The Banner and Baptist. (Atlanta, Ga.) 186?-186?, July 26, 1862, Image 3

The Banner and Baptist., July 26, 1862, Image 3

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Newspaper Page Textfull survey of the field in person, visiting alone the’ most dangerous points, and was thus enabled to select the safest route for his brigade. lam here'(in Richmond) for the present, attending to the sick and wounded. George Ramsey, of Newman, is here sick—slowly recovering. We have a delightful religious revival progressing in our camps, (in our regiment especially,) of which I will write you more fully soon. How has the Lord blessed our family ? [He here alludes to the fact that he and his brothers have all been preserved alive thus far.] If we are ungrateful, may we not ex pect that His hand will fall heavily upon us, and that speedily 1 ? lam well. God bless you, my father and mother. Your affectionate son, A. B. Campbell. To ill© Churches of the Bethel As. aociaiton. Dear Brethren: —“Suffer the word of exhortation.” Let me “ stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance.” The year is rapidly advancing. November will soon be here. You will then convene, by your delegates, at “Pine BlulT,” when the expenses of the religious enterprizes in which we are engaged will have to be met, and provision made for the future. Last January the two Missionary committees addressed you a circular, setting forth the nature and extent of our work, and asking your cheerful co-operation. It is hoped that some system of uniform contribution has been universally inaugurated, and that funds are in process of collection to meet the obligations that we, as the friends of Christ and His cause, have assumed. These obligations should not be forgotten, for they cannot be evaded. Our Missionaries are in the field, performing their arduous but blessed work. By our appointment they are preaching Jesus to the red man at home and the black man abroad. We contracted to feed and clothe them while in our service. They are looking to ns for the faithful discharge of our volun tary engagements. Shall they look in rain? Will their Christian brethren disappoint them ? Truly not. Every pious heart responds certainly not. If there is a claim that can not be repudiated, it is the claim of these self-denying devoted men and women, who hare sacrificed their all to go forth and preach Christ to the perishing heathen. But brethren hear me, and believe me, when l say that these heralds of the Cross will suffer, and suffer much, if we are not prompted to early and vigorous action. We are still in arrears —the result of last year’s negligence; and the expenses of the pres ent year, by the enlargement of our opera tions, will be greater by nine hundred dol lars than those of last year. What we need then to meet the demands upon us at our next Association is immediate action, and enlarged benevolence. Permit me to ask, is there not in each of our churches a pastor, a brother, or even a sister, who has enough of love to Christ, and enough of in terest for dying men to take the lead in stiring up their fellow disciples to quick and energetic effortT If the matter in any of our churches has been delayed until now, don’t postpone it another week. Now is the time, and now is the hour, to attempt something worthy the cause. Let the sis ters Ulk about it in their domestic circles. Let the brethren pray about it in their prayer meetings. Let pastors urge it in their conferences, and preach it in their pul pits. Let two or three churches, with their ministers, combine together, to hold missionary meetings —mass meetings, if you please, where the subject can be can vassed in all its bearings, and the hearts of the people enlisted in the*work„ Two or three such meetings were held in the spring, and in each case with cheering re sults. The presence, of the God of mis sions was manifest, and. His people rejoiced at the opportunity of giving. Such meet ings should be resumed in each of the dis tricts this summer and fall; and I will in timate here, that if pastor and church need help, I know of some brethren who will be pleased to aid them. Brethren, don’t talk about “ the times”— the times are just what God made them * j j and out of them Jle will bring glory to him. | self and prosperity for His church. Let me! remind you that money is not as scarce as U was this time a year ago; (I hear that some Christians have a surplus of money, ami are anxiously seeking opportunities of investment. I would suggest that the mis sion cause will pay the surest dividends.) Produce of all kinds is paving a good price, the very land is freighted with pro vision tor man