Frank Norris: A Controversial Yet

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' Controversial Side

Norris admits to a lot of behavior that he may not have been able to get away with in today's politically correct climate. Admittedly, in the 1930's, Norris campaigned vehemently against Al Smith, a Catholic, whom was running for President. Norris used his power to wage a campaign against him so as to protect the other candidate whom was a member of the Klu Klux Klan, a known white supremicist. Additionally, Norris advocated in favor of placing people on trial for allegedly supporting communism or taking part in communist activities. In fact, he adamantly wrote to the anti-American committee and volunteered to testify against members of the Southern Baptist Convention. On many occasion, Norris openly praised Joe McCarthy for his anti-communist work. Moreover, Norris' own friends have stated that Norris always loved a fight; and, Norris himself admits that at first all of the controversy had made him a mad person who enjoyed using his pulpit as a place from which to tell people in his

congregation to "go to Hell." In addition to supporting white supremacy and restriction of freedom of speech, Norris showed also shot a man on a third occasion whom disagreed with him in his office (Wilkie). Today, because he was so devoted to his creator and to creating places for Fundamentalists to worship, he is not solely remembered for the things in which he can be criticized. There is no denying his passion for and his devotion to God.

Today, the seminary he founded is still standing, but it is now called the Arlington Baptist College. The school, however, has ceased to function in a way that reflects the Christian way. In fact, the student body itself has been described as subpar with regard to academics as well as character. Moreover, there is a Nazi-like supremicist population of students that does not adequately represent the commitment to God and community that J. Frank Norris truly stood for (Leonard).