Watson Should Be Honored

Elder (Dr.) John M. Watson should be greatly honored by those calling themselves "Primitive Baptists," but sadly he is today mostly ignored, and the few that do know of him and his writings, and his place in PB history, reject most of what he says in his criticisms of the Two Seed elements within the newly formed denomination. He certainly deserves far more reverence than such names as Wilson Thompson, Grigg Thompson, C.H. Cayce, Lemuel Potter, John R. Daily, etc.! Every PB church should have at least one meeting each year to honor this founding father of their denomination and make his writings available to them. They should talk about the history of the time in which he lived, for he lived in the formative years of their denomination. They should certainly discuss the issues he has raised. 

If today's PBs will read their 19th century history they will find that the credentials of John Watson were never denied. Elder Sylvester Hassell, their leading historian, says that he was one of their leaders and spokesman. So too did Elder Gilbert Beebe. Watson edited several of the first periodicals of the PBs, such as "The Old Baptist Banner" (with Washington Lowe) and "The Correspondent." He was also a frequent writer to "The Signs of the Times" and "The Primitive Baptist" (NC) and "Zion's Advocate." Also, his crowning work was "The Old Baptist Test." This book should be made available to every Hardshell. It's first edition seems to have been written in the late 1850s and completed by Watson's young associate and fellow minister, Elder (Dr.) R. W. Fain, who also wrote the preface (1866-67). Fain also sold this book for several years when he edited both "The Herald of Truth" and "The Baptist Watchman" in middle Tennessee (through the late 1870s). 

In closing let me ask my Hardshell brothers to answer this question:

Why was Watson and his writings popular and representative with primitives or old schoolers in the 19th century, but not in the 20th or 21st?

Ponder that question deeply and let us hope that we will hear the answer from our Hardshell brothers.