and beast; and God, in a most signal manner, has defended our loved Confederacy on the “ bloody battle-field." In view then of God's goodness, in view of the claims of the heathen, and in view of our personal and final account —which is hastening on—4t the judgment seat of Christ, 1* us bring the subject home to our banner and baptist. own consciences, and each for himself, cry out with honest, heartfelt gratitude, “Lord what wilt thou have mb to do!” Ilopihg to see a large gathering, and an overflowing treasury at Pine Bluff, in No vember next, I am yours in Christ Jesus, S. G. Daniel, See. for Miss. Com., Bethel Ass'n. The Religious Instruction of the Young. An Essay, prepared for a General Meeting of Ministers and Deacons. The religious instruction of the young is certainly one of the most important subjects that can be presented to the mind for con sideration. In its relation to the individual, the family, the church and the state, it grows in vast proportions and becomes a most absorbing topic to parents, statesmen and Christians. In the limits assigned we shall not be able to enter upon this inviting field, but shall confine ourselves to the dis cussion of the more practical part of the subject—insisting upon some of the leading reasons why the churches should engage actively and zealously in the religious in struction of the young; suggesting some thoughts in regard to the best method of conducting the Sabbath school, and stating some of the causes why they have not been productive of more beneficial results. We would insist upon the •’eligious in struction of the young, from the fact that it is so repeatedly enjoined in the Scriptures. It was most positively commanded under the old dispensation, and no where repealed in the new, but additionally enforced. It was commanded that- the words spoken should be diligently taught unto the chil dren, “ and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” If it was enjoined to be faithfully performed in the darker days, how much more necessary to us who live in the full blaze of Gospel truth ? For as the light we enjoy is greater, so in proportion is our obligation and responsibilities. Our Saviour while upon earth, being displeased because His disciples rebuked those who would bring children unto Him, said : “Suffer little children tooome unto me and forbid them not.” If He was displeased with those who discouraged their coming, as a legitimate consequence He-was pleased with those who encouraged their coming unto Him in the way He ordained. The apostle Paul commends Timothy : “ that from a child thou hast known the holy scrip tures, which are able to make thee wise un to salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” It certainly then behooves us to look well to this matter. For inyself the teachings of the Scriptures are sufficient to establish any truth. It is the ultimate standard of decision —from it there is no appeal. For the universe I would not raise a sacriligeous hand to destroy or mutilate one precept it enjoins, nor one truth that it inculcates, nor add one iota of man’s de visement to the wisdom of God ; but would bow in humble adoration before the infinite wisdom that devised, the infinite grace that bestowed it, and receive it as it is—the only authoritative rule and practice. While judiciously guarding that nothing be added thereto, I would intensely watch that no thing be detracted therefrom. Again, 1 would insist upon the religious instruction of the young, from the condition in which we find the human family, the susceptibility of the youthful mind, and the peculiar adaptability of the Gospel to meet their wants in remembering their Creator in the days of their youth. This world is a moral wreck. All are involved in the fall. And it affords demonstrative evidence of the constitutional depravity of man, as well as of its universality, that early childhood ever betrays a strong pro clivity to wrong—that it never fails of growing up in sin, except under decided counteracting influences. The mind at that early period is exquisitely susceptible to moral impressions. This extreme suscep tibility should engage our most profound solicitude. The tendency to evil is so strong, that if a child should be carried off and shut out from all influences, he would grow up a character of decided immorality and irreligion. They come spontaneously, and at no man’s bidding, and can only be preuented by positively ameliorating and counteracting eflbrts. It cannot be affirmed with truth that pious examples and associa* tions will with equal certainty stamp upon childhood and youth the graceful lineaments of virtue and piety. Allowance is to