Newspaper Page Text
BY SAMUEL BOYKIN.
VOL XLII.-sNO 37
CONTRIBUTIONS.
Richmond Correspondence of
the Index.
Richmond, Sep. 5, 1863.
You will not fail, I presume, to call the
attention of your readers to the fact, that the
present rate of contribution to* our Foreign
Missions will not secure, during the year, a
sum equal to the annual expenditure of the
Board. Such a result might well excite
profound regret, not only on account of the
embarrassment to which it will expose our
efforts hereafter for the evangelization of die
world; not even chiefly on that account; bnt
because it will betray a melancholy decline
of the spirit whieh cannot be content, except
as the day seems to be approaching, when
“at die name of Jesus, every knee shall bow T
of things ip earth.” Take your loudest edi
torial cymbal—not the mean gipsey instru
ment to which correspondents must plane
down their ambition—and sound it in the
ears of the churches,until they are thorough
ly awake to their duty in this matter.
Baptists, who, within the last quarter of
a century, have removed from North Eastern
Virginia to Georgia, will unite with their
brethren of this State, in sincerely bemoan
ing the demise of Rev. Cumberland George.
They will remember him as one of our most
popular pulpit orators, as a Christian of irre
proachable reputation, as a minister second
in influence and usefulness to no one thro
ughout his section. In early yean, he was
of the Methodist “persuasionbut his con
version to Baptist principles was thorough,
reaching beyond questions pertaining to the
ordinances and the form of church govern
ment, and embracing the grand, evangelical
“doctrines of grace” as our fathers held them
—as the Scriptures set them forth. It would
have been wejl for us, if all onr accessions
from the Methodist church, and especially
from the Methodist ministry, had been of
this character. We should not have had
such frequent and painful occasion to lament
that while Paul or John has served our pul
pits with a text, Wesley, or the still more er
ratic Clarke , or the still more cloudy Wat
son lias preached!
The information as to the Baptist minis
ters of Baltimore, communicated, some weeks
ago, on the authority of a gentleman sent
Sooth of the Federal lines under suspicion of
that patriotism which the N. usurpation stig
matizes as disloyalty, appears to have invol
ved several errors of fact that demand cor
rection. From the “Religious Herald” of
yesterday, I learn that Rev. Thos. H. Pritch
ard has reached Charlottsville, having been
first sentenced to Fort Delaware, but after
ward banished to the Confederate States, as |
jfrnan “dangerous” to the young but vigo
rous and growing Abolition Tyranny. Thia
gentleman states that Rev. G. F. Adams did
take the oath of allegiance to the United
States, as the condition of his release from
prison—a release which he accepted on these
humiliating terms, for the sake of his wife,
who was alone and unprotected in the midst
of thousands of demoralized negroes and
hundreds of thousands W lawless soldiers.—
He states also that Rev. Franklin Wilson,
though favorable to the reconstruction of the
Union as it was, regards that as now beyond
hope, end gives his voiee for stopping the
war by the recognition of Southern indepen
dence. He states finally that, while Rev.
R. Fuller, D. D., through devoted attach
ment to his church, the most prominent
members of which are hostile to our cause,
“has on one or two public occasions seemed
to trim a little,” he is known, by those who
know his sentiments, to be true to the South,
and irithin the past six months, has avowed
hhnselt to Secretary Chase as the author,
and as still holding the sentiments, of ths
Resolution on the State of the country, adap
ted by the Southern Baptist Convention at
Savannah. *
It is both unusual and ill advised, that of
the seven Baptist pastors of Richmond only
one should be at present in the city. Their
simultaneous absence, for weeks together,
places our denominational interests at disad
vantage. The summer is long enough, sure
ty, to permit a wiser arrangement. If they
were in the army, we might excuse them
for leaving all our pulpits at the same time
- vacant, with no certain supply except in one
or two instances: but I regret to say that
there is but a single pastor at work among the
soldiers. However, I did not design to find
fault with the brethren, who, doubtless,worn
down by pastoral and extra pastoral labors,
need to recruit tkeir strength by this tempo
rary respite.
I cen&ss to no tittle disappointment, in
view of the reluctance of our Virginia far
mers to sell their wheat to the Government,
at die rate of $5 per bushel fixed br the as
sessors. One of their number has even ap
peared in the public prints, denouncing this
price as inadequate, unjust and oppressive,
because $5 in onr currency is rather less
than 30 cents in ’ gold ! This I regret as
neither wise financially, nor patriotic. What
if the same spirit should spread through the
army ? What if our heroic, self-sacrificing
soldiers should say, in a bony, that they will
not fight Tor the government, because sll
per month is only a little more than 60ets.
in goU—aaam inadequate, unjust and op
pressive, in the ease of men who are called
to endure manifold privations and to put
their lives in constant jeopardy? Where
then would these farmers be? Let the
Northern purpose to crush the spirit of the
South utterly out, let ite sweeping Confisca
tion Acte, furnish the answer. And is it
not a right, as honor aide, that the soldier
should fight for gold, as that the fanner at
a time like the present should plough, and
sow, and reap for gold ? Is it no*, in the
long run, as fatal to owr cause that this sel
fish spirit should pervade the eountry, as
that it should pervade the army ?
This subject recalls to iny mind a sermon
which a friend reports to me, as having been
preached on fast day by a Chaplain in the
army of Northern Virginia. After pictur
ing the speculation and extortion which fill
and defile the land, the reverened gentle
man asked his regiment if they were willing
when the w*r was over, to return home for
a lile. of poverty and toil, while “the miscre
ants” who are fattening on the distresses of
the people ‘should roll in ill-gotten wealth ?
He exhorted them to chastise this crime
with the strong hand—to go back into the
bosom ®f society as avengers of the wrongs
of the poor—to confiscate every dollar of
the riefees amassed during the war! This
agrarianism, you”pereeive, was not the gos
pel of God It was a blow at the founda
tion of oven human law. But if Divine
wrath has reserved us for such a time of anar
chy and ruin, shall we be able to pity those
who, having sown the wind, shall then reap
the whirlwind ? Shall wc not feel that their
share in the overthrow and desolation of the
country, is just and righteous ? Shall they
not feel it then ?
I understand that the Pedobaptist post
chaplain, in this city, who will not suffer the
inmates of the hospital to be approached on
the subject of connecting themselves, at
the churches of their choice,, and
who las substituted for this a Soldiers’
Christian Aassociation, without baptism (for
that would opeu the question of immersion,)
but not without tipi Lord’s supper (for that
affords an opportunity to lend open commun
ion a helping hand,) now says, when he in
vites the soldiers to enrol their names among
the members of the Association, that be. is
“opening the doors of the church .’’’ The
ehureh ? What church ? One founded by
himself merely ? W esley,Calvin, Henry viH
are ignorant of “it. Christ acknowledges, it
not. |
1 have beard of a Virginian, who, when
he,contracts for carrying the mail were let—
contracts always awarded, you remember, to
the lowest responsible bidder—put in a pro
position to carry the mail on a certain mute
for ohc cent a year. “Self-sacrificing patrio
tism I’’ methinks I hear one of your readers
exclaim, “a miracle of love of country, will
ing to serve it without fee or reward 1” Now,
be it known to that reader, that mail-con
tractors are exempt from military service,
and this “patriot” was simply seeking to
keep out of_tbc army. He was -right from
one point of view : the army was a place too
good for hiip ;he ought to e been seut
to the penitentiary for the war !
...... SEMEI.
$
w >| For the Christian Index.
A Statement. „ , *
Dear Bro. Boykin.— The irrpnn— of
the Board are very heavy —about fifty mis
sionaries at work in the army, several in the
Domestic field, and some thirty in the Indian.
Besides this corps of laborers, the Board has
paid out not less than SIO,OOO for Bibles,
Testaments and Tracts lor the use of tlie ar
my, 5 Within the last four months. We ap
peal to our brethren and friends to sustain
this glorious work. The cost of carrying on
sis voth is not less than $6,000 a month.
How can we keep it up without large con
tributions ? We have reduced our funds in
the treasury to a very small amount, and we
must replenish. Who will aid us ? Send
THE PASTOR’S A I ii: THE CHRISTIAN'S GUIDE: THE SINNER’S FRIEND.
irntm t !■"! i ~ ( ■ — — : -•.- j
MACON, GEORGIA, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 1863.
your contributions, dear brethren, by mail,
or Southern Express, via Selma, Ala, fe Ttay
will come safe. May God give to hi# child
ren a liberal and ‘enlarged heart to spread
the Word of God before the soldiers of our
Confederacy. Yours, truly,
SEINER, Cor.&e.
P. S.—Don’t forget the Domestic Board
at yrr HAfoofektions, brethren. Brethren
of W expebt much from you.
-i M T ’
,avv t iIA “ WHtoto for the Cfcrwtian Index.
Tts aoldtnCa jtjT.
Pt. 162 / 19. They made a Calf in fforel.
(Continued from our last.)
It may be thought inexplicable, too, that
Aaron, after this, should be ordained the
mgk Priest. But let it” not be forgotten
that theric was a providence in all this.—
What Aaron intended, we do not know.
What God meant is much more plain.—
Aaron is tried, and proved unfit in himself
for his office. He undergoes, like the peo
ple, a probation, and for similar reasons. As
they were not chosen for their merit, so
neither was he; and the distinct manifesta
tion of this from the outset was needed,
that he might not be high minded or pre
sumptuous, a lesson which the course that
he and Miriam took afterwards proved to
have been needed. (See Num. 12.) More
over, the peculiarity and imperfection which
©leaved to his, and to all human priesthood,
was to be brought out from the very first,
namely ; that the priest, who made atone
ment for the sins of others, needed atone
ment for himself as a sinner.
And now let us look at the great lesson of
the incidents before us. The sin of Israel
was a great sin It was not only forsaking
Gpd, it was not only worshipping an image,
it was a low, debasing idolatry ; “they made
a calf.” And yet it was committed in view
of the most amazing tokens of the divine
glory, “in TLoreh!*
We have reviewed the facts with some
detail, to impress upon you this idca—how
solemnly, how affectipgly (hay
—yet how Speedily, and strangely they fell.
It was strange indeed.
Our temptation to forsake God are indif
ferent. We are not likely to degenerate in
to adoration of stocks and stones as Gods ;
but we are not less in danger of idolatries of
the heart, as pernicious, as absurd, as sin
ful.
We have seen that the sin of worshipping
the Golden Calf was peculiar. It was i<lol
atry, aggravated by ail the mighty motives
against it which the recent history and the
scenes before them were adapted to suggest;,
by the light which*they enjoyed; by the
blessings which bound - them to love and
gratitude ; by the solemn covenant they had
made to be the Lord’s. I need scarcely re
mark that my objeet has notbeen amply to
impress upon you the sinfulness of the an
cient Jews, but to draw some instructions
for ourselves. Wherein do we, in condition
and character, resemble those who made the
Calf in Ijoreb ? Aftd how we trace
a parallel in our National Advantages and
National Transgressions?
We have had unusual light to show us.
right and wrong, and unusual blessings to win
us to gratitude and obedience. Few nations,
if any, of ancient or modern times, have
had so much general enlightenment,so pure a
gospel preached, so free an opportunity to
make every kind of honorable advance
ment.
In our formed political relations, as a part
of the United States, notwithstanding some
things to dislike and resist, we had much to
rejoice in, much for which to be thankful to
God. Almost unexampled prosperity, and
growth, had raised our country in a few score
of years to equality with those powers that
numbered their age by centuries. And bad
the compact made by our fathers been
faithfully adhered to, no separation would
have been desired. But unfortunately a par
ty had been for thirty years working into
power, first stealthily, afterwards more open
ly, Who avowed subjection to “the higher
law,” which forbade them to fulful their
oaths, and carry out the constitution. Now
Ido not deny that their is a higher law
than any human ordinance; that we ought
to obey God rather than men. But these
people .sought in there own moral convic
tions, based on prejudice and misinforms
don, that higher law-whieh they disdained’
to acknowledge in the Scriptures of truth.
