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. .. T ” -* .1- v a. aI y — 11 ” lsms * it i \ I#’ og#' ; - “II §#>/&s’ fi W-flnmH JHi * - Sj -S 3K W isilß m B !8t H 11 H a- IbiS 818 Hi ’) 111,- IK I>i ‘ ill'jiL ill jJm&lMj HI t 1 I iji, 1/ ■ Jm, v. ’ ll ■>■ - V BY SAMUEL BOYKIN. 50 IN A YOL. , ‘■ ‘JpjWge V The Wonderful Change: 4 LETTERS FROM A SOLDIER’S WIFJ.| BY MBS. MABT A... X-.. • CHAPTER 111. ’ Everts hawe crowd eßo%hicfci|pnd fast in to ray history of late, dgar sister, I scarcely know whtfc to them.—* L OTote you but -just be ,gOng) nre rai a A new, a riad cUwnejf.upon my soul, gilding pathway, despite the clouds t it, even \o the verge of the tomb. WstoliCji by that “eye that never sleeps,beneath the wing of night,” j my little barque, Lfelt assureicf -‘tM'T aeeare wreck. All, the peace—the heavenly quietude—engen dered by. this hope, how much to be prefer red to worldly diadems, or all the fleeting honors of the earth ! With this new light burning warm within my heart, I devoted myself to prayer for my u.ihappy mother-in-law; and yet my pray ers sesftned worse than vain, for she seemed day by day to like me less. Her aversion had apparently increased from the morning I sought the reconciliation mentioned in my preceeding letter. This was strange, inex plicable, and almost made my faith to wa ver; but remembering the example of the importunate widow and the proverb, “A soft answer turneth away wrath,” J did not give up the experiment of praying for her, or trying to make her lovable by kindness. On the Bth of August we received intel-„ ligenee that Frank had been severely woun ded on the sth in an engagement near Cum berland Gap. The friend who wrote us a y heat it, advised me to come immediately, as the case Was critical and Frank called for me continually. “L think I will go myself,” Mrs. Willis said, on hearing that portion of the letter; “you could not do anything with Anna for ever in yonr way, and T don’t want her troubling me while you are gone.” ♦-“'wf-Vi Wgyav''■’ -> ■ rny ‘WgshattJyPlt rT- * swered firmly, “and will take Anna with me If you go we can bear each other company.” l|tr face flushed with anger as it always’ did when contradicted; but as my mind was mtfflemp with regard to my course, I did not wait to listen to any further remarks on the subject, but went directly to my room commenced making arrangements to start. I had not been there long when Car rie came inland promised to take every care of Anna, if Ipreferred leaving her. I thank ed her kindly, but replied that I thought of taking both the children with me. After much persuasion lat length con sented to leave George, and early next mor ning started for Chattanooga, jpith no com panion but Anna. The thought of travel ing so far alone would have been dreadful but for my distress about Frank—but that so absorbed all other thoughts I was insensi ble to minor inconveniences'. Not to keep you longer in suspense, I ar rived safely*afc my destination, aud found Frank in a hospital near the Tennessee riv er—and really very ill. I wrote back to his mother-immediately on my arrival, told her of his exact condition; and concludedfay saying that we were being afflicted for our sins, .and .the only way to avert the calami- 1 tywith were threatened,” was to humble ourselves under the hand of Al mighty Godjjf&nd seek pardon for the past . before it should be’ too late. * She did not reply but came herself. Her first greeting to me was kind and even aft fectionafe, so different from tftiything I had experienced for a long while, I could not restrain my tears. “Thank God,” she exclaimed on being informed thst Frank Was better. . “It is the result of your prayers, Nettie’ and I know it. I have been trying to pray myself, ever since I heard of it, but I am so wicked I am afraid God will not bear me. Do pray, Nettie,*for me as well as for him,” and burst into tears. I threw mself into her arms and wept silently. “I have been so wicked of late,” she said amid tears and sobs, and you have been so good and so patient. * I don’t know what has possessed me; everything has vexed roe since Frank w#ht away; but if he can only get well I willtry and never get angry again. You must forget it all, Nettie, and we may be happy yet, if Frank recovers.” The surgeon came, just then, into the hall where we were standing, and gave us per* mission to enter the sick room. Mrs. Wil lis controlled herself better than I had an :ti Frank received her with ! He Improved rapidly after this, and in roshV**’*' 8 n a w , , j, . ~ and our.i oneof the kapniosWf faMJßeaJßmb Willis is the most ]C ever, Wholl Sha eountenauce isclifferetii. She mlarly kin^do roe and Anni.