J. M. Martin and “The Little Baptist”

“and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:15

“Oh, Mamma! look here! This Bible that brother gave me, is a Baptist Bible.”

What is The Little Baptist?

The Little Baptist is a religious novel that critiques infant baptism and teaches Baptist distinctives. The primary audience is children, but it may be read with profit by adults. The story follows 10-year-old Mellie Brown. Though her family is Presbyterian, through reading a Bible given to her by her brother, she sees the mode of baptism is immersion. The novel is built around the discussions and interactions of Mellie, her parents, her friends, Dr. Farnsworth (a Presbyterian minister), Dr. Atwood (a Christian/Campbellite minister), and others. The blurb on the back of the Bogard Press printing explains:

The title is derived from the taunting nickname given a bright girl of ten years, because of her inquisitiveness in reading the Bible. Mellie Brown, child of a Presbyterian family, received a Bible as a gift and upon reading it came to the story of the baptism of Jesus. When she had finished this story, she protested to her mother that a mistake had been made and that a Baptist Bible had been given to her. This started conversations in the home, on the school grounds, and among Mellie’s friends on such subjects as baptism—form, subject, design; communion, as they called it; and a scriptural church. In easy language throughout Mellie supports her positions by the use of the text of the Bible; she cites no so-called authorities. A most convincing story.

The popularity of The Little Baptist can be seen in its being kept in print from the 19th century to the present by various publishers, such as Baptist Book Concern, Louisville, KY (1898);[i] Broadman Press, Nashville, TN (no date); Bogard Press, Texarkana, AR-TX (no date);[ii] and Parker Memorial Baptist Church, Lansing, MI (no date). Besides remaining in print, the public domain book is available online in assorted locations. 

About 1876, J. R. Graves’s paper The Baptist began to advertise a version edited by M. P. Lowrey, a Baptist preacher in Ripley, Mississippi. A statement by Lowrey in the “Mississippi Department” of The Baptist suggests this edition was printed by the Southern Baptist Publication Society. The 1898 Baptist Book Concern printing includes a “Preface to New Edition,” which indicates some minor editing by T. T. Eaton of Louisville, Kentucky. Also, an appendix on baptism from the periodical The Baptist Outlook was probably added at that same time (1898).[iii] At least one printing has the subtitle “A Young Girl’s Look at Plain Truth.”

Who wrote The Little Baptist?

J. M. Martin of Rienzi, Mississippi.

In his “Preface” to the book, Martin apprises his readers:

I have written a book; not for the student of classic lore, but for the young, to whom plain truths are of more value than polished style. Should it serve the cause of truth, I shall be content for critics to exercise their talents upon its imperfections. The object of the book is to give a plain, common sense view of the doctrines of the gospel, and to present, in a simple style, the peculiar features distinguishing Baptists from all other Christian denominations. I have no design against the Presbyterians, as such, but select them only as representatives of the great Pedo-baptist family. The expressions that Dr. Farnsworth is made to use, are generally the stereotyped sentences used by Methodist and Presbyterian controversialists with whom I am acquainted. The trial and expulsion of Mrs. Brown from the church, is introduced merely to form a basis from which to present the Communion question in its true light, and not with a view to show intolerance in the Presbyterian church.

With whatever imperfections this book may have, and with a just feeling of responsibility for the result of its teachings, I send it forth, attended by a fervent prayer that it may be instrumental in the accomplishment of much good.

J. M. MARTIN.

Rienzi, Miss.

Who was J. M. Martin?

From the book itself, we can determine J. M. Martin (1) lived in Rienzi, Mississippi, (2) was a Baptist.[iv] Beyond that he is not identified. However, the specification of Rienzi, Mississippi as his residence helps us narrow down and identify the author. He is sometimes misidentified. For example, Lives of Mississippi Authors, 1817-1967 has this entry for J. M. Martin.

MARTIN, JAMES M: ?-1900. James M. Martin was for many years a Baptist minister in Rienze, Mississippi. He was present at the founding of the Tishomingo Baptist Association in 1860 and served as its first secretary. In 1898 appeared Martin’s The Little Baptist, designed to present to children the doctrines of the Baptist Church. F; A Complete History of Mississippi Baptists by Zachary Taylor Leavell. 

The Little Baptist. Louisville: Baptist Book Concern, 1898.

Which Way, Sirs, the Better? A Story of Our Toilers. Boston: Arena Publishing Company, 1895.

- From Lives of Mississippi Authors, 1817-1967, James B. Lloyd, Editor. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi, 1981, page 326.

This entry contains at least two errors (and maybe more). Assuming the book first appeared in 1898, the compilers apparently looked for a J. M. Martin who died after 1898, but a 1900 death date is wrong. The second book listed was written by J. M. Martin of New Castle, Pennsylvania, not J. M. Martin of Alcorn County, Mississippi. Thirdly, it is not certain that Martin was an ordained minister. Most likely he was not.

