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• The entrance of Thy Word giveth light’
JAS. NATHAN ELLS, Editor.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA:
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1863.
Do changes of Tinies and Circum«
stances change Principles t
There is a class of men, quite respectable
in numbers and talents, who seem to be
governed in their actions chiefly by expe
diency. These are politicians in one sense,
and with them the question ‘ How will this
or that take with the people ? ’ has more
force than the question ‘ls it right? ’ —
The leading object of th* ir lives appears to
be to gain popular applause, and hence they
are ever on the alert to please the people.
Such persons always become nervously sen
sitive when circumstances demand that they
shall pursue a straