G. Frink's

J. Marse Grant, who was editor of the N.C. Biblical Recorder for 22 years, died Friday at the age of 88.

As editor of North Carolina's principal Baptist news publication, Grant stood against racism, liquor by the drink sales and the conservative revolution which politicized the Southern Baptist Convention, and for equal rights.

Grant's book, Whiskey at the Wheel: The Scandal of Driving and Drinking," was published in 1970.

Grant, a professional journalist to the core, had the longest tenure of any Biblical Recorder editor. During that tenure he saw that publication to its peak print circulation of 120,000 in 1978, before the denominational controversy of the Southern Baptist "conservative revolution" began to grind it down, and earned it the respect of mainstream journalists.

Grant opposed the rightist politicization of Southern Baptists and against the associated negative political campaigning.

In a 1996 article, Southern Baptist Political Bosses Show Hands Again in Election Year, he compared the presidential campaign rabble rousing of Baptist leaders to that of "Supporters of slavery 150 years ago," and warned that irresponsibly stirring up followers could lead to deadly violence.

Born in High Point and a layman, Grant was editor of the Lincoln County News and the Morgan News-Herald and from 1949-59 editor of Charity and Children, produced by the N.C. Baptist Children's Homes. He was editor of the Biblical Recorder form 1960 until 1982.

A believer in a free and independent press, Grant made it clear at every step that he did not believe North Carolina Baptists wanted their church newspaper to be "a house organ."

In a 1997 letter defending the work of his successor, R. G. (Gene) Puckett, he wrote that "a critic attacks the Recorder for following the autonomous and free course it has been blessed with since 1833? Ridiculous! North Carolina Baptists and freedom go together, as any good historian must conclude."

The paper did in my view report the news to and for North Carolina Baptists straight during his stewardship, and in the face of enormous contrary pressure maintained an unwavering moderate to progressive editorial voice.

This state is a poorer place without him.