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In 1834, Baines was baptized by the Salem Baptist Church in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa County]], Alabama. He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1837. He married the former Melissa Ann Butler of North Carolina on October 20, 1840, and thereafter moved to northern [[Arkansas]], where he founded three churches and baptized 150 converts. He was also a [[missionary]] for the Baptist Home Mission Society of [[New York City]]. Baines even served for three months in the Arkansas House of Representatives from November 1843 to February 1844 as the member from Carroll County.​

In 1834, Baines was baptized by the Salem Baptist Church in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa County]], Alabama. He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1837. He married the former Melissa Ann Butler of North Carolina on October 20, 1840, and thereafter moved to northern [[Arkansas]], where he founded three churches and baptized 150 converts. He was also a [[missionary]] for the Baptist Home Mission Society of [[New York City]]. Baines even served for three months in the Arkansas House of Representatives from November 1843 to February 1844 as the member from Carroll County.​

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===Church schism in Arkansas===

==Church schism in Arkansas==

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In March 1844, the "Hardshell" Baptist dissenters gained control of Baines' Crooked Creek Baptist Church, located south of Harrison in Boone Count, Arkansas. Baines was a "Missionary" Baptist in orientation (not to be confused with the Missionary Baptist denomination). The Baineses and other mission-oriented members were ousted from the Crooked Creek Church. The "Missionary" Baptists were evangelistic and believed in the constant presentation of the [[Gospel]] of [[Jesus Christ]] as the propitiation for the sins of mankind and the sole source of salvation in the hereafter. The "Hardshell" segment, also called "Primitive" Baptists, embraced predestination, which took the view that while some individuals would accept the call of Christ, others most decidedly would not do so. The "Hardshells" eschewed revivals; they merely presented the Gospel, in some congregations only on a monthly basis, and left matters otherwise constant. The two groups were at odds in many locations across the American South.​

In March 1844, the "Hardshell" Baptist dissenters gained control of Baines' Crooked Creek Baptist Church, located south of Harrison in Boone Count, Arkansas. Baines was a "Missionary" Baptist in orientation (not to be confused with the Missionary Baptist denomination). The Baineses and other mission-oriented members were ousted from the Crooked Creek Church. The "Missionary" Baptists were evangelistic and believed in the constant presentation of the [[Gospel]] of [[Jesus Christ]] as the propitiation for the sins of mankind and the sole source of salvation in the hereafter. The "Hardshell" segment, also called "Primitive" Baptists, embraced predestination, which took the view that while some individuals would accept the call of Christ, others most decidedly would not do so. The "Hardshells" eschewed revivals; they merely presented the Gospel, in some congregations only on a monthly basis, and left matters otherwise constant. The two groups were at odds in many locations across the American South.​

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===Pastor in Louisiana===

==Pastor in Louisiana==

Baines and his family left Crooked Creek in Arkansas and moved south to Mount Lebanon in Bienville Parish in north Louisiana. He was the Bienville Parish superintendent of schools and also the founding minister on September 7, 1844, of the Saline Baptist Church, later the Old Saline Baptist Church, which maintains a cemetery. Baines pastored at Old Saline until 1848,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://virts.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~markie/cem4os.htm|title=Old Saline Cemetery|publisher=Virts.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=May 4, 2009}}</ref> when he relocated to neighboring Webster Parish and served as the first pastor of the Minden Baptist Church, later the First Baptist Church of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], Louisiana. In 1969, Major dePingre, a journalist-turned-businessman and the brother-in-law of Baptist clergyman [[Bill Ichter]], published ''The History of the First Baptist Church of Minden, Louisiana.''<ref name=dict/>​

Baines and his family left Crooked Creek in Arkansas and moved south to Mount Lebanon in Bienville Parish in north Louisiana. He was the Bienville Parish superintendent of schools and also the founding minister on September 7, 1844, of the Saline Baptist Church, later the Old Saline Baptist Church, which maintains a cemetery. Baines pastored at Old Saline until 1848,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://virts.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~markie/cem4os.htm|title=Old Saline Cemetery|publisher=Virts.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=May 4, 2009}}</ref> when he relocated to neighboring Webster Parish and served as the first pastor of the Minden Baptist Church, later the First Baptist Church of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], Louisiana. In 1969, Major dePingre, a journalist-turned-businessman and the brother-in-law of Baptist clergyman [[Bill Ichter]], published ''The History of the First Baptist Church of Minden, Louisiana.''<ref name=dict/>​

Baines was the third minister of the Mount Lebanon Baptist Church and the moderator of the Red River Baptist Association. He assisted in the organization of the North Louisiana Baptist Convention in 1848.​<ref name=dict>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-b/|title=Baines, George Washington|publisher=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography,'' Louisiana Historical Association|accessdate=October 2, 2019}}</ref>