They erred consequently as to what the high
er law really enjoins, assuming that it com
mands the subvfcftion of those relations in
society which Moses recognized, aa<i Jesus
sanctioned. They erred even more serious
ly, as to the way of obeying any injunction
of the true higher law. They took for gran
ted that it. enjoined not the denying of them
selves, but the despoiling of their neighbors
—not the entire abandonment of a compact
whieh they had become persuaded was sin
ful, but the abandonment of that part which
enured to the benefit 6f others, while retain*
ing and vehemently insisting on, and main
taing even with sword and fire, all that con
tributed to their own benefit. But I need
not dwell on this
say now that the blessings which’ we enjoy
ed, and whieh we were driven by the injus
tice and covenant breaking of the North to
abandon, can be better estimated than be
fore, by comparison with the sufferings and
apprehensions incident to the present “state
of war. ■ ... * ‘ ‘* ‘ • . ,
A parallel may be drawn between our po
sition and that of the Israelites, closer than
is commonly supposed. It is not generally
perceived, I think, by cursory readers ofthe
Bible, that the bondage of the Israelites m
Egypt was not domestic servitude. It was
rather political subjugation, something like
the case of India, or Poland. The family
of Jacob went thither as freeman, invited
by the monarch, and admitted to equality
with any in the kingdom They were nev
er distributed as menial laborers among the
families of the Egyptians; but settled at first
in a favored, part of the country, and there
continued to the end. They had, even when
the rod pf oppression was heaviest, their own
individual property, their flocks and their
herds, their own personal supplies of abun
dant provisions, their flesh pots, and onions,
their leeks and garlic, their own separate or
ganization, their princes of tribes,their heads
of families, their other officers; and this po
litical organization, so far from being broken
up, was used by the Egyptians as the instru
ment and machinery of their own tyranny;
for the officers under the leading “taskmas
ters,” or contractors of Pharoah, were clear
kDracliW and not Egyptian. Forced lev
ins were demanded ; heavy tribute was ex
acted ; they were required to build the treas
ure cities, in which thewealth extorted from
them was to be stored, and the fortresses by
which their subjugation was to be ensured;
(the dread of tneir rising power was only
kept in check by the gain which was still
secured by the connection;) the suspicion
■ of “rebellion” became sufficient to secure the
penalties of treason; the babe unborn was
guilty, because tie would inherit the hated
name; in short, the whole may be amply
summed up in that concise description of the
Psalmist, “they that hated them ruled over
them.”
(To he CoTitinucd.)
fror the Christian Index.
Report.
# Millwood, Ga., Aug. 29,1863.
Beo. Boykin. —Please allow the follow
ing a place in your columns. It is my 2nd
month’s report as missionary to the Georgia
soldiers, fr .m the Houston. Association:
Dear Brethren.* —ln consequence of the
23d Georgia regiment being ordered from
James’ Island to Morris’ Island, S. C., I
did not. remain as long as I expected, and
therefore I only can report twenty days’ ser
vice j but I would have been glad to remain
longer in order to reap the fruits of my la
bors, for I left many anxious souls besides
some that were converted tluft had not been
baptized. I seemed to possess the entire
confidence of the regiment, and when I was
about leaving many of them bung around
toe, weeping, wishing me to stajrwith them
and begging me to again visit them. They
seemed loth to give me Op, as children to
give up their father.
Dear Brethren, preaching the gospel to
soldiers is a delightful work ; the soldiers
are so anxious and confiding, and in their
confined, exposed and dep&?dent condition
are most shamefully neglected, especially by
the ministry, and I am sorry to say by the
Baptists. There are few Baptist chaplains,
comparatively speaking, in the army, and
hence our cause is suffering, These things
ought not so he. I have only to report as
follows: ,
Baptized, since my last report 7
Sermons preached ...., 13
Pages tracts distributed.. ...6,896
. Hymn Books 62
8ib1e5.:.....- 2
No. of (Jays emp10yed........ 20
Yours, truly,
Mt THOMAS ALDRIDOE.
’ v ‘ ‘ For the Christian ItHde*. T
To the Central Association.
