GOD & TEXAS: Chaos or Order?

Seldom is Henry Martyn Robert remembered as the federally appointed engineer who recommended that Galveston be chosen as a deep sea port. Robert had vast experience working on federal construction and improvement projects that strengthened river systems, ports, and harbors. By his recommending Galveston in 1889, federal funds poured in to the fledgling harbor.

Nor is Robert best remembered for being the consulting chairman of the board of engineers who designed the Galveston seawall. Following the Great Storm of 1900, Robert provided his extensive expertise to save thousands of future lives with his brilliant design. The seawall is now over 10 miles long, 17 feet high, and 16 feet wide.

Did you know that Robert visited Galveston after the 1909 and 1915 hurricanes to reinforce and update the seawall so it would provide optimum protection? And it was also Robert who helped design the highway and railroad bridge between Galveston and the mainland to aid in evacuations when bad weather threatens. But few remember.

Even fewer people know that Robert was a faithful churchman and often served on boards and committees of local churches. And this is where his name has become famous in board meetings of international corporations, schools, churches, and businesses.

Born the grandson and son of pastors in 1837, Robert was reared in church. After his years attending and later teaching at the West Point Academy, he gave full time service to the government. As an engineer, he traveled much and always sought out a church to attend.

On one occasion, Robert was attending the First Baptist church in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Since there was some disarray in the church, they asked Robert to preside over their business meeting. Robert did not know how to run a meeting but agreed. Later, Robert said that he “plunged in, trusting in Providence that the assembly would behave itself.” Unfortunately, it did not. Robert later said, “My embarrassment was supreme.”

Knowing that he had much to learn, Robert began studying parliamentary procedures as presented in business and government. Soon, he had accumulated enough information to self-publish a booklet titled Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies, better known by its short title, Robert’s Rules of Order.

The success of this book is legendary. While many businesses have embraced the book, Robert primarily wrote it for the benefit of local churches. He wanted every member of the church to have equal rights and privileges. Those goals are attained when the church follows his parliamentary procedures.

Robert's deliberative guidelines certainly align beautifully with the admonition of the Apostle Paul regarding church conduct in 1 Corinthians 14:33, 40 ESV, “For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace…. all things should be done decently and in order.”

May the Lord continue to protect, bless, strengthen, and encourage the local church.

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