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

Chapter 3. EMERGING BAPTIST STRUCTURE, 1840 - 1848

42 3.1. James Huckins A New Englander by birth and educated at Brown University, James Huckins moved to Georgia in 1838 where he became friends with Jesse Mercer. Huckins then felt the call to Texas in 1840 and was appointed a missionary by the American Baptist Missionary Society of NewYork. First, he moved to Galveston where he helped constitute the First Baptist Church in 1840. In addition, Huckins also helped organize the Union Association (1841), the First Baptist Church of Houston (1841), and the Texas Baptist Education Society (1841). Along with R. E. B. Baylor and William Tryon, he played a prominent role in the acquisition of the charter for Baylor University . In 1859, Huckins moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where he finished his ministerial career. A. The Birth of the First Baptist Church of Galveston, 1840 (A Letter to Jesse Mercer) My Dear Father Mercer,—I arrived at this place on the 25th , and contrary to my expectations have been detained until now. Galveston is an island, thirty miles long, and from two to four miles wide, the surface of which is elevated a few feet above high water, presenting to the eye of the traveler, a vast plain, with scarcely a tree or a shrub to relieve the vision. The city of Galveston, lies on the eastern part of the island, where three years ago, stood only one solitary dwelling. But now not less than six hundred houses can be seen, while the population numbers three C H A P T E R 3 Emerging Baptist Structure, 1840–1848 thousand. Ships, steamboats and smaller vessels lining the wharves; warehouses and shops studding the streets; new buildings daily rising in every part of the city; the streets thronged with business men and with crowds of strangers—all evince great enterprise, and seem to be token of a great mercantile and commercial city. My determinations at first were to spend one day only in this place, but on touching the wharf, I was seized by an old acquaintance, who expressed his joy at meeting me, informed me, not only that several of my old acquaintances, but two of the members of my late church, were residents of the city. On meeting with these, I was urged to spend one Sabbath, if no more with them, and to collect and organize the scattered sheep of Christ’s flock. To this solicitation, I at once yielded, and the Presbyterian clergyman, (whose church is just organized) kindly invited me to occupy his place for meeting on the Sabbath night. I preached, the place was crowded and overflowing , and numbers with dejected spirits were forced to leave for want of room. Never in the appearance, whose countenances exhibited more intelligence and culture, or who heard the word of life with more interest and cultivation, or who heard the word of life with more interest and apparent devotion, than on this occasion. At the close of the service, I announced the object of my mission, and requested all members of Baptist Churches, and all partial to Baptist sentiment, to tarry a few moments after the benediction.About twenty-five remained, twelve of whom gave their names as members of Baptist churches in good standing, and requested to be organized into a church of Christ. The next Thursday night was appointed as a time to best set apart for presenting their letters , and for the examination of candidates. Source: James Huckins to Jesse Mercer, 6 February 1840, J. M. Carroll Collection, file 460, Archives, Southwestern Seminary. Reprint courtesy of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. B. First Baptism on Galveston Island, 1840 Tuesday last at 3 o’clock was the time set apart for baptism. The ordinance took place on the south side of the island. The day was fine and the congregation was numerous. The grandeur of the scenery conspired with the moral sublimity of the occasion, to awaken the strongest and most emotions. On one side as far as they eye could reach, lay the JAMES HUCKINS ⁄ 43 44 ⁄ EMERGING BAPTIST STRUCTURE, 1840–1848 vast prairies, on the other the boundless expanse of the ocean, lashing with its deep blue water the ground on which we stood. The beach too, presented a highway of unparalleled beauty, leading on through the whole length of the island, surpassing in hardness and smoothness any road which art has ever formed. There too was to be heard...