Statements about the book and its author by M. P. Lowrey in the “Mississippi Department” of The Baptist provide information to identify the author, as well as roughly when The Little Baptist was written. Lowrey explains:

Acting for Bro. J. M. Martin, lately of Rienzi, but now of Corinth, we sold to Bro. Mayfield, for the Publication Society, the manuscript of a little book, entitled ‘The Little Baptist.’ Years ago Bro. Graves, in his travels, saw a little book entitled ‘The Little Episcopalian.’ He was impressed with the ingenuity and simplicity of the book, and made a call at once for some one to write a book to be entitled ‘The Little Baptist.’ Bro. Martin’s ready mind and ready pen were soon at work, and the manuscript was soon offered to the Sunday-school Board. While Dr. Teasdale was Corresponding Secretary of the Board he examined the manuscript and was much pleased with it. A few copies of it were published in The Baptist, and, we think, met a general approval. The Sunday-school Board went down and the manuscript fell back to Bro. Martin. He put it in our hands for examination and revision. We returned it to him with some suggestions. He re wrote it, then returned it to us, we carefully examined and revised it again, and now it is gone to the Publication Society, and will soon go to the public, printed and bound in that handsome style so characteristic of our new Society. It will be an attractive book to children; but if our Pedobaptist people do not want their children to take a common sense view of Bible teaching on baptism and communion they would better keep that book out of their hands. We shall have more to say about it (D. V.) when it is published.

- “More About Our Recent Visit To Memphis,” M. P. Lowrey in “Mississippi Department,” The Baptist, March 18, 1876, page 264.

Lowrey provides a bit of extra information that is important.[v] J. M. Martin had lived in Rienzi, but had recently moved to Corinth, Mississippi. This movement is consistent with a particular J. M. (James M.) Martin who is found in Rienzi in the 1850-1870 censuses, but is living in Corinth in 1880. J. M. Martin was still living in Rienzi in March of 1875 when a tornado hit the town and destroyed his home.[vii]  By March of 1876 he had moved to Corinth. Censuses show his occupation as farmer, clerk of a dry goods store, and circuit clerk of Alcorn County. At the time of his death, he was apparently publisher of the Corinth Herald newspaper.[vii]

In 1860, this J. M. Martin was appointed secretary of a convention called at Burnsville for the purpose of organizing a new Baptist Association. He was later elected the first clerk of the Tishomingo Baptist Association. He attended as a delegate of the Baptist Church at Rienzi. M. P. Lowrey was his pastor. As clerk, Martin was given responsibility to superintend the printing of the minutes and their distribution. He was paid $10 for his services.[viii]  Other accessible minutes suggest he probably served as clerk until around 1874.[ix]  He was a very active member of the association, writing reports, participating in union meetings, etc. At the 1866 associational meeting, J. M. Martin was one among thirteen men assigned to write essays to be read at the union meeting of the first district of the association in July of 1867. His topic was “The Kingdom of Christ.”[x] He was elected treasurer of a Sunday School Convention organized at Corinth Church in 1871.[xi] M. P. Lowrey describes Martin as a “frequent correspondent” of The Baptist.[xii] However, despite sometimes being identified as “Rev.” or “Eld.” in various media, he apparently was a layman (or perhaps a deacon) rather than a preacher. That he is never included in Tishomingo Baptist Association list of either ordained or licensed ministers should be sufficient evidence of that. Oddly enough, he is listed as “Eld. J. M. Martin” in the 1894 Tishomingo Association minute book that includes his name in the deaths from Corinth Baptist Church.

J. M. Martin was born February 26, 1827 in Alabama, apparently the son of John Martin and Elizabeth Norman. His middle name may have been “Monroe.”[xiii] Martin married Eliza (last name unknown) circa 1847, and they had at least seven children.[xiv] J. M. Martin died of the results of a stroke October 28, 1893, and was buried beside his wife in the Henry Cemetery at Corinth.

J. M. Martin died at Corinth last week, having suffered a stroke of paralysis. He was 66 years old, served the county in the capacity of circuit clerk for eight years.[xv] 

Available testimony concerning James M. Martin distinguishes him as an honorable member of the Baptist brotherhood and respectable citizen of Alcorn County, Mississippi. Though The Little Baptist has remained a popular book, it seems its author—at least as an author—has been largely forgotten. Though he wrote for the faith rather than fortune and fame, perhaps it is time to render honour to whom honour is due.

When was The Little Baptist written?

If you check on the internet, you will find claims that The Little Baptist was written in 1848. For example, “The Little Baptist has been out of print since 1848. It was written by J. M. Martin of Rienzi, Mississippi, and was published by the Baptist Book Concern well before the Civil War.” This statement is incorrect. There is a misprinting of the date in some Baptist Book Concern editions – 1848 rather than 1898.[xvi] 1898 is the correct date and is properly printed in other editions. That the 1848 date is incorrect may be seen in the following facts:

• The Baptist Book Concern of Louisville, Kentucky was formed about 1890 by W. P. Harvey and T. T. Eaton. It did not exist in 1848.[xvii] 
• The Little Baptist was written after The Little Episcopalian, which was published in 1854.[xviii] 
• The first printer of the book, Southern Baptist Publication Society, was not chartered until 1871.[xix] 
• The book first printed after March 1876, with the possible exception of some excerpts running in The Baptist.[xx] 

