An Appraisal of Victor I. Masters
Editor of the Western Recorder, 1942
By J. B. Cranfill, Dallas TXVictor I. Masters will be longest remembered for his truceless, tireless, perennial advocacy of the old landmarks of the Baptist faith. Coincident with this high quality are other elements of this beloved brother's character and leadership that may well be taken into account. For nearly twenty-two years he has been editor of the Western Recorder.
Really, I did not know his age, though I have at my elbow WHO'S WHO, which carries a sketch of this good friend, but I never had it read to me until after he resigned. I am in WHO'S WHO also and it must be a good book to carry the names of both Victor I. Masters and J. B. Cranfill. I said to State Senator Thomas B. Love, a dear friend of mine, once that I never thought any paper was any account that didn't have my name in it. This shows that notwithstanding the elusive virtues, whatever they are, I may possess, I am still "of the earth earthy" and one of the humans who remains quite human.
Time would fail me to identfy the first time I met Victor I. Masters. I seem to have known him always. Certainly I recall vividly his activities as one of the trusted workers and leaders of the Home Mission Board, which activity he carried on aggressively, as always, for many years. I could stop here and reproduce the sketch from WHO'S WHO, but I think it well to reserve it to append to the end of this sketch.
I am a landmark Baptist myself. I believe in the doctrines of the old faith and in keeping well and lovingly in mind the doctrines and practices of the old-time Baptists, who, in one name or another, have been carrying on in our needy, suffering, sinning world ever since John the Baptist began his preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
There is a long story here which I will not attempt to recite, but in passing will say that there have been Baptists ever since Christ and His apostles walked this world, and there will be to the end of time, and whatever may happen in the multifarious activities of our hurrying world, there will at the end of time be faithful, great-hearted, strong-minded men, clear-thinking Baptists, who, when Jesus comes, will be caught up with Him into the ether of the air and go on to Heaven without having passed through the crucible of death.
I know something of the life of a Baptist editor. If I was ever born to any activity, I was born into the life I have so long loved, which is that of an editor and an editorial writer. Its a far cry now to the Turnersville Effort, a little monthly I founded February 1, 1881.
[From the Western Recorder, July 20, 1942; via microfilm copy at the SBTS Archives; provided by Adam Winters, Archivist. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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