be made for the bent of the fallen spirit, aud much positive teaching and much of God’s grace are requisite to achieve the higher • ends of religion. Yet, revelation and ex perience affirm that right training insures , good results. “ Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Such results unques tionably imply the power and the presence ;of God’s grace. But such a promise does also, by plain and necessary implication, pledge the assistance of that grace to make the religious instruction effectual to the child’s virtue and salvation. Is it attribu ting too much to human efforts, forgetting that God is the only efficient Worker! — Surely not; we ascribe all efficiency to God, and only claim for human agency such power as the Divine grace imparts to it. The right training and godly nurture which insures piety in our children, is our duty and our work; but they only produce this result because God wills it and work* it this particular way. Oh, then, is it not worthy of constant, unremitting effort, when we remember that these precious caskets contain immortal jewels which by our in strumentality may be burnished and set in the diadem of our Redeemer ! Another reason, applicable at all times, but more especially at the present: The flower of our land has been called to arms. The mighty hosts of the invader presses upon our soil; all our available strength must be put forth to met him. The bloody field, smoking cities, devastated country and desolated firesides are some of the horrors of war, yet they do not constitute its chief affliction. To the eye of the patriot and the Christian there are more terrible conse quences than these. The earth may soon drink up the rich blood shed; the broken hearts may soon be healed under the sooth ing influence of time; the desolated cities may soon blossom as the rose; —but the corruption engendered, the licentiousness and wickedness, like a mighty river, deluges the country, leaving a wreck in its wild sweeps. The grand temple erected to good order, morality and religion, with ‘ long years of toil, cemented with so many tears and prayers, crumbles to the dust, and must be rebuilt with unhewn stones and untem pered mortar. After war, we reap the whirlwind. Does it not, then, behoove ev ery patriot and every Christian to see to it that these awful consequences shall be met by counteracting influences?—that the ri sing generation shall not imbibe the corrup tion engendered, but, early impressed with the gracious truths of the Bible, shall be prepared to take a higher stand, and meet faithfully the vast responsibilities that may devolve upon them. It ha& been said that,education and virtue are the bulwarks of a republican govern ment; yet, under the greatest advances of refinement and learning, with philosophy in her palmiest days, tW*rts and sciences car ried to a great degree of perfection, we see oppression, tyranny, and the most shocking corruptions. Greece in the days of her Demosthenes, were the days of her bond age. “ Aid the polished sons of Athens wore at once soholara and slaves. The Augustan age of literature was an age of ( political degradation. And Virgil and Ho*j race flourished under the patronage of aj tyrant." Education is but the Divine upon I the lonian column —but the traces and the polish upon the mighty base that sustains the fabric. Religion is the bulwark, virtue the only .safeguard. Disseminate it among the masses, instill its wholesome precepts into the youthful mind, snd our Govern ment will rise with more than cathedral grandeur, the landmark of .lations, the fin ished monument of national glory. Many methods have been proposed for conducting Sabbath-schools. Without enu merating them, I would simply suggest what from my experience and observation has been the most interesting and beaeficial. A great deal depends upon the superintend ent. He should be an active, zealous man, fully impressed with the responsibilities resting upon him, and the vast importance of the work in whieh he is engaged. He should be one in whom the Christian graces appear in an eminent degree, so as to have the confidence ef all. It has been said that children are the best judges of human na ture. It is certainly true that it is difficult to reach their hearts without gaining their confidmce. To do this it is necessary for the superintendent to be a God-fearing man, upright in all his dealings, a pattern of good works. In addition to this indispen sable requisite, he should have a peculiar gift to engage the attention and gain the sympathies of the children. I have seen many good and useful men totally disquali fied to convey instruction to the youthful mind, and by their peculiar manner repel ling, rather than winning the hearts and engaging the attention of the young. I have seen others so deficient in judgment of human nature and particularly of the pecu liarities of the young, that, to destroy all interest in the Sabbath-school, weary and discourage the children, they need but be often present with their long, prosy, point less talks. A superintendent, then, should be short, pointed, well acquainted with the idiosyneraeies of the young. It is of great importance that the teachers should be well selected. Promptness and punctuality are indispensable requisites.