Concluding thoughts
The
bulk of his ministry occurred in the state of Texas. Yet Angus McAllister
Stewart was born, reared, educated, licensed, and ordained in Georgia – meaning
Georgia Free Will Baptists are a primary source of influence on the Free Will
Baptists of Texas, especially in East Texas and Central Texas where Stewart
labored profusely.[i]
As
an evangelist, Stewart engaged in revivals that over a century later appear
both numerous and successful.[ii]
He traveled, not only promoting the work of Free Will Baptist churches, but
also education. He pastored churches in Texas, Georgia, Minnesota, and perhaps
elsewhere. These churches include, in Georgia: Pleasant Grove and Pleasant Springs in the Chattahoochee Association; in Minnesota: Champlin, Hennepin County; in Texas:
Bright Light and Bryan in Brazos County; Lone Star and Rape’s Chapel[iii] in
Cherokee County; Evergreen in Grimes County; Beckville Clayton, Tatum, and Union
Chapel in Panola County; Good Hope and Union Springs in Rusk County. Some of
the churches organized by Stewart are found on pages one and two above. Not
listed in the previously referenced newspaper article, Evergreen Church in
Grimes County must be added to the list of churches organized by A. M. Stewart,
bringing the total to about 19 churches believed to be organized by him.[iv]
A.
M. Stewart was a man of letters, but apparently never an author. The theology
of Stewart is not known to be set down on paper, unless it found be in the
Articles of Faith of the Texas Free Will Baptist Association organized in1878.
As the founder and primary leader of the Texas Free Will Baptists at the time,
it is likely that he produced the Articles of Faith or at least heavily contributed
to the document. On the other hand, it is possible that the articles were
copied from an older source. Though the minutes of the first session of the
Texas Free Will Baptist Association are not available, the articles in 1894 and
later minutes likely represent the articles originally adopted by the
association. These Articles of Faith are both succinct and biblically-oriented.
The statement is limited to five articles; one each on God, Free Will,
Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the Bible.[v] The
statement consists mostly of quotations or references to biblical texts.
Article 1, for example, is basically a quotation of 1 Timothy 2:5-6. Article 5
is a quotation of 2 Timothy 3:16. This provided the foundation for the doctrine
and practice of the early Texas Free Will Baptists. The Constitution, Church
Decorum, Government and Ordinances documents provide further detail and insight
into the faith and practice of early Texas Free Will Baptists.
With
the understanding that A. M. Stewart founded the first Anglo-American Free Will
Baptist work with historical continuity,
we may pronounce him the “Founding Father” of Free Will Baptists in Texas. There
was a prior “spontaneous” work that emerged from the “Regular” Baptists that
had a brief existence circa 1850 in the area of Sabine County, Texas.[vi] The
African-American St. Paul Freewill Baptist Church in Lancaster, Texas preceded
Stewart’s church in Panola County by 6 years. Other Anglo Free Will Baptists
entered Texas independently of Stewart and also started churches that have
continued to the present – albeit arriving later than he. Nevertheless, through
his life and ministry, Angus McAllister Stewart made an original and lasting
contribution to the founding of Free Will Baptists in Texas.
His
work is done. He kept his faith. The
Panola Watchman reminded its readers regarding this “man of God, friend of
all mankind” who was “loved by all with whom he had acquaintance”
Weep not that his toil is over;
Weep not that his race is run.
God grant we may rest as sweetly,
When, like his, our work is done.
[i]
Joseph Apperson, moderator of the 1894 session of the Texas Free Will Baptist
Association and pastor of New Prospect in Cherokee County, was also already an
ordained minister in Georgia before he came to Texas. His father David J.
Apperson served as moderator of the Chattahoochee United Free Will Baptist
Association about 30 years.
[ii] Some
of the revivals lasted three weeks, perhaps longer. Stewart at times had charge
of the music – “The choir under the direction of Mr. Stewart aids in the
services with splendid music – and he also engaged noted singers of the day,
such as W. C. Frasier and J.
E. Thomas. See The Bryan Daily Eagle,
Friday, Vol. 18, No. 148, May 16, 1913, p. 2 ; “The Revival,” The Bryan Daily Eagle, Vol. 3, No. 125,
Tuesday, April 26, 1898, p. 4; “The Revival,” The Bryan Daily Eagle, Vol. 3, No. 132, Tuesday, May 4, 1898, p. 4;
“Continued Meeting,” The Bryan Morning
Eagle, Vol. 4, No. 129, Wednesday, April 26, 1899, p. 3.
[iii]
I have not located Rape’s Chapel in Cherokee County or elsewhere, but the
assumption is that it was located in Cherokee County, Texas.
[iv]
Evergreen at Keith in Grimes County was organized by Stewart in 1895. W. T.
Wood was the first pastor. See From the
Red to the Rio Grande, p. 283.
[v]
For example, neither apostasy nor feet washing are mentioned – though feet
washing is briefly addressed the 29th statement of the “Church Decorum.”
[vi]
The Free Will Missionary Baptist Association was formed by churches that
withdrew from the Sabine Baptist Association. The Sabine Association was not
“Primitive,” but was opposed to Missionary Societies, Fraternal Orders and
(apparently) held to a general Calvinistic soteriology. In contrast, the Free
Will Missionary Baptist Association adopted the name “Free Will” and held the
distinctives of Free Will Baptist theology – general provision, the free
response to the universal call of the gospel, open communion and apostasy, as
well as adopting pulpit affiliation (i.e., exchanging pulpits with different
orders of Baptists and/or other denominations, which neither the
Anti-Missionary Society, Missionary, nor Primitive Baptists would do). – Flowers and Fruits from the Wilderness,
Z. N. Morrell, 1872, pp. 192-93.
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