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a man of cool judgment, and his counsel was sought
in the decision of important matters; his interest in
the extension of God's kingdom was deep, and it did
not decline. He believed that what ought to be done
should be undertaken, and so he was always ready to
move forward where duty pointed the way. He came
of sturdy Pennsylvania stock; the father, H. L.
Thomas, and the two sons, M. H. and W. H., came
to Camden in 1865 and they at once united with the
Deer Creek church, and soon began casting about for
the planting of a Baptist church in Galveston. In 1868
a church was organized and M. H. Thomas was elected
a deacon; at once the matter of a church building was
brought up and he was made chairman of the building
committee. In 1870 a meeting house costing $4,500
was dedicated. The Association organized a Sunday
school convention in 1871 and he was elected first
president; he was superintendent of his own Sunday
school from its organization. As was suggested before,
he was first to suggest systematic beneficence in the
churches. He was honored by his brethren with mem-
bership on important boards, as of the College and
State missions. He died in 18--.
Another layman whose name and work are inter-
woven with the history of the Association is Deacon
B. S. Dunkin. He was clerk of the body for seven-
teen years and was often appointed on important com-
mittees. He is a man of cheerful disposition, well
instructed in the doctrines of the denomination, and
his most earnest ambition is to see the advancement
of the kingdom of his Lord; and he has not hesitated
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to invest, according to his ability, in the various de-
nominational enterprises. His influence in his home
has been such that all his children gladly "rise up and
call him blessed," for they have all been inspired with
the high purpose of giving their powers to the service
of God and man.
As to the ministers of the Association none would
rise to our minds sooner than the Rev. B. R. Ward.
He has been pastor of many of the churches of the
Association, and his position was always on the right
side of every great issue. That he was held in high
esteem by his brethren may be inferred from the fact
that he was seven times chosen to preach the annual
sermon, and was fifteen times chosen moderator.
The Rev. R. B. Craig was one of the efficient and
self-sacrificing ministers of the Association; he also
was pastor of many of the churches, and had large
influence because of his earnest, quiet christian spirit,
and had the complete confidence of the churches; he
was elected clerk of the Association for fourteen dif-
ferent years. He and the Rev. R. B. Ward were both
students in Franklin College for a while. Two others
who were early in the Association were the Revs.
Price Odell and Philip McDade; they were recognized
as faithful ministers and earnest workers for the good
of the churches.
The Rev. William DeBolt was later in the service
and proved himself a worthy worker. He had the
advantage of a liberal education, and was known as
an instructive preacher. He was, for a while, prin-
cipal of Ladoga Seminary.
