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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

100 years ago in Spokane County: Baptist minister in Deep Creek accused of dividing families

 (Jonathan Brunt / The Spokesman-Review)

The law was on the lookout for the Rev. Lee Hawkins of the Deep Creek Baptist Church regarding his “alleged tactics” while holding services.

Several Deep Creek residents issued a complaint against Rev. Hawkins for driving wives and husbands apart, driving children away from their homes and making disloyal remarks against the United States.

“He insisted that all the members of the assembly sell their organ, pianos and other musical instruments and turn the proceeds over to the church,” said the Spokane Daily Chronicle. “One aged husband, who did not believe in the Hawkins doctrine, was driven from his home by his wife.”

Apparently, Rev. Hawkins, who was described as “colored,” had caused deep divisions in the Deep Creek community. One church member filed an injunction to restrain residents from trying to harass Rev. Hawkins. But another resident was quoted as saying “if Hawkins continues to hang around and act in the future as he has in the past, there will be serious trouble.”

One resident claimed that a boy who was taking a “faith cure” from Hawkins recently died.

When Rev. Hawkins failed to appear in court, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.