A Texas Baptist History Sourcebook: A Companion to McBeth's Texas Baptists

Chapter 2. BAPTIST BEGINNINGS IN TEXAS, 1820 - 1840

12 2.1 Zacharius N. Morrell Zacharius N. Morrell (1803–1883) was born in South Carolina, but spent most of his early years in Tennessee. Though he considered himself sickly, Morrell earned the nickname “Wildcat” because of his fervent desire to serve God and his ability as an Indian fighter. In 1835 Morrell and his family moved to Texas. After a brief stay at the Falls of the Brazos, Morrell was forced to move to Washington-on-the-Brazos because of Indian raids and the fall of the Alamo to Santa Anna. While he was at Washington-on-theBrazos , he formed the first missionary Baptist Church in Texas in 1837. Morrell also helped to form the Union Association (1840) and the Colorado Association (1847) which were the first Baptist Associations in Texas. In addition, he played a significant role in the birth of Baylor University at Independence (1845). The following excerpts from Morrell’s most famous work, Flowers and Fruits in the Wilderness, demonstrate his fervent love for his Savior and the rationale for his nickname Wildcat. Source: Z. N. Morrell, Flowers and Fruits in the Wilderness (Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, 1872). A. Morrell’s Call to Go to Texas “Where there is a will there is a way,” is an old adage that is true, provided that there is not too much undertaken, and provided, further, that the enterprise is in accordance with the will of God. Two hundred and fifty miles lay between me and the nearest soil of Texas, and it was C H A P T E R 2 Baptist Beginnings in Texas, 1820–1840 about five hundred miles to the “Falls of the Brazos.” But few believed that I could make this journey on horseback, yet a still small voice from Macedonia was heard, and the angel of vision bid me go forward saying , “God hath much people in the land.” We pass may things of interest ; cross the father of American waters at Rodney, Red River at Alexandria and reach old “Fort Gaines” on the Sabine, December 21, 1835. Our company numbered six, and while crossing the Sabine, the ferryman related the following incident, that made a deep impression upon our minds. The River at this crossing was the dividing line between Louisiana and Texas. Only a few days before a man rode up on the Louisiana side, evidently under great excitement, and at the top of his voice ordered the ferryman to bring over the boat. Supposing there was some emergency, the boat was promptly carried to the opposite shore, and the man landed as quick as possible on the Texas side. Just as he was ashore, an officer, with a body of men in pursuit of this refugee from justice, hailed on the eastern bank. The man, recognizing his pursuers, mounted his horse, rode up the hill entirely out of reach, and very deliberately made this short and pointed speech: “Gentlemen, I am just a little too fast for your sort. I am entirely safe.” Alighting from his horse and kissing the ground, he continued: “The Sabine River is a greater Savior than Jesus Christ. He saves men when they die from going to hell; but this river saves living men from prison.” We now began to realize the truth of what we had so often heard, that Texas was a place of refuge for scoundrels. Seeing then an impression was made upon our minds, the jocular ferryman, in order to dispel the cloud of gloom, continued: “And, gentlemen, what have you done that you have come to Texas?” The eyes of the lawyers, the doctors, the deacons, and the preachers that composed our company, were turned inquiringly towards each other, and while we waited for another to reply , no one answered. After ferriage was paid, we steered our course towards San Augustine. (pp. 29–30) B. Morrell’s First Sermon in Texas and Decision to Remain, 1835 Here on Little River we found the forty Tennessean landhunters, and among them Deacon Cartwell from the Baptist Church in NashZACHARIUS N. MORRELL ⁄ 13 14 ⁄ BAPTIST BEGINNINGS IN TEXAS, 1820–1840 ville. What a joyful and unexpected meeting it was! “Why,” said brother Cartwell, “I never expected to see our cane-brake preacher again. I thought that you had died with hemorrhage of the lungs.” My health by this time was almost entirely restored, and my voice clear and full; at least...