Travels in Baptist History 21 Does God avenge his people? by Jim Curran
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Travels in Baptist History 21 Does God avenge his people? by Jim Curran
Of course, the answer must be yes. In writing the story of the glorious return of the Waldensians and the battle of Salbertrand (travels in Baptist history part18) I was reminded of when I had visited San Jacinto (near Houston Texas) and the monument there. This was the defining moment of Texas’ war of Independence. Led by Sam Houston (who would later get saved and become a Baptist) a smaller army of Texans who had been in constant retreat won one of the most decisive battles in history over a larger Mexican army. The numbers and comparisons between the battles were intriguing. roughly the losses were about the same on both sides 600 for the French 650 for the Mexicans and 15 for the Waldenses and 11 for the Texans. But there is another intriguing parallel- both avenged the blood of God’s martyrs. You see when the Texans ran into battle they yelled Remember the Alamo and REMEMBER GOLIAD. You do not hear that last one much in today’s history books. for it is not too politically correct to mention it. (It must also be noted that the Mexican army was entirely Roman Catholic. One priest did however protest the actions) At Goliad there were about 400 Texan prisoners of war who had been captured when Col. Fannin had surrendered. They were promised safety yet that promise would be broken in the most cold hearted way. They were led out in several groups and shot in cold blood by the Mexican army- Only 28 managed to escape in the confusion. There were Baptists among them. BH Carroll in his History of Texas Baptists gives the following account. But what of the Baptists ?Again we are troubled to answer. Again we lack definite data ,but this time we have some records. In Fannin’s small army was Wilson Simpson from Fayette County. He and his family were devout Baptists. Simpson was one of the fortunate ones who made their escape. He reached Houston’s army in time to fight gloriously in the battle of San Jacinto. He died in 1871. He has a son, J. P. Simpson, now living at Copperas Cove, Texas. A. C. Horton, a Baptist deacon and later to be elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas, was another member of Fannin’s small army. He was an officer in the cavalry. He had been sent out on a scouting expedition, and thus almost by a miracle escaped the massacre.In an old book, published in 1842, (Ambrosio De Letinez by A.T. Myrth Vol I pages 185-186) only six years after the events above described took place, we found the following record concerning the slaughter of Fannin and his men . After graphically picturing the heroic death of Fannin, then group after group of his followers, the author added :” In the last lot came two Baptist preachers who went on exhorting their comrades. When they had reached the place where they were to suffer, the eldest called upon his companions to join him in prayer. Not one refused. Even many of the Mexicans, though unable to understand his language, fell on their knees in imitation of the Texans. Then with an enthusiasm of which it is impossible for anyone who was not an eyewitness to form an idea, the elder called upon God, saying :” We return unto thee, 0 Almighty Being, who from high heaven directest all things for thy greatest glory . This body which thou gavest us is now a falling sacrifice because we have asserted the rights of freemen and the liberty of the Holy Gospel; but Oh ! vouchsafe thou to receive our spirits into thy bosom , and grant true freedom to this land which has drunk the blood of our companions in arms. Deliver it from the darkness that overshadows it , and inspire the people with repentance for their deeds of cruelty. Thy martyrs we are , but we lay it not to their charge. Let not our death be visited upon them. We, who bleed beneath their knife , beg it of thee !” ” Here he was interrupted by the voice of the commander, who in a rage called out, in Spanish : “ ‘Fire! Fire ! Finish with them ! ‘ ” But yet, as the bullets whistled, and his companions fell around him, the preacher lifted up towards heaven his arms, now reddened with gore, and said :“ We come unto thee! We come, O Lord ! O God of heaven, lookdown upon us ! In thee we die ! ‘” He had no time to continue, for one of the dragoons, running up to him, cleft his head at one single stroke, and this assassin was followed by his comrades, who frightfully hacking the dying and the dead, soon achieved what their guns had left unfinished.” God heard that preacher’s prayer and gave freedom to that land that became Texas. God is still answering that preacher’s prayer today granting freedom too as we are seeing the Gospel spread in Mexico! People are receiving true freedom and being delivered from darkness to the light of Christ. I will close with these wordsREMEMBER GOLIAD!!
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