them to be united in love and meet me in heaven."
Scores of anxious friends, and even infidels, gathered around
his deathbed, to see vnth. what triumphant joy a Christian can
die.
Many were converted in the great revival that imme-
diately followed, and ascribed their conversion to the triumph-
ant death of Brother Morrill. When the noble bands of East-
ern, Central and Northwestern Texas assembled at Chatfield