-^C^^Jf^^ 1 nKvipg rapidly trader his 1 1-1 and morning, and oh %eare so happy 1 Our pastor, Mr. W., (for we have .united with the Baptist Church jmd are only awaiting Frank’s recovery to be baptized;) says it is a spiritual treat to hint to visit us. Do not suspect me of boasting —it is “the work of the Lord, and it is mar velous in our eyes.” I can never cease rejoicing that I went to preaching on that memorable morningwhile waiting my last; T oply went to keep you from chiding, so you see, my dear sister, how your influence has been a blessing to me. How little we know what weight our slightest words may have withthose we love, even when tUY behold our face no more!— This should stipulate us to be ever vigilant. You must visit us,’ when the war is over and judge for xouraelf whether we are not a happy family. But you cannot doubt it, for if we have the spirit of Christ, and He is love, and love is happiness, w'e are obliged to be happy. A logical deduction is it not? Frank sends bustfels of love* The time ever seems long before your can possibly reach me, then do not delay a day to write to . ‘/ 1 our own sister > NETTIE. \ - *•’ If For the Christian Index. Bev. Jno. Dawson. The pen of a ready writer could findpleas ant and profitable employment in giving to ‘tnti nut Ki-a"-3ivgTigfr uj • wi"vm -itt.tc —DltTstrcP - ” John.E. Dawson. A work of this kind, faithfully executed, would be a service ren dered to religion, and a well paid and meii* ted tribute to the gospel ministry. May we not hope, wjplfth the’ conflict of battle is over, and the oow of peace shall span our firmament, to receive from someone, cov amove, such a becoming and fitting testimo nial to departed worth, and great abilities. There were so few ultraisms, so few ex travagancies, so few angular points, in the character of brother Dawson—there was so much of sympathy in his mental and moral organization, so much that was genial in manner, generous in action, elevated .in- 1 tone and sentiment, that we rise refreshed, from a contemplation of his many excellen ces. Personally and instinctively a gentleman, he was above the cabals, intrigues and jeal ousies of less nobler natures, and has left behind no unpleasant reminiscences of in juries causelessly inflicted. Confessedly a great maa intellectually, he was above the vain conceits, and shallow ambition of tival ship. It was difficult to know, and not to love him. The laurels tha.t encircled his, brow were hones); tributes of intellectual friendship to greatness, of virtue to piety, •of instinctive impulse to a well developed manhood. In passing away Tie has left a rich legacy of good deeds, the rightful in heritance of the pious of all denominations, which the hand of friendship should pre serve for after times and succeeding genera tions. It was our good fortune, >in early youth, often to listen to the efforts of this truly gif ted and remarkable man. He was then in the flush and vigor of youthful manhood, and gave, id all his efforts, an unmistaka -ble evidence ofhis rising fame and future greatness. He was nervous, ardent im pulsive. These characteristics, which in f.orae are elements of weakness, were in him, guided and controlled by a strong anti well balanced mind, the elements of ’strength, and the sure presage of success and victory. In personal appearance, soft, winning man ners, full, sonorous , voice, he was almost matchless, Few equalled, and none eicel led hini in those rare and munificent gifts of nature. These personal, qualifications, ajl uniting and harmonizing, made The fin ished gentleman ; sanctified by grace 1 ,-they made the faithful, devoted and efficient min ister; rallied.into full life and action by a burning zeal for the cause of Christ,. and’ they made the impassioned and successful orator.- THE PASTO## AiPr THE CJURISTIAN’S T£E SINNER’ S’ .vr •- •* mL .It v.