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‘ The entrance of Thy Word giveth light’
JAS. NATHAN ELLS, Editor.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1863.
The War.
The usually correct Richmond corres
pondent of the Charleston Mercury is of
the opinion that there is ‘ something’ in the
story about important matters in secret ses
sion, which he has been repeating from day
to day —a treaty or a loan, or both, with
France, the facts of which will be given to
the public in a few days. He also notices
the arrival of a New Yorker who recently
left Washington, who came to Richmond
well accredited, and sought directly an in
terview with the President. This individ
ual says the w r ar can not last ninety days;
that the Federal finances are in inextricable
confusion—the sold/ers in their armies are
mutinous, and only waiiing to be paid off
to disband. Then, he thinks, ‘ will come
the hanging of the Lincolnites, and there
will be a clean sweep.’
In regard to ‘recognition,’ the Richmond
journals publish an extract from a letter to
Seward written by Federal-minister Adams,
dated London, October 17, in which he ex
presses his opinion that ‘the recognition of
the Insurgents now depends almost entirely
on the fortunes of the war; if we prove our
selves by February next no more able to
control its results than w r e are at this mo
ment, it will be difficult for Ministers longer
to resist the current which is now leaning
in that direction in both houses of Parlia
ment.’ February is near at hand.
A telegram states that on the 23d inst.,
the Federals were landing troops below
Young’s Point, and about twenty boats
were lying a mile and a half above the
mouth of the canal, near Vicksburg.
Two hundred Federal cavalry made a
surprise visit on the Texas cavalry, six
miles above Carthage, on the morning of
the22d. The Yankees were repulsed, with
the loss of their colonel ; no Confederate
hurt. Our men fought them on foot. Maj.
I larrison was sent down for reinforcements,;
expecting the attack to be renewed.
Things in Middle Tennessee remain muchi
as they have been. The moue incuts of
Wheeler, Forrest and Morgan have thus
far disconcerted Mynheer Rosencranz to a
considerable extent. The recent operations
on the Cumberland are thunderbolts on the
Yankee mind, and have excited sensations
of alarm among the officers at Nashville. —
The evid cnees of an advance are rather slim.
Active events are retarded, partly by the
crippled condition of the Yankee subsistence
bureau, and partly by the weather.
A Noble Deed.—A gentleman of this
city, on Wednesday last, entered our sanc
tum, and made a few inquiries about the
Dorcas Society—what the ladies were do
ing, etc. He then remarked that he felt as
though he could not go home that cold night
without, doing something towards relieving
the destitution in our midst, and handed us!
one hundred dollars to give the Dorcas So-I
ciety as the donation of “ A Friend.”
We are always ‘at home’ to such friends
when they call.
Need we say* to our citizens in easy cir
cumstances, that there is great destitution
in Atlanta?
We notice on our mail-books the names
of many subscribers whose time is about
to expire. As our paper is conducted on
a strictly cash system, we would remind
such friends of the necessity of at once re
mitting three dollars, if disposed to renew
their subscriptions.
It is gratifying to know that The Baptist
Banner is rapidly extending its circulation
—and we trust its usefulness, also. With i
an enlarged list of excellent contributors,
and the editor’s determination to do his
best to merit success, we present the claims
of The Banner to the favorable regard and
patronage of all who desire a good home
journal.
Person al. —Correspondents of Elder T
E. Langley will address him at Powers,
Terrell county, Ga.
The editor will be in Augusta during the
ensuing week, and will attend to corres
pondents on his return.
Those wishing papers changed, should give
the Post-Office they wish changed from, as wei.
as the one to be changed to.
BABS X 8 X BA3OSL
The Value and Economy of Time.
Whoever takes a thoughtful survey of
the future, will be astonished to find that
the schemes of the present have so little
time alloted for their consummation ; espe
cially will this prove true if it is considered
how little has been accomplished in the
past, even by the best effort.
The wisest economist of the fleeting mo
ments of life learns his wisdom in the use
of time by often experiencing the want of
it; the failure of some cherished scheme, or
the loss of some present advantage, seldom
fails in teaching an important lesson; but it
is learned at too dear a rate, and too late in
life to admit of a full remedy. The major
ity of men find that, on reaching the half
way house of their existence, time has
already stolen a march on them, and they
begin to realize, as it were for the first, that
the schemes of the future are too numer
ous, and on too large a scale for their ac
complishment. At this period life begins
to assume a serious aspect —its plans are
laid and its dreamy speculations are passed
—its path lies straightforward to the end—
its realities are too apparent to admit of
deception.