Headquarters 12th Ga. Req , >
: . August 14th, 1863. j
•Dear Bro. Bovkun —As the Associa
tion will soon meet ; n Macon, I desire that
you would eaH the attention of that body to
the fol owing facts : That there are in this
brigade (Dotes’) six companies tbat are made
up within the bounds of the Central Asso
ciation ; three of these companies belong to
the 44th regiment, which’ has no ehaplaim
the 4th rod 21st regiments are also
•ithout chaplains. j,
I want the brethren, while they are to
gether, to remember that these six couapa
fties have special claims upon them, and that
while they ought to make Special effort for
the soldiers from their own bounds, they can
at the same time do a great deal for other
Georgians.
Baptists uught to remember that among
the soldiers is the place for them to labor—
-Ist, because the Soldiers have made great
sacrifices in leaving their homes and fami
lies; 2d, because they are exposed to great
danger and to death, and, lastly, they are
begging for the gospel.
I am the only chaplain in the brigade,
and have tried to the best of my ability to
supply the whole brigade with preaching;
and have preached so much that my voice
has begun to fail me, and still there are the
strongest reason*’ why the gospel should con
tinue to be preaehed. lam now having
meetings twice a day, and have large and at
tentive congregations.’ We have preaching
in the morning and prayer meeting at talght.
Now, Bro. Boykin, I want the Associa
tion to make some arrangements by whieh
some ofthe brethren can come on and preach
at least for a while-. Rev. Mr. Evans, of the
M. E. ChuToh, of Macon, whs in our camps
the other day, and preachecb two very good
sermons. The Methodist and Presbyterian
brethren are sending their best ministers to
the army. The plan is a good one, and it is
hoped that the Baptists will not be behind in
-etrte good work: *
Let the best preachers come on at. once to
preaeh to the soldiers. There are more de
mands for preachers now, perhaps, than there
ever has been since the W’tr commenced.—
Since we got back from Gettysburg there
sea great interest manifested in religion, but
a great many, of the chdplains remained in
Pennsylvania, and therefore there is an in
creased-demand for ministers. 1
I hope, dear brethren, that you will do
something towards preaching for the brig
ade, composed of so many companies within
the bounds of the Central Association.
I wrote some time'ago to you about the
Index. It has not reached me yet y I hope
soon to welcome it as a visitor. Best you
may not have received my letter, I would
again suggest that you pay the postage on
the Index before starting it. !
I remain yours, truly,
A. M. MARSHALL.
its. For the Christian Index.
Domestic Mission Board S. B. C.
Receipts for Domestic and Anny missions
and Colportage, from Georgia, from May Ist
to Sept. Ist, 1863. - ,t
Scr W H Robert, collected $325,40
Washington Baptist Association 58,10
James M Clark 50,00
A Richardson. ...10,00
Georgia Baptist Convention.. 2,768,80
Rev W N Chandoin 15,00
MrsT S C011ey..., 10,00
Mrs M S Robert. 5,00
M G R0bert................ ........10,00
Missionary mass meeting S B C... 2,891,10
Sunbury Baptist A550ciati0n.........200,00
Mt Gilead Baptist church 25,75
Shiloh Baptist church 45,00
Rev J E Carter, Collected 128,00
Rev A DCohen 6,45
Columbus Baptist church 314,00
Bethel Baptist church 202,85
Macon Baptist church....-.,.,.. * *,..,,287,05
Forsyth Baptist church.,,,92,70
Thomaston Baptist church 56,00
Barnesville Baptist church .......53,15
Griffin Baptist ehureh................. .152,00
Ist Baptist church, Atlanta 216,00
2d “ “ “ .1,212;75
Ist Baptist church, Augusta 7,16,00
2d “ “ 40,00
Central Baptist Association 837,85
“Two Friends” 0,00
Rev C M Irwin.. 50,00
T J Edwards 10,00
B Palmer 10,00
i i FOR INDIAN MISSIONS.
Western - Baptist Association $20,00
Georgia Baptist State Convention ...382,2b
Mrs |l Davis... 10,00
Rev H ATupper,*,.... 150,00
Central Baptist Association 10,00
M T. SUMNER, Cor. Sec.