-- . .v* * -7 ] _ rhtmrof ] tbCrflrescfi his earlier efarts. Deeply ;i*n j bued with the genius of-ouKno iih Christianity, *J|fi went aboft.. preaching J were attracted toother “by the force, j the charms ofhis eloquence. f ,< BMjword of the spirit, in Ins hands, wa 4 a blade, bright and burnish-’ Wi AtaC deMdUtwajto all hearts. The ffinfjilllt. bracing almoapl • t • diversified, with hill the impress of God's birds ynLl liiMHWffTI 11 11 i‘m g_‘ of strearoe—ever offering up notes of grace, to its great Creator—was the best adapted to the fullest development of his intellectual and moral powers, as an orator. These incidents of nature’s adorning,were in harmony with the flowing impulses, awl the delicate, acute sensibilities ofhis moral, mental and physi cal organization. Hence, in the country, he was always pre-eminently great —his powers received their greatest expansion, and his greatest conquests were achieved.— The little punctilios and ceremonies of city service are viot the best calculated to awa ken the genial emotions of the heart, and enkindle the slumbering fires of the intel lect, so necessary for great achievements.— Too much form, tinsel and routine, are part of the drapery used to give scenic effect to otherwise lame and commonplace perfor mances. To encounter a man of ardent emotions and a strong, grasping intellect with such trappings, hampers and embarras ses his effoitsj.and hehearsnounlikecom parison to the king of the forest, untangled in the meshes of the huntsman. The last time we ever hearefbro. Daw&on, was at the Beth.el Association, towards the closing yfears of his useful life. Disease was then making frightful inroads upon his con stitution. He was acting as agent for the endowment of the Sanders Professorship of Mercer University. The Association had given an evening for the agency; and Dr. . rri, 1 11... J. ■t 1 . 1. . . li.l. Dawson, represented the cause in a speech, and resulting in a,large subscription. To wards the conclusion, a brother remarked that, “much had been said in behalf of the boys. That we had a female college in Cufh bert, about which -nothyyyiad been said ; that he had SSO which give to the college for a speech in its favor. Bro. Dawson sprang to his and asked; “Will the good brother accept my servi ces?” ’ i’ ~ - ‘ ‘ . Being apswered in the affirmative, he laid off his overeoat, and by way of exodium, re marked, “that lie had been in bed all day, had beeD bleeding at the lungs profusely, That if he never stood before another audi ence or.-made another speech—that if that effort should be his last, that that audience should hear his last appeal—that that last speech., and those last words ‘that his lips might ever utter should be, in behalf of wo men. My dear wife, whom I Have left and ■ may never see again, is a woman. God bless woman L, the last and best gift of heaven to man.” 15 or 29 minutes, he poured forth a torrent of eloquence—match less, overpowering eloquence, such us few in thatdarge, and deeply agitated audience ev er heard before. For the time he overcame the power of disease; his fine form expan ded; the"flush of youthful manhood return ed to his cheeks; the fire of genius shone in the eye. Every , word, every thought, -every movement indicated the orator—the master spirit that moves, swfty§_and com mands the passipns of men. But, brother Editor, the subject is cumu lative, ‘and though the pen is tempted to continue, prudence suggests a conclusion. Am it?us. ’ [We sincerely hope that Amicus will re sume the subject, and give us some illustra tions of brother Dawson’s traits.— Editor ] Christ Conquers the Fear of Death- Os Mr. Stephen Marshall an eminent di vine of the 17th century, Mr. Giles Firman, who knew him in life, and attended him in death,.says, “That he lift behind him few preachers like himself; that lie was a. Chris tian in practice as well as profession; .that he lived by faith, and died"by faith, and was an example to the believers, in word, in con versation, in charity, in faith, and ufpurity. And when he, together with some others, conversed with him about his death, he re plied, ‘I cannot say, as one did, I have not so lived that I should ftot-be afraid to die; but this I can say, I have so learned ‘Christy th%t l am not afraid so die.’ ” MACON, GEORGIA, Fimu& MAY 20, ISG'4. FrSiihe.Aor.y of AeaaeMee. .’ Bp.o. popcrN—the Convention. God lias Jftilj blessed our la'bCns In the i£WU 3<|§pg|ai3tors who went up with me & work and t,thous ands heard pe gospel that Sabbath who, but for tn vigijting ministers might [jot li ive been,, low&d to. do so.Some breth ren who p it us after the meeting o£ .the Conventhrove been doing in ‘ : 1 ’ i‘- :H'urions.aaidhg thtf’ Hehderssifi av 1 lions’ visjtwc. emem 'GTvensfOSnd an open door ready for'Tsach] of them t iere. Bro. Toole labored in Hotch kiss’ Bati of Artillery, very clamorous foi* a miniate - ; and brother Givens fell into Gibson’s j&. Brigade. He (Givens) com menced b ptizing the day after he reached the army; and baptized yesterday morning under thVsound of artillery skirmishing’ heard in tie distance. He has baptized in all 47, I tiink, and three of his candidates were out < iqpicket when he last baptized. All tho irigades and.batteries have man ifested mo eor less of revival spirit. Oh for more laborers for this whitening har vest 1 Will not our young men, who are strong and vigorous, come over to our help? My brethren, God calls you here—let hot others be compelled to do your work ! At the solicitation of the brethren them selves, anijapproved by brethren Bev. Dr. Teasdale, Jp S. Worrel and G. W. Givens, we organized the young Baptists of Finley’g, brigade—G3 in numher—into a church.— : Many olderTiretbren in the brigade will join with these and strive to keep up such dis cipline and. service as the New Testament requires. jA Baptist preacher of experience is with thorn, a non-eomuiissioned officer— Irother Miller, of Florida. They proposed celebrating tfie Lord’s Supper last night.. We also formed a church in Gibson’s La. Brigade—forty old Baptists and those whom brother Givens had baptized. They have a youog minister with them, a Captain Hay defl, who will be able to preach to these and Sh.nhtToy one’ object to this, let him come and .labor as we have done in the ar my; let Ivin see what we have seen and bear v,l,a? w'e h.avo heard, an d he will be very Degree with us in opinion that it-, is our dutV-to offer eueh facilities to our dear brethren in the army. Fraternally yours,-* • ; ‘ “I- W. H. ROBERT. . Or Keeping the Heart- If we clpn’t keep our hearts, the Devil will Jkcep kbem ; slyill we let Satan have, them ? When a rude army gets, into a town what work’do they rapes, plun ders, massacres:’ when Satan possesses hearts, he carries them at last violently, as o he did the swine, into the sea. Satan is first crafty; then cruel.- He observes the humors of the body, and lays suitable baits. The Devil caiinot know the heart, butane inay observe the temper and constitution ;- — he tempts a sangtifrie man with beauty, a covetous man gold; as the husband man knows what ground is fit fqr barley, what for wheat. Satan hath not been a tempter so long, but by this time, he hath gained experience, haying commenced mas ter of his.j>wn black art. . 1 * Baptism—Ad Admission- The “London Quarterly,” the organ of the English Tories, in an article on Christianity,” campares the baptismal rites, of the Latin and Greek Christians. The “Review” says, “There can be no question that the origi nal form of baptism-—the very meaning of the word—was complete immersion in the de p baptismal waters; and that at least for four centuries, any other form was cither unknown, or regarded as an exceptional, al jost a monstrous case. To this form the Greek* church still rigidly adheres; and the most iffustripus and venerable portion of it —that of the Byzantine empire—absolutely, repudiates and ignores any other mode of administration as essentially invalid. The Latin church, on the other hand-r-doubtless in deference to the requirements of a north ern climate, and tiro convenience of custom —has al fired the Thode.” „ i -——. .y ■ —• / Jesus Changes the Heart. An Indian wouiandrom Mavissing, oanySS to one -of the missionaries, and told him.that* as soon as she had a good heart, she would turn to the Lord Jesus. “Ah!” repliedhh “you want to walk on your head. How can you .get a good heart, unless jrou first come to Jesus for the sanctifying grace of his Ho-, ly Spirit?” t P Gw. Brown’s Address. The foilovring is the substance of Gov. J. E. Bkown’s address before tbe Ga. State Convention in the establishment of an asylum for the orphan’s of soldiers ijo battle: it'is copied from the letterwE Rev. A. E. Dickinson to the Religious Her-.’ aid of Richmond, Yal ‘ “He was rejoiced to see his brethren ready to enter upon such a work. As k Baptist, he liked toiec tbe Baptists leading & ..The world honors us lie estTnia'.ioa'T He wanted every man pres ent to consider how much ,we owe the sol dier and his family, What is your proper ty worth, what are your family to you, if these brave men stand asi le and permit the invador. to come down upon you? All your wealth, yburquiet slumber on your soft beds, the bright faces around your firesides, are yours, because of what the soldier are doing for you. . The soldier, to do this*for you, gives up all. His wife and children are as dear to him as yours are to you, and yet he does not see them from year to year. He has as much, right to make money as you have, and yet he voluntarily submits to see his little estate waste away and his family become beggars. Now, sirs, why should one part of the community endure .all the cost of securing the rights atfd independence of us all ? What was the understanding among us when these men rushed to arms? You said to them : “You go and protect our property and lives, and we will take care of you families. If you fall, we will stand fetW to. your little ones and will divide with fhetp our last crumb of bread.” They accepted the offer, and one hundred thou sand bloody graves and many a brilliant vic tory attest bow nobly they have made good their part of the contract. Have we at home come p'p to the extent of our obligation ? Let us see. When this war began the whole property of Georgia amounted .to eighthuu dred millions of dollars. These three years of .carnage have added nothing to tha ag gjiettnfo vet .waa£- wno were jtoorwhen the vrar negan a Wrutt now. The . few have become richer, there ; fore; by the many having, been made Ihe poorer. Is it right-4or you* t(£ hofil these ljundreds of thousands whifo family of a soldier is in need ?• Take an example:— Here are two families in abofit the same con dition, living within a fe& yards of eaclTotil er. The of war are sounded and tbe main stay oftoiße rufthefe to the-conflict. His family saPiyeonsunie tbe little he had accu mulated fb/ theru, by years - of foil; but the ‘ne%bsh- 4 stays atlibme and goes to trudfog/l . ffislgsßm are counted by thousands; and now he i%a rich man. His children are clothed ft) tlie finest style, bis taljle groans under its burden of delicacies, while he self is closed in purple and fares srfnjptu ously every iGme efospergte *cqn ffitft liis soldier Neighbor falls,*axid his little ofies arc how fStherless as.well as poor. Im agine the feelings of that* yidow ‘and her children'as, in their rags, they look on the splendor anlnjury of their neighboring family. , Thoy have a vivid recollection of the fact that a .year or two ago they were all in about the same condition of ,life; nor would there be such a difference now, had not the husband and father of the one'fa'mi- If fallen in defence of the property, rights and happiness of the other. Who needs to to be told that the rich family ought to pro vide for the poor ? I knew a beautiful gild, continued the speaker, who, a few years ago, married an honest, thrifty man, and settled on a few acres in one of the loveli est valleys in Georgia; When the war be gan these two honest, industrious persons had accumulated a few thousand dollars.— They had just got to n point from which they might hope for happiness and ease. — But the man was summoned to the battle field. With a-said heart he tn ned away from his cottage, his lovely wife, and his charming little ones. In the battle ofChic atnauga, as our victorious farces were pres sing on, lie was pierced through by'a ;ball and fell dead to tlie ground. The wife'has since died of. a “broken heart. The three children remain, but with no earthly friend ■or protector. The little that their father ac jpumulate,d hajt been * exhausted. The only ‘Lope of those children, and of .those children; j|md of thousands like them, is''centered* in this rngWrafenh’ -TTo you;the?r .eyes are tur ned. Their Kttle hands are extended to yo'jX. The graves of their patriot!#, ed fathericry aloud to you. - Wm’you turn a / briftrou, my mind* is made up, that rfever TERMS, fio.OO IN ADVANCE YOL XJJII.