Here begin to be understood aright the
maxims of wisdom, read mechanically while
time passed so slowly as to seem rather a
burden than a blessing—‘Time is money,’
‘ Drive your business, or your business
will drive you,’ ‘Take time by the fore
lock,’ and that other beautiful sentiment,
‘Trust not the morrow, to-day is thine, use
it and be wise.’ Now they become full of
, meaning, and the wise carefully map out
the future, divide it into periods, and adjust
the business of the future years to them.—
Now the old clock on the mantel ticks more
audibly, it strikes off the passing hours
more rapidly, and the last stroke seems to
have lost its prolonged music.
Having learned the true value of time
. by dear experience, it should be regarded
like any article of intrinsic value which
may become property by possession and
appropriation; and he who wilfully robs
another of his time, should not be regarded
as less culpable than he who steals the
avails of that time in the shape of ready
money. The complex machinery of busi
ness will never work smoothly till there is
a higher value placed upon time, and it
will never work out ifs greatest and noblest
end till this observance is dictated by a
sense of moral obligation.
If one disregard the all-important rule of
strict punctuality, it not only operates to
his own detriment, but in almost every in
w stance has a relative influence upon the in
terests of others. The man who makes a
definite promise or appointment, and disre
gards it, forfeitsail claims to confidence ;
it at least raises a presumption of dishon
festv, which he is bound to rebut by some
[truthful and reliable explanation —and until
'he does this, he should be regarded by all
j lovers of good faith and fair dealing as un
worthy of further confidence. It is alarm
ing to consider how reckless men are of
their own voluntary pledges, and even those
who would scorn to be thought not worthy
of almost unlimited credit in commercial
affairs. If A. makes an appointment to
meet B. at a definite time and place, on
some matter of business, in which, perhaps,
a great number are interested, he regards
it as no breach of confidence to neglect it,
and does not even think of offering an apol
ogy for his unfortunate failure. B. is punc*
tual at the time and place, and perhaps
waits long after the time set for the meet
ing, and finds himself at last a sufferer, from
having consumed the time which was set
apart for still another engagement with C.
It is in this way that the affairs of business
are constantly ajar, and it is no wonder that
the intercourse of the trading community is
constantly poisoned by lurking suspicions.
, This but illustrates the almost number
less instances which occur daily in the w'orld,
and operate to delay or prostrate the affairs
•of men, and lessen in a great degree that
mutual confidence which produces the cer
tainty and stability of business. The mer
chant can no more do without his ‘ time
table,’ by which to regulate his own affairs
and keep the public ad vised of his move
ments, than can the railroad without incur- ,
ring a double risk of collision or accident;
and the man who constantly disregards his
business promises can no more expect to
reap prosperity, than the farmer a harvest
who neglects to plant in seed time.
The economy of time, or punctuality, be
sides being a saving of money,"is a positive
virtue, and should be so esteemed ; the fact
that a majority are not prompt in meeting
all those engagements which it is in their ,
power to meet, does not make punctuality
less a virtue. As well might common
practice sanction and sanctify any other
positive evil—as gaming, blasphemy, or in
temperance. This evil has now the force
of an almost universal habit, and is the
more difficult to overcome from the gener
al want of confidence it involves.
Men who have exchanged lies with one
another year after year, until business is
conducted through the medium of falsehood
rather than truth, will find it difficult to
work a reformation, and, bound in the fet
ters of habit, early contracted, may never
be able to embody the disjointed fragments
of time in such a manner as to practise the
most rigid economy.
But to the young men of the country we
come with confidence, and ask them to give
the positive virtue of punctuality the force
of a fixed habit; it will be to them Time’s
savings bank, where the years will accu
mulate to lengthen their lease of life.—
‘Time,’ says the poet, ‘is the stuff that life
is made of,’ and let us manage it as well as
we can, there will yet remain much that is
idle and unemployed.
* Who, looking backward from his manhood’s prime,
Sees not the spectre of his misspent time ? ’
Plant Corn and Provisions.—There is,
it is feared, a disposition, founded upon the
supposition of an early peace, to plant less
corn and more cotton this year than last. —
This should not be so. Better discard the
idea of peace altogether, and plant corn and
raise provisions. Every planter should
• make preparations to raise a large crop of
corn the coming season. With or without
a continuance of the war, it is important
that there should be preparation for a very
full crop of provisions. If. our ports are
open to European trade, our surplus bread
grains will find ready markets at remunera
tive prices.
