Seven years ago, Dr. Joseph Martin Dawson accepted the urgent invitation of the Baptists of the United States to leave his happy and historic pastorate of more than thirty-one years at the First Baptist Church, Waco, Texas, to direct the vital and unique ministry of the Joint Committee of Baptists on Public Affairs in Washington, D.C.
The achievements of Dr. Dawson in this important undertaking have been monumental, as attested by the leaders in the four participating Baptist bodies, and by friends of all the evangelical bodies. His wise and discerning and courageous leadership has elicited warm and hearty commendation by governmental leaders in their expressed appreciation of his ability to define and insist upon a free church in a free state.
Dr. Dawson has written three notable books within this period of seven years, Separate Church and State Now, 1947; The Liberation of Life, 1950; and his latest, and perhaps, his greatest book, America’s Way in Church, State, and Society. We heartily commend these books to our people, along with the numerous brochures and articles which he has produced since going to Washington. His forthright declarations on religious liberty have gained the attention and respect of the entire nation.
Now that Dr. Dawson has announced his retirement at the end of this year, or as early as his successor may be installed, we, the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in Houston, Texas, this the eighth day of May, 1953, gratefully acknowledge the ministry of Dr. Dawson, in laying wisely and securely the foundations for this service to Baptists in this and every land, and we pledge to him our purpose to support prayerfully and uncompromisingly the principles of religious liberty in our local churches and communities and throughout our beloved nation. We give thanks unto God upon every remembrance of the achievements of this beloved servant of God in these years of his faithful leadership in Washington