HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972 Thirty Years History: First Baptist Church Book (Pg. 12)`There is no piece of work that is being done at the institution
which I regard as of greater material value to the men and to the
institution than that being done by the college pastors. The greatest
need is outside financial support, as there are sufficient workers to carry
on a constructive program if we could only have adequate equipment."
The Pastor Makes A Statement
"The imperative and vital need of the Baptist denomination at A&M is a
church building adequate to take care of our ever -enlarging Sunday
School, our growing BYPU program and our vital preaching service. This
building should provide a place adequate to meet the needs of the social
life of our large group of Baptist students. If A&M ever has such a building
the Baptists of Texas must provide it for our church membership is made
up largely of students. This is a missionary responsibility and oppor-
tunity. What will the Baptists of Texas do with it? It is the hope of the
pastor that many who read these statements will wish W have a vital part
in the Baptist work here and send us a contribution. We are hoping and
praying that we may begin our church budding within another year."
1926-1927
The readers will note that the organization of the church, securing the
lot and the building of the parsonage gave a great incentive for the Baptists
of College Station to go forward in their education and training program.
The Baptists now have a complete and normal W.M.U., Sunday School
and BYPU program. The Baptists are now using not only the auditorium
in the E. E. Budding but almost every available classroom and three
classrooms in the Academic Building. The following record will give some
idea of the enlarged program:
Sunday School Enrollment BYPU Enrollment
Officers and teachers
14
Adult
18
Adult
16
Senior
20
Senior
17
Junior
12
Junior
14
Sophomore
24
Freshmen
92
Freshman No. 1
31
Sophomore
37
Freshman No.2
20
Intermediate
18
Intermediate
20
Junior
15
Junior
12
Primary
8
Primary
10
Beginners
6
Total
237
Total
177
The growing interest and attendance of the Baptists made meeting in
college buildings more difficult and the need for a church building more
urgent.
The spring of 1928 was a most trying time for the churches at A&M.
The churches had planned to have a revival for the community and all
college students. They had secured a preacher and song leader for the
services. They had the promise of a place to hold the meeting but a short
while before the meeting was to begin were informed that the place for
the meeting could not be used. This called for immediate action; there-
fore, the ministerial association called a meeting at the Presbyterian
manse on March 29, 1928. The ministers voted unanimously to postpone
the revival and adopted the following resolution:
"RESOLVED—That in the interest of all concerned, the lack of time
to make adequate preparation and certain complications arising at the last
minute, we agree to a postponement of the date for the union revival
meeting."
This resolution was sent to the preacher, the song leader and the
college officials. At a called meeting of the student body, the matter was
presented and the students voted unanimously to postpone the revival.
This, of course, was not good publicity for the college, which made it a
little harder on the denominations using the college buildings. It was
especially hard on the Baptists since they were so large and using so many
rooms in the college buildings. Also, by the very nature of the Baptist
program, the Baptist church was a democratic organimation and free from
any outside control. The only angle of outside control would be through
the BSU organization since the pastor was also BSU secretary.
At a meeting of the Baptist Executive Board of Texas, the A&M
situation was presented and a committee to investigate the A&M program
was recommended. Between the time the motion was made and the
appointment of the committee, the pastor of the First Baptist Church,
Bryan, had a conference with the chairman of the Board. When the
committee was appointed, the chairman was pastor of the chairman of the
A&M College Board of Directors. Rev. Brown knew immediately that the
situation for him was serious and anticipated the outcome. The meeting
of the committee with the college officials was scheduled early in the fall
semester.
The day the committee met, a member of one of the other churches at
A&M called Mrs. Brown and said that Bro. Brown and the Baptist Church
were the only ones that could save the entire denominational program at
College Station and that while the committee and the college officials
were in session that there would be prayer meetings all over the campus.
The Baptist pastor and BSU secretary was never called before the commit-
tee. Another meeting of the committee was set to meet in Houston, at
which time the Baptist leader was allowed to present his side of the
situation. After a long discussion the chairman of the denominational
committee suggested that Rev. Brown be given six weeks to close up his
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