Today at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Tyler, Texas, church members try to untangle the truth regarding charges brought against one of their own. The charges are explosive: Bro. Isaac Taylor, the accused, is charged with lying, treason, and immorality. Representing an unusual case for a Baptist church conference meeting (because of Baptists’ historic commitment to church state separation), Taylor’s loyalty to the Confederacy is questioned first and foremost.
The charges are incurred against the backdrop of a county (Smith County) in the Lone Star state that harbors few sectional dissenters during the war years. As is often the case when a local church addresses complex discipline cases, leaders from other nearby Baptist congregations attend the conference meeting as invited observers and advisors.
Church met in conference after singing and prayer. Bro. E. M. Carter, Moderator, pro tem.
Visiting brethren invited to seats during Conference; references called for.
The case of Bro. Isaac Taylor was taken up, concerning resolutions and editorial comments published in the Tyler Reporter, on June 20, 1861, and States’ Right Sentinel, on June 21, 1861, in Tyler, Smith county, Texas. Said resolutions being drawn, introduced and passed by a home guard company in Dr. L. W. Smith’s neighborhood, charging Bro. Taylor with being a liar, and a hypocritical and treacherous man, and also untrue to his country. The editorial comment, accusing him of being a traitor to his country.
By a request of the church the following visiting brethren were present, viz:
From Tyler church, brethren W. S. Bayley and Samuel Dean.
From Salem church, brethren Willis, Bass, and O. Prestrage.
From Harmony church, Wm. Maxfield and Wm. Acker.
From Ebenezer, N. F. Chaimbers.
On motion, the following brethren (being present) were added to their respective committees, viz:
Tyler church, Bro. Matthew Wood, Salem church, William Robertson. Harmony church Andrew Pinkerton.
The resolutions and editorial comments were then read.
Evidence relative to the statements set forth in said resolutions and comments was then heard. The church then decided that the statements were false, and that Bro. Taylor was honorably acquitted of the charges preferred against him.
The church then introduced Bro. Taylor’s nearest neighbors, (members of the Baptist church), to give evidence relative to his moral and religious character, which was proved to be unsullied. Bro. Samuel Dean was then interrogated as to a report in circulation that Bro. Taylor had killed his wife while living in Alabama. Bro. Dean said in substance as follows: while he lived in Alabama he was intimately acquainted with a Mr. Isaac Taylor, whose wife left him, and came to Texas, and that he never knew Bro. Taylor, now of this county, until a short time since, though he was satisfied that the Isaac Taylor that lived in Alabama never killed his wife, and, also, that this Isaac Taylor, of Smith county, Texas, is not the same he knew in Alabama.
On motion, the church appointed a committee to draft resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the meeting, and brethren, present, relative to Bro. Taylor. The committee then made the following report, which was read and unanimously adopted:
To the Moderator and members composing the Conference of Mount Zion church:WE, your committee, beg leave to make the following report, viz.:
THAT, whereas, certain reports have been circulated injurious to the character of Elder Isaac Taylor,
Resolved, 1st, That after a patient and thorough investigation it is found that said reports are without foundation.
Resolved, 2nd, That we most respectfully recommend Elder Isaac Taylor to the care and confidence of all Baptist churches wherever God, in His providence, may cast his lot.
Resolved, 3d, That a copy of these resolutions, and the Minutes of the church be presented to the editors of the Tyler Reporter, and the Tennessee Baptist, and that they be requested to publish the same,
Signed,Matthew Wood, Chairman.
W. S. Baley,
Sm’l. Dean,
Com.O. Prestrage,
Saml. Heidleberg
Local church requests for church minutes to be published in newspapers (religious or secular) are rare. Perhaps the circumstances – anchored in southern Baptist support of the Confederacy – afforded an exception to the norm in this instance.
Sources: Church Minutes, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Smith County, Texas, September 28, 1861 (link); “A Brief History of Tyler and Smith County, Texas” (link); Vicki Betts, Smith County, Texas, in the Civil War (link)