TERMS, $.5.00 IN ADVANCE
50 NOS. IN A TOL.
For the Christian lades.
Tribute of Respect.
At a meeting of the members of Cos. G,
15th Ala. Reg., Lieut. T. M. Renfroe was
called to the Chair, and Jas. R. Morris re
quested to act as Secretary.
Lieut. T. M. Renfroe explained the object
of the meeting, and to this end a committee
of five was appointed, consisting of G. C-
Renfroe, J. C. Whatley, E. R. Brantly, J.
J. Wofford and T. H. Acree, to draft’reso
lutions expressive of the sense of the meet
ing, who reported the following, which were
unanimously adopted: * ‘
That, whereas, it has pleased God in his
infinite wisdom to remove from our midst
our beloved captain, Henry C. Brainard, Ist
Lieut. John A. Oats, and 2d Lieut. Barnet
H. Cody, who died at Gettysburg, Pa., res
pectively on the 3d, 25th and 23d days of
July, 1863, of wounds received in battle on
the 2d of July, 1863.
Resolved, Tbat we have heard with deep
and painful sensibility of the death of Capt.
Henry C. Brainard, Ist Lieut. Jno. A. Oats
and 2d Lieut. Barnet H. Cody, and do mourn
.the same as a” sad and heavy loss to the coun
try and company.
Resolved, That as soldiers and officers
they occupied a high position ; as gentlemen
and friends wc recognized in them a high
type of moral excellence, and those whose
virtues commend themselves justly to ns for
our imitation.
Revived, That they were actuated by
that pure and devoted patriotism which has
ever characterized the true soldier. They
participated in the ever-memorable campaign
of Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah
Valley, in the Spring and Summer of 1862;
also in the battles around Richmond, Cedar
Mountain, Hazel River, the second Manas
sas, Harper’s Ferry, Sharpsburg, Freder
icksburg, Suffolk, and, while facing the in
solent foe at Gettysburg, fell mortally wounj
ded, while nobly discharging their duties as
as officers.
j ßesolved, That though their death is felt
to be a heavy loss to their company and the
country, yet we receive it as a dispensation
of God’s all-wise providence, and will seek
to bow in humble submission to the same, —
trusting what is our loss may be their eter
nal gain.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions
be presented to the relatives of the deceased,
with the assurance of our sincerest sympa
thies to them in this great calamity, and with
the further assurance that their memories
wiH be embalmed in the hearts of their
mourning comrades in arms whom they so
faithfully served.
Resolved, That this preamble and resolu
tions be published in the Spirit of the South,
Eufaula, Ala., and the Christian Index.
T. M. RENFROE, Chm’n.
Jas. R. Morris, Sec’y.
For the Christian Index.
To the Baptists of Georgia.
Sparta, Ga., Sept. 1, 1863.
Dear Brethren. —Having occasion to
visit this State, I have been requested to re
present the cause of Foreign missions while
here. I hope you will be satisfied with the
simple statement from me that these mis
sions are in a prosperous condition. In Cen
tral Africa the accessions in the last two
years have been double that of all the other
time preceding. A way has also been effect
ed for the transmission of funds without the
loss of the ruinous exchange to which our
currency is now subjected. May I not,
therefore, expect that the churches will send
up to their AssociationsHberal contributions
•for this object. Shall the reproach cf our
enemies, that the Spirit of the Lord has for
saken us, and that our religious enterprises
are going to ruin, he realized? We have
put our hands to the plow, and we must not
now turn back, especially at a time when the
Lord has so abundantly blessed the labors of
our missionaries. Money is abundant, and
we can easily sustain our army and foreign
missions without neglecting either.
I shall endeavor to attend the sessions of
as many Associations as the means for pub
lic conveyance will allow me. In the other
Associations the funds contributed to this
object can be placed in the bands of the
Treasurer, who may either communicate
with me at this place, or send them on to
Richmond in the usual way.
• U. H. STONE.
P. S.—l should be pleased to receive a
letter from any brother who desires to cor
respond with me on this subject.
R. H. 8.