-JW)- 20. —— 77-; —■ — ■ .... while lif e is spared me, shali 1 fail of a hear ty respons| to such an appeal. He felt wil- n e to giveflhis salary for one year to this Movement, (84,t00,) ond only regretted that .he |ot able to do more. He wanted IjKe Brethren to remember that nothing short of a million of dollars would*effect the pur pose. He urged that an effort be made to raise two millions.” . Belipm at the North. The following fearful picture of the state Tet ter wri tTenfromNew York last Febru ary to tbe Southern Presbyterian.— Ed. In dex.] “As to the bloody harangues of the out and out war clergy, no pen can depict them. They rejoice in the carnage of the battle field and in the spectacle of widows and or phans driven homeless from their burning dwellings. They delight to see Southern ladies stripped, whipped and exposed to the insults of their former slaves. 4 Not a pul pit, nor a religious (save the mark !) news paper in the North condemns the brutali ties of a the butcheries of a McNeil or the baseness of a jTurchin. They and the Christian people sos the Federal States openly declare that “rebels h* ve no rights,” and hence that it is right to exterminate them, to seize their lands, irce their slaves, and to do whatsoever else seemeth to them good. “Resolved, 1 hat the Lord hath given the earth to hiwsaints. Resolved, That we are the saints of the Lord.”'/ . 4 Ihe result is as might be anticipated.— True religion is dying out. In the nofth west an anti church qjovement. is begun.— Those who are opposed to the war and abo- 4 litionism, will meet for worship without any ‘ church organization. Again, the Roman Catholic gaining largely, because gef its supposed conservatism. But. the most extensive movement is towards infidelity.—* The process is a short one, the Northern , •# ‘* In the same letter he ‘ * 4 “I wouldfciot be surprised if i still greats cr revolution in public sentime a t here should occur, and that aholitionism, as the ca'yse of .and of all these troubles, should be come more hateful to tliese-unthinking mas ses than seccssionism now is, and ; tha"t its now triumphant leaders should be, hunted and hounded with a deeper animosity tfym 3outfiern exiles arc now incurnflg. I base these opinioßs v not upon any coiiuwence in the integrity and soqpd principles of these pedple/I believe tb€m to,be ‘utterly desti tute of Mther.'; il hey have no-fixed ideas in religion, inotwls or polities. They rush faith -4r KTidj,hither like a heard of frantic Buf ,fahfes#t*the'display of a red rag. Having . failed ip trampling down the South, they will turpjgjfthe matfness of their baffled fu ry and- W’reak their vengeace upon their masters.” ‘•* He diWsdhfi following contrast between the. N6r tli and the South : ‘“When* I contrast the condition of the North, its blasphemy, its bloodthirstiness, iW arrogance, its, its corruption, with that of the South, her pure religion, godly peo ple; sound morals, patriotic devotion, mode ration in victory; patience in suffering, I cannot doubt the result of tbe conflict be tween them. I’ would not paint a too flat tering pictura for ourselves. I observe in . some of our papers complaints of corruption in the Confederacy. These are spots on the sun. The great heart 0! the Southern peo ple is sound ; the pure Gospel is preached, believed,-obeyed; the standard of virtue is high, being founded on the word of God ; the wise and the good are in authority. Here is nothing but a mass of reeking impiety and cruelty, “the whole head is sick, the whole heart faint;” from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet, the body poli tic is wounds, and bruises and putrifying sores. The cheering work of grace that, be- / •glptj[i6grin the lamented Jacksonki corp, has extdrtifocl so Widely through Gen. Lee’s ar my, is watched (on this, side by almost uni- scepticism among soldiers and people. On thcLpjle hand, we see faith in God, h<?n- ’ or, and fortitude; on tbe other, 4evil worship, fanaticism, ’ treachery and bh|bfiri.*ni. There is no sound public opin jipisiriiere to restrain and correct the excesses Df a biutal . Even the religious press (so called) utters no condemnation of the a trocious deeds desoltttod so many of our hearthstones.’^