Elder A. C. Dayton.—We have seen a
[ letter from Elder Dayton, dated 23d inst.,
from LaFayette, Ga., where he has found
' a home, for the present at least. In this
letter he says:
“ 1 am in tolerably good health now, able
to preach every w r eek, and work almost ev
; ery day at my old business. The Lord
has provided for me thus far, and I trust
we shall not be left to starve or even suffer
want, though I was not able to get any of
my property away from Tennessee. I long
to see you and the dear brethren of Atlanta.
Will comedown when Providence permits.”
Men are happy or unhappy only by com.
parison ; their real wants are few—their
artificial, many. Whenever you feel like
murmuring and complaining at your lot,
just reflect that there are, not ten, or a hun
dred, but half a million of men, as.good as
you, or better, who, day and night, through
heat and cold, rain and storm, often ill fed
and ill clad, confront your and their enemy,
and bear the hazards of the battle field, and
get only eleven dollars a month.
[For The Baptist Banner.}
Ordination of Wm. Singleton.
A presbytery, consisting of Rev. N. M.
Crawford, Rev. James H. Cuthbert. Rev.
W. J. Hard and Rev. A. J. Huntington,
convened at the lecture-room of the First
Baptist Church, of Augusta, on Saturday
morning, 17th January, 1863, at 11 o’clock.
After the reading of Scriptures and a
prayer, on motion of Rev. Mr. Huntington,
Rev. Mr. Hard was elected Moderator, and
J. R. W. Johnston Clerk.
The Moderator stated the object of the
meeting to be the examination of brother
William Singleton as a candidate for ordi
nation to the Christian Ministry.
Rev. Mr. Cuthbert was appointed to lead
in the examination.
Brother Singleton was then examined as
to his Christian experience, his call to the
Ministry, and his doctrinal belief. His re
plies were clear, pointed, and satisfactory.
Brother Singleton having retired, it was
moved by Rev. Mr. Crawford,and second
ed by Rev. Mr. Huntington, “That Win.
Singleton, having sustained a creditable and
satisfactory examination before the pres
bytery, be ordained and set apart to the
work of the Christian Ministry.” The
motion was unanimously adopted.
On motion, Rev. Mr. Crawford was ap
pointed to preach the ordination sermon ;
Rev. Mr. Hard to deliver the charge; Rev.
Mr. Huntington, the ordaining prayer ; and
Rev. Mr. Cuthbert to extend the righthand
of fellowship.
The presbytery then adjourned.
W. J. Hard, Moderator.
J. R. W. Johnston, Secretary.
In pursuance with the above order, the
Ordination services were administered at
the First Baptist Church on Sabbath after
noon, 18th instant, in the presence of a large
[auditory; the services were solemn and
impressiue. Dr. Crawford preached from
Matthew v., 14: “Ye are the light of the
world.” The charge was based upon that
iof Paul to Timothy : “ Take heed to thyself
and thy doctrine.” All the services were
I listened to with profound interest and
attention.
1 Agency at Richmond for Claims of
Georgia Soldiers. —All soldiers of Geor
gia having claims on the Confederate Gov
ernment, and all Executors and Adminis
trators of deceased soldiers, or attorneys at
law in our State representing such claims,
are hereby notified that the Georgia Relief:
and Hospital Association, in pursuance of
an act of the Legislature, has established I
an Agency at Richmond, where such claims
will be put in process of adjustment, with- j
out expense to the claimant; and that Wil- i
liam W. Walton, Esq., of Augusta, has ,
been appointed the Agent of the Association j
to represent and take the management of,
such claims.
Address Wm. W. Walton, Esq., or
Robert Walton, Box 961 Richmond, Va.
Rev. W. J. Hard is now’ the Secretary
of the Georgia Relief and Hospital Associa
tion, whose head-quarters is at Augusta.
The Way to Improve Church Music.
In order to make this part of divine
worship what it should be, all the members
of the church must conscientiously interest
themselves in the subject, and make what
ever contributions of time, personal effort,
and money, may be necessary. If we
praise God with costly sacrifices, we praise
Him/or costly sacrifices, and the practical
duties of church members with regard to
church music are these. Each one must
exert himself personally in endeavoring to
carry out every judicious scheme for se
curing the best singing in the church with
which he is connected. Ordinarily this
matter is left to the management of a few,
who naturally or from necessity interest
themselves in this department of worship,
when it should command the cooperation
of all.