Baines was the third minister of the Mount Lebanon Baptist Church and the moderator of the Red River Baptist Association. He assisted in the organization of the North Louisiana Baptist Convention in 1848.​<ref name=dict>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-b/|title=Baines, George Washington|publisher=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography,'' Louisiana Historical Association|accessdate=October 2, 2019}}</ref>

==Eight churches in Texas==​

===Eight churches in Texas==

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After Mount Lebanon, Baines relocated to Huntsville, Texas, where he was the pastor of still another Baptist Church. Later, in Independence, Texas, Baines met the legendary [[Sam Houston]], who became a lifelong friend. Reverend Baines counseled Houston on the desirability of baptism after making a Christian commitment of faith. Consequently, Sam Houston was baptized in the last decade of his life on November 19, 1854, not by Baines, but by the Reverend Rufus C. Burleson, who had succeeded Baines as the pastor at the Independence Baptist Church.

After Mount Lebanon, Baines relocated to Huntsville, Texas, where he was the pastor of still another Baptist Church. Later, in Independence, Texas, Baines met the legendary [[Sam Houston]], who became a lifelong friend. Reverend Baines counseled Houston on the desirability of baptism after making a Christian commitment of faith. Consequently, Sam Houston was baptized in the last decade of his life on November 19, 1854, not by Baines, but by the Reverend Rufus C. Burleson, who had succeeded Baines as the pastor at the Independence Baptist Church.

During his ministry in Texas, Baines also pastored in Anderson, Fairfield, Springfield, Butler, Florence, and Salado. He founded the first Baptist newspaper in Texas, ''The Texas Baptist,'' and edited the publication from 1855 until 1860, when it ceased production with the advent of the [[American Civil War]]. He led churches in prayer days, distribution of Bibles, aid to families, and soldier relief work during the war.​

During his ministry in Texas, Baines also pastored in Anderson, Fairfield, Springfield, Butler, Florence, and Salado. He founded the first Baptist newspaper in Texas, ''The Texas Baptist,'' and edited the publication from 1855 until 1860, when it ceased production with the advent of the [[American Civil War]]. He led churches in prayer days, distribution of Bibles, aid to families, and soldier relief work during the war.​

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==The Baylor years==​

==The Baylor years==

Baines served as Baylor's president from 1861 to 1863 at a salary of $1,600 per year. He struggled to keep the school afloat despite financial woes and problems with his own health. He also taught grades 7-12—Baylor educated all above the sixth grade—and his college science class as well as handling the administration of the school. Baines resigned from the Baylor presidency because he believed himself to have been more suited for a pastorate than a college administrative post.​

Baines served as Baylor's president from 1861 to 1863 at a salary of $1,600 per year. He struggled to keep the school afloat despite financial woes and problems with his own health. He also taught grades 7-12—Baylor educated all above the sixth grade—and his college science class as well as handling the administration of the school. Baines resigned from the Baylor presidency because he believed himself to have been more suited for a pastorate than a college administrative post.​

 

Baylor was the first institution of higher learning in Texas, and in time the school became the largest Baptist-related institution of higher education in the world. Baines encouraged women students at Baylor, and he and Mrs. Baines helped to provide them lodging. In his later years, Baines was a trustee of the Baylor female institution, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton. The school has since gone coeducational. In 1886, four years after Baines' death, Baylor relocated to [[Waco, Texas|Waco]] in McLennan County.​

Baylor was the first institution of higher learning in Texas, and in time the school became the largest Baptist-related institution of higher education in the world. Baines encouraged women students at Baylor, and he and Mrs. Baines helped to provide them lodging. In his later years, Baines was a trustee of the Baylor female institution, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton. The school has since gone coeducational. In 1886, four years after Baines' death, Baylor relocated to [[Waco, Texas|Waco]] in McLennan County.​

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==Family obituaries==​

==Family legacy==​

On January 21, 1865, Melissa Baines died while the family was living in Fairfield, Texas. Baines' mother had died months earlier, after having come to live with the family. Melissa Baines is buried in an unmarked grave in Fairfield Cemetery. The grave was not located by family members until 1960. Baines made her coffin with his own hands. Six months later on June 13, Baines married a then 33-year-old widow, Cynthia W. Williams, also originally from North Carolina.​

On January 21, 1865, Melissa Baines died while the family was living in Fairfield, Texas. Baines' mother had died months earlier, after having come to live with the family. Melissa Baines is buried in an unmarked grave in Fairfield Cemetery. The grave was not located by family members until 1960. Baines made her coffin with his own hands. Six months later on June 13, Baines married a then 33-year-old widow, Cynthia W. Williams, also originally from North Carolina.​

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