— The children should be classed according jto their ages and advancements, and each teacher have a particular class—so that the teachers may become interested in their respective classes, and the scholars in their teachers. The exercises should be short, and so varied as to preserve the interest to the children. 1 think it is important that attention should be paid to singing. Sweet lyric poetry exerts a wonderful influence on the mind, particularly on the youthful mind. The heart is jshen warm and fresh, in the poetry of its existence, rich in the exuberance of its own fancy. The plastic touch moulds to forms of beauty, the better part of their nature is developed, thoughts purified, affections elevated, as the feelings gush forth in gratitude or melt in tenderness under the sweet strains of sacred lyric poetry. Why is it that the Sabbath-school has not been productive of more beneficial re sults ? It has produced wonderful results. Thousands under its sacred influences have received the precious words of eternal life. Examine your church records and you will generally find that a great majority of your members were instructed in the Sabbath school ; and universally, that the most de voted, zealous, enlightened, useful members have drank from the pure stream as it gushed fresh from the fountain of God.— Go to the gloomy cells of the prison-house; ask that poor convict with bloody hands if he had ever been taught in the Sabbath school, and had early impressed on his mind the command “Thou shalt not kill” ? He will answer No. The statistics prove that the faithfully instructed youth never goes to the penitentiary—confirming the testi mony of Solomon: “ Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” But why has it not been more efficient ? We weary in well doing. Seeing no im mediate return of our labors, we become faithless, forgetting the precious promise— “Be not weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing pre cious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves .with him.”— The parents do not sufficiently foster this interest, encourage and assist the teachers. The ministry—yes, the ministry, to a con siderable extent —do not lend a helping hand. There are many noble exceptions, who are laboring in this field, making it both seed time and harvest, scattering the seed as they garner into the bouse of the Lord; but a great many think it sufficient to let the brethren manage the Sabbath school. They would willingly, if called upon, preach a sermon upon the subject.— But that is not what it needs. It needs fos tering care, the encouraging of the pastor’s presence, and the pastor’s assistance. I have known Sabbath-schools to linger on for years without one encouraging word from the pastor, or enjoying at any time the cheering of his presence. Soon all withers under this chilling influence—the teachers become discouraged, the members indifferent. We may preach louder by example than precept. Example is more powerful than stern logic burning with elo quence unsnforced by a consistent walk.— But some say, “ Our time is all occupied, our engagements so pressing, that it is im possible for us to devote any attention to this matter.” Well, this simply shows that you have undertaken more labor than you are able to perform. The superficial cultivator of the soil is justly condemned by the agricultural improvements of the age, and it has become a wise maxim, “ Cultivate less, and cultivate it better.”