The members of the church and congre
gation, generally, whether they can sing or
not, should attend the meetings for practi
sing church music, whenever it is in their
power to do so. Those who fancy they
have “no ear” may find themselves mis
taken, and even those without “ voice ”
may possibly become tuneful. Those who
never expect to learn to sing by note, can
at least so catch the tunes as to sing by
rote, and, by joining with those who do
F sing scientifically, their own performances
will be greatly improved. If such meet
ings were fully attended, the leader could
easily correct certain faults in the singing
of some members of the congregation which
now greatly mar the harmony which others
make. But many more than attempt it
should learn to sing by note. Persons ad
vanced in years have been known to qualify
themselves to enter choirs, and though pre
paration was achieved with difficulty, the
conviction that it was a duty to succeed, if
possible, was the secret of success ; and
mastering every difficulty, such have been
seen sitting in choirs surrounded and re
vered by its more youthful members, and
an example to all that it is never too late
to begin to do good. Even those who
never can learn to sing, if there be such,
should at least occasionally attend such
meetings and encourage them by the man
■ ifestation of interest which their presence
affords.
But as the same persons cannot constitute
a perpetual band of singers, every church
should see to it that the children of the con
gregation are taught to sing. This may be
accomplished, first, by making instruction
in sacred musicapart of the Sabbath-school
exercise or preliminary to it. Or, a teach
er may beemployed who shall devote some
afternoon of every w r eek to the instruction
of children and youth. Or, as a third me
thod of securing the end, parents may in
dividually see to it that their children are
taught vocal music. Family worship should
always, when practicable, be accompanied
by singing, and in these ways separately,
or in all of them combined, a race of singers
may be in constant training and thus pre
pared to take the places of those whose ex
treme age and infirmity unfit them for the
exercise.
Sons should be taught to sing as well as
daughters. In our conntry there is com
paratively little singing among males. In
many churches nearly every man iirthe
house sits silent, without even a book in
his hand, as if it devolved on none but the
women to praise God.
Daughters should be encouraged to pay
more attention to the cultivation of sacred
music. It is mournful to observe how ma
ny Christian parents lavish vast sums of
money in having their daughters taught to
sing with the instrumental accompaniments
of the harp, piano, and guitar, the songs of
Byron and other infidels—breathing their
captivating impurities into the young ear
and heart, while they utterly neglect to
have them taught the tender strains and
holy anthems of Watts, Montgomery, He
ber and Cowper.
Moreover, the folly of such neglect is
more apparent when we remember that this
whole department of mere parlor and secu
lar amusement is usually laid aside when
years and cares increase. One seldom sees
a woman of forty, with her eyes rolled up,
singing a lackadaisical love-song. Often
the shadows of sorrow begin to rest darkly
on the heart as years advance, and the
frivolous accomplishments of youth are
forgotten. But one often does see, and
with pleasure hear, one who has passed
that age, singing, though it be with a voice
somewhat tremulous, yet still sweet in its
failing tones, the holy hymns and spiritual
songs which have been set to the grand old
tunes which will never wear out and never
die.
When pastor, church members, and
members of the congregation take such in
terest in maintenance of church music as
has been described, and avail themselves of
these means for its perpetuation, then com
plaints on this subject will cease, and one
of the most delightful and profitable parts
lof public worship will be properly per
formed.
A large sea-gull was shot on the Cam
bridge (Mass.) bridge one day last week,
and in its mouth was a good five-dollar bill
which the sportsman found no difficulty in
passing. [Chicago Herald.
The Chicago man is attempting to prac
tise upon the gull-i-bill ity the Yankee
I public. [Dalton Times.
Where is the birden of the proof?
What a canine set they must be at Wash
ington ’ [Atlanta Intelligencer.
And how little feline they have for their
generals who meet with a catastrophe.
[Dalton Times.
Is not this last claws rather awz-etesing? ;
We paws here fur a reply.
i w«■»
How do the ladies of the confederacy re
semble the speculators ? * ** J
Do you give it up ?
The ladies remain at home and prav for
the country; the speculators remain at!
home and prey upon it.
JJTD THLVGS.
BY AN EDITOR.
The Auctioneer.
What shall we say of Mr. Going, Going,
Gone ? This we may surely say—while he
ever keeps going, going, may he never be
gone I We could in no way dispense with
his services. Without him how could we
dispose of our goods and chattels when
emergency or convenience requires, reali
zing, it is true (sometimes) but half-price,
but more than we could obtain by any oth
er known process ? The auctioneer is the
personification of cheapness. Like the phy
sician and the lawyer, he lives by the mis
fortunes of his neighbors. He knocks, like
death, “with equal foot” at the gates of
the rich and the doors of the poor, and
knocks off both one and the other without
compunction or remorse, as the physician,
hardened by his profession, lops off a limb
or cuts into the body of his diseased victim.