These facts demonstrate that the book could not have been written in 1848. Its time of writing may be narrowed by two points made by M. P. Lowery. The Little Baptist was written by James M. Martin (1827-1893) of Alcorn County, Mississippi between May 1869 and May 1871. In May 1869, J. R. Graves recounts seeing the book The Little Episcopalian, and asks, “Is there not a brother, or a church that will write” a book under the title The Little Baptist? T. C. Teasdale received a copy while he was corresponding secretary of the Sunday School Board. He served in that position in September 15, 1869 to September 15, 1871. On May 27, 1871 (The Baptist, page 4), The Little Baptist is described as being “ready for the publication rooms.” However, there are currently no extant advertisements of the book for sale by the Sunday School Board. The Little Baptist was evidently first printed and sold by the Southern Baptist Publication Society circa 1876-77. More information on the printing by SBPS is doubtless out there somewhere, but I have yet to find it.

The Southern Baptist Publication Society…Condensed List of Our New and Popular Publications

The Baptist, Saturday, April 14, 1877, page 303

---

[i] In the “Preface to New Edition,” T. T. Eaton says that over 100,000 copies has been issued before the printing of this new edition in 1898.

[ii] The Bogard Press states they took up printing The Little Baptist because “the former publishers elected not to reprint it.” This probably most immediately was Broadman Press. They also have a note “No changes have been made in the present edition.”

[iii] I do not have first edition, circa 1876, and so cannot determine whether the “Appendix” was added in 1898 or was part of the first printing.

[iv] Though in his preface Martin does not specifically state that he is a Baptist, his book promoting and defending Baptist principles makes that conclusion obvious.

[v] Mark Perrin Lowrey labored with Martin in the Tishomingo Association, so was personally acquainted with him.

[vi] As well as other homes, and the church buildings of the Baptists and Presbyterians.

[vii] An obituary of Judson Martin, J. M.’s son, says his father established the Herald and that the son took over as publisher after the death of his father. Jackson Daily News, Saturday, August 14, 1909, p. 3.

[viii] A Complete History of Mississippi Baptists, Volume II, Zachary Taylor Leavell; Bailey, Thomas Jefferson Bailey; Jackson, MS: Mississippi Baptist Publishing Co., 1904, pp. 894-896. Minutes of the Convention Organizing the Tishomingo Baptist Association, November 9-10, 1860, pp. 1-3, 8.

[ix] A number of early minutes of the Tishomingo Baptist Association can be found at Archive.org. The association likely did not meet in some of the years during the War.

[x] Minutes of the Sixth Anniversary of the Tishomingo Baptist Association, September 1866, p. 4.

[xi] “S. S. Conventions. Corinth,” in “Mississippi Department,” The Baptist, Saturday, May 27, 1871, p. 3.

[xii] “Summary,” by M. P. Lowrey in “Mississippi Department,” The Baptist, Saturday, March 27, 1875, p. 3.

[xiii] His parents and middle name come from family tree information posted on Ancestry.com – some of which is unsourced. A newspaper obituary confirms that Thomas Norman Martin of Driftwood Springs, Hays County, Texas is his brother (The Weekly Corinthian, July 24, 1901, p. 3). There is no obvious kinship to well-known Mississippi Baptist preachers M. T. Martin and T. T. Martin.

[xiv] Found in censuses are: Nancy, Betty, Laura, Margaret, Catherine (Kitty), Martha, Judson, and Mary. Based on age, Margaret and Catherine may be the same person. There might be other children who died between censuses. As a Baptist father of many daughters, he was no doubt uniquely qualified to write the story of heroine Mellie Brown.

[xv] “Miscellaneous,” The Grenada Sentinel, Saturday, November 11, 1893, p. 2.

[xvi] “In some copies of the Baptist Book Concern’s printing of The Little Baptist, the publication date mistakenly is typed as 1848…” Email from Adam G. Winters (Archivist, James P. Boyce Centennial Library) 17 April 2023.

[xvii] “My understanding is that the Baptist Book Concern launched in January 1890, according to two editorials (January 9 and 30 of 1890) in the Western Recorder, led by the financial backing of W. P. Harvey and the publishing experience of T. T. Eaton.” Email from Adam G. Winters (Archivist, James P. Boyce Centennial Library) 17 April 2023.

[xviii]“More About Our Recent Visit To Memphis,” M. P. Lowrey in “Mississippi Department,” The Baptist, March 18, 1876, page 264. The Little Episcopalian: Or, the Child Taught by the Prayer Book, M. A. C. (Mary Ann Cruse). New York, NY: General Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union, 1854.

[xix] Big Hatchie Association approved the idea of the Southern Baptist Publication Society at its fall session in 1870. The Society was chartered in 1871 and possibly did not publish any books until around 1874.

[xx] Lowrey writes, “. A few copies of it were published in The Baptist, and, we think, met a general approval.” I have not located anything in The Baptist.