— We do not fully realize the great interest at stake, the great responsibility that de volves upon us. Oh, that we might wake up to the high mission ! There is need, sad and instant need of all the zeal, all the energy, the burning lamp, and the girded loins, to go up and possess the land. — “Enlarge the place of the tent,and let them stretch forth the curtains of their habita tions ; spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes,” till the whole uni verse shall become one grand temple to the Lord, the pealing anthem swelling up from every kindred and tribe and tongue! D. B. Hamilton. Historical Society. The committee will meet visitors at the Franklin Printing House, and assign them homes. LEMUEL DEAN. f JARED I. WHITAKER, -j Committee. G W. COOK, l DIED, In this city, on the 25th July, 1802, after a lingering illness, Harriet Virginia, in fant daughter of Elder H. C. and Mrs. A. Hornady —aged fourteen months. Thus early has the playful little Jennie passed away to the land of the blessed. — The bereaved parents hare, in this Provi dence, another incentive to press on to their final rest, and may truthfully say of the little one: “Sleep on, sweet babe, TUI time to rat if given; Then still rest on, bright gem, Tbon child of heaven.” " GENERAL DIRECTORY; Confederate Government President — Jefferson Davis, of Miss. Vice “ —A. H. Stephens, of Ga. The Cabinet. —J udah P. Benjamin, of La., Secretary of State. C. G. Memminger, of S. C., Seoretary of Treasury. George W. Randolph, of Va., Secretary of War. S. R. Mallory, of Fla., Secretary of Navy. Thos. H. Watts, of Alabama, Attoruey- General. John 11. Reagan, of Texas, Postmaster- General. 1 he Senate. Alabama —Win. L. Yancey, C. C. Clay. Arkansas —Robert W. Johnson, C. B. Mitchell. Florida —J. M. Baker, A. E. Maxwell. Georgia —B. H. Hill, John W. Lewis. Kentucky —Henry C. Burnett, William E. Sims. Louisiana —Edward Sparrow, Thos. J. Sernmes. Mississippi —A. G. Brown, Jas. Phelan. Missouri— J. B. Clarke, R. L. E. Peytoa. North Carolina —George Davis, W. T. Dortch. South Carolina —Robert W. Barnwell, James L. Orr. Tennessee —Gustavus A. Henry, Landon C. Haynes. Texas —L. T. Wigfall, W. S. Oldham. Virginia —R. M. T. Hunter, William B. Preston. House of Representatives. Alabama: T. J. Foster, W. R. Smith, J.P. Ralls, J. L. Curry, F. S.Lyon, W. P. Chilton, David Clopton, J. S. Pugh, E. S. Dargan. Arkansas: G. A. Garland, James M. Patterson. (Incomplete.) Florida: James B. Dawkins, R. B. Hilton. Georgia: Julian Hartridge, Charles J. Munnerlyn, Hines Holt, Aug. H. Kenan, David W. Lewis, W. W. Clark, Robert P. Trippe, Lucius J. Gartrell, Hardy Strick land, Augustus R. Wright. Kentucky : (Not yet elected.) Louisiana: Charles J. Villers, Charles M. Conrad, Duncan F. Kenner, Lucien J. Dupre, John L. Lewis, John Perkins, Jr. Mississippi: J. W. Clapp, Reuben Da vis, Israel Welch, H. C. Chambers, 0. R. Singleton, E. Barksdale, John J. Mcßae. Missouri: W. M. Cook, T. C. Harris, Caspar W. Bell, Adam H. Condon, G. G. West, L. W. Freeman, Hyer. North Carolina: W. H. Smith, R. R. Bridges, Q. R. Kenan, T. D. McDowell, A. H. Airington, J. R. McLean, W. S. Ashe, William Landor, B. S. Gaither, A. T. Davidson. South Carolina: John McQueen, W. Porcher Miles, L. M. Ayer, M. L. Bonham, James Farrow, W. W. Boyce. Tennessee: Joseph B. Heiskell, W. G. Swan, W. 11. Tibbs, E. F. Gardenshire, Henry S. Foote, Jr., Meredith P. Gentry, George W. Jones, Thomas Mennes, J. D. Adkins, John V. Wright, D. M. Currin. Texas: John A. Wilcox, C. C. Her bert, F. W. Gray, F. IJ Sexton, M. D. Graham, B. IT. Epperson. Virginia: M. R. H. Garnett, John B. Chambliss, John Tyler, Roger A. Pryor, Thomas S. Bococke, John Goode, Jr., Jas. P. Holcombe, D. C. DeJarnette, William Smith, A. R. Boteler, John B. Baldwin, Walter R, Staples, Walter Preston, A. G. Jenkins, Robert Johnston, C. W. Russell. Government of Georgin. Joseph E. Brown, Governor. N. C. Barnett, Secretary of State. John Jones, Treasurer. Peterson Thweatt, Comptroller General. E. D. Brown, Librarian. John Billups, President of the Senate. J. M. Mobley, Secretary “ Warren Akin, Speaker of the House. L. Carrington, Clerk J. B. Campbell, Secr’y Executive Dep’t. 11. 11. Waters, Private Secretary. J. S. Rowland, Sup’t State Railroad. James A. Green, Keeper Penitentiary. T. T. Windsor, Book-keeper “ Supreme Court Judges. —J. H. Lumpkin, of Clark. Charles J. Jenkins, of Richmond. R. F. Lyon, of Fulton. Times and places of holding Court. —First District, composed of the Eastern, Middle and Brunswick Circuits; at Savannah on the second Mondays in January and June. Second District, composed of the Macon, Southwestern, Chattahoochee and Pataula Circuits ; at Macon on the fourth Mondays in January and June. Third District, composed of the Hint, Coweta, Blue Ridge, Cherokee and Talla poosa Circuits ; at Atlanta on the fourth Monday in March and second Monday m Fourth District, composed of the West ern and Northern Circuits; at Athens on the fourth Mondays in May and November. Fifth District, composed of the Ocmulgee and Southern Circuits; at MiMectoevdle on the second Mondays in May and November. and Baptist is published ev. ery Saturday morning, at Atlanta, Ga., at the price of three dol'ars per year, alwaya in advance.