W e cannot call the auctioneer a necessary
evil; on the contrary, like the physician,
• he is a necessary good. Headministers to
our necessities, if we would sell, and en
‘ ables us to buy cheap, if we vould buy.
1 The mode of selling at auction differs in
different countries. In some the highest
‘ price is named first and so downwards, un
’ til a buyer is found ; while in another a
■ candle is lighted, and bidders are limited to
the time during which “ the lamp holds out
to burn.’ With us the lowest price is first
named, and so on until the highest bidder
becomes the successful purchaser. While
the sale is going on the auctioneer becomes
to us a most important and interesting per
sonage. How intently do both buyer and
seller hang upon his words : “ Going, going
.at forty-five, who says fifty ? It must go,
gentlemen, at the low price of forty-five
dollars, if you say no more! Who says
fifty ? ” The owner is anxious, and the
buyers become nervous. All parties watch
the auctioneer, to see if the awful hammer
is really coming down. It falls at last, and
Mr. Blank is the fortunate man. The own
-1 er has made a sacrifice, but hasjrealized
1 j more than he otherwise could have done,
while Mr. Blank has drawn no great prize,
! because he has very likely bought some
thing he had no need of or taste for, merely
‘ because it was selling at such a bargain.
1 In old times, goods were sold at “public
vendue.” Then, as now, men and women
! made oftentimes dear purchases by being
1 tempted to buy a thousand things they had
no occasion for. The auctioneer, however,
is not to blame for this. He does his duty
faithfully to both parties. He “ dwells ” a
reasonable time, and then “ knocks down ”
the article to- the highest bidder. In this
knocking process he sometimes hits the
seller a hard blow, and sometimes a severe
knock on the head of the buyer ; but that
is not his concern, which is only to “ knock
down” the goods offered for sale. His
ivory hammer descends, like the rain, upon
the evil and the just; it is no respecter of
persons, but falls, dealing impartial justice
to all who are within its sound. From its
decision there can be no appeal. The fatal
word of one syllable is spoken, there is no
longer time for repentance, the lamp has
gone out and can never be re-lighted.
The hammer of the auctioneer tells many
a sad story of ruined fortunes, blasted hopes,
and of death, that scatters the much-loved
and hard-earned property to the four winds.
Each tap of the ivory bell consigns some
cherished memento, to which affection has
clung for many long years, into the hands
®f a stranger, to whom it comes divested of
its charm and the hold it had upon the
human heart—a mere object of curiosity,
perhaps, or it may be to gratify a passion
for display. The venerable mansion that
has witnessed the loves and the hopes, the
joys and the sorrows of more than one gen
eration, passes under the hands of the auc
tioneer to entire strangers, to whom no
room or hall or fire-place is crowded with
associations of happy childhood, youth,
manhood, old age, sickness, birth, marriage,
and death. The new owner sees only tim
ber, bricks, and mortar, and forthwith com
mences the work of repair. The auction
eer’s books tell a sad story of ruinous
speculation, bankruptcy in trade, unfortu
nate investments, ships cast away, fraud,
misfortune, and death. Here you may read
in figures the history of human life, and
moralize on its changes from wealth to
poverty, from happiness to misery, from
life and health to the loss of both one and
the other.
How little of all this do we realize when,
tempted by curiosity, we look in upon an
auction sale. The wit of the auctioneer and
the jokes of the company enliven and amuse
us, while some precious heir-loom is struck
off for some trifling sum. Could we know
its history, we should be disposed to weep
rather than laugh. It may be some portrait
is offered for sale, destined after a short
time to adorn the lumber-room or garret of
its new owner. It is the counterfeit pre
sentment of one on whom once centered all
the hopes and affections of relations and
friends; of some fair being, perhaps, who
once united in herself all the beauty, grace
and loveliness of her sex, the idol of fond
parents, the joy and delight of her husband,
the devoted mother, or the much-loved
sister. Os all this we know nothing and
think nothing. How much is bid ?—once,
twice, three times—going, going, and gone.
Yes, she has long been gone, and the places
that have known her can know her no more
forever; but in some heart, now also at
rest, her memory once survived, a bright
oasis in the dreary desert of life.
I Our auctioneers have generally been a
l most respectable and respected class of the
| coininunity—upright and intelligent, they -
| have been most useful agents in adminis
tering to the necessities of commerce and
of domestic life, so full of vicissitude and
change. The great change comes at last,"
sending our worldly and perishable goods
to the public vendue, while it consigns our
bodies to the dust, and our spirits to the ,
keeping of Him who gave them. • s