The First Baptist Association in Texas

It is a circumstance marked, curious, and sad that the Baptist supporters of mission boards were unable to form an association by cooperating with Baptists who opposed mission boards – but were able to cooperate with a Campbellite sympathizer (since he was “missionary”) in order to form the first Baptist association in the state of Texas!

The Union Baptist Association at its organization had three ordained ministers: R. E. B. Baylor, T. W. Cox, and J. L. Davis. The “Campbellite sympathizer” was Thomas Washington Cox. Cox was involved in the presbyteries organizing all three churches that started the association, was pastor of all three at the time the association organized, and was elected moderator of the association.[i] While his tendencies may not have been obvious in 1840, Cox felt free to unveil them in 1841.[ii] “During the second session he preached on the subject of faith, and, departing from the doctrine plainly set forth in the New Testament, clearly taught the errors embraced in the system commonly known as Campbellism” (Morrell, p. 145). With some effort on their part and with resistance against them, several Baptist leaders brought charges against Cox before his church and the church excluded him.

The Texas Monument, Wednesday, February 11, 1852, p. 3

Most of this information can be found in Flowers and Fruits, Z. N. Morrell, pages 132-147, but I also reviewed the Union Association minutes of 1840-1841.

Table from the 1840 Union Association minutes

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[i] In the 1840 Union Association minutes, T. W. Cox is listed as pastor of the church Independence, “co-pastor” at Travis Church with Davis, and “co-pastor” at La Grange Church with Baylor and Davis. Presumably he was a member of the church at La Grange, and was one of the representatives of that church in forming the association. “Co-pastor” is not a word found in the Union Association minutes. I simply chose it to recognize the fact that Cox was listed as one of the “Pastors” (plural) at these two churches.
[ii] Hosea Holcombe wrote of Cox, that while in Alabama he was “rather arminian in his doctrinal views...” (Holcombe, p. 254). Cox was active among the Baptists in Alabama before moving to Texas (and apparently leaving under a cloud). See The Alabama Baptist State Convention, 1823-1842, and A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists of the Baptists of Alabama.