J. Frank Norris: Texas fundamentalist pastor and controversial activist

Frank Norris: A Controversial Yet Committed Fundamentalist

Don't fail to make it clear -- remember there's a man out there in front of you that is thinking about his cattle, and a woman thinking about her housecleaning -- and it's up to you to get their attention. - J. Frank Norris

There is no doubt that J. Frank Norris' sermons as well as his life in general got our attention. Indeed, he was a man who passionately stood up for what he believed whether he was behind the pulpit or behind the typewriter.

Frank Norris' life began prior to the turn of the century in Dadeville, Alabama in 1877. When he was approximately four years old, his family moved to Hubbard, Texas, where he lived until he graduated from high school. After high school, Norris attended Baylor University and then Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. After graduation, from 1905-1907, Norris preached at McKinney Avenue Baptist Church in Dallas (Allexperts.com). Thereafter, he became editor of the newspaper the Baptist Standard and used his influence there to prohibit gambling in Texas (Arlington). In another two years, in 1909, Norris sold his interest in the paper and became the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. In time, Norris would come to be known by many names such as Texas Tornado and Texas Cyclone; and, he was known to be in his share of controversial situations (Allexperts). Nevertheless, with regard to his commitment to the fundamentalist independent movement, there is little doubt of his devotion to God, his church, and his congregation.

A Unique, Dedicated Man, Not Without an Aura of Controversy

In addition to being a pastor and a newspaper editor, Norris also became the first evangelical radio minister. In 1925, he acquired a radio station with the appropriate call letters: KFQG ("Keep Folks Quoting the Bible!"). Throughout his career, he broadcasted his sermons from coast to coast via the radio thereby enhancing his already significant fellowship. In his shoes, he was not shy about espousing his belief in God and imploring his congregation of the sins of gambling, liquor, and communism (Arlington). He became known, therefore, as a social activist and a controversialist since he did was not afraid to speak out against society's ills nor was he afraid to conceal his connection with the Klu Klux Klan. Adding to his unique persona was the fact that he was a pastor in Texas and in Michigan. To do so, he commuted by plane during the week in an era when airplanes were just introduced and not used by the masses (Morris).

The 1920's were, indeed, the apex of Norris' celebrated yet controversial career. In 1912, his church burnt to the ground and, subsequently, Norris was charged, tried, and then acquitted for arson. During this decade, he also became the head of the fundamentalist churches. By this time, he had established himself as the voice of the people whom believed that Baylor University should not study evolution. However, by attacking beloved Baylor, he did not win over many friends by this decision and his church was excluded from the Baptist convention as a result (Morris). Moreover, the height of the controversy surrounding Norris occurred in 1926. Norris used the pulpit on many occasions that year to denounce the Catholic Mayor Meacham and accuse him of embezzling money. Later that year, Norris shot and killed D.E. Chipps, one of the Catholic Mayor's friends and he did so in the office of his church. Norris was indicted for murder on July 29, and eventually acquitted on grounds of self-defense (Morris).

In January 1929, Norris' church again burnt down. It was not easy to rebuild the church during the height of the Great Depression. In 1932, when the rebuilding was complete, they were not as extravagant as his previous facility (Morris). In the late 1930's, Norris founded a group of independent premillenial Baptist churches as part of his crusade against socialist, liberal, and modernist tendencies within the greater Southern Baptist Convention. He continued speaking up and speaking out when in 1939, he urged the United States to help its European allies in World War II. Eventually, there was so much dissension and disagreement within his own leadership team that a major split of his church resulted in one group being run by one of Norris' former assistants, Beauchamp Virk, while Norris continued running his church from Fort Worth, Texas. (J. Frank Norris -- Everything on).

Norris' Lasting Influences

In looking back upon Norris' life, in 1982, Baptist pastor and president of the Baptist World Fellowship, Raymond W. Barber, explained the increased influence and status of Fundamentalism that came about because of Lewin's efforts and in spite of his controversial language and actions: "No longer do fundamentalists operate from the closet of inferiority, but from the parlor of influence, after the spiritual and cultural life of America. The so-called 'splinter-group' of yesterday has become a special vanguard of the truth whose influence is evidenced from the courthouse to the White House" (Leonard 504). Truly, J. Frank Norris was instrumental in creating a set of churches independent from the guidance and oversight of the Baptist Convention. He definitely provided a model for others to follow should they disagree with the organization of their own religion. Additionally, he serves as a poignant example of a self-made man whom was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in; in this sense, many individuals have looked up to his accomplishments as well as his career. Indeed, in looking back upon the first half of the twentieth century, clearly, one charismatic yet controversial man of God stands apart from all the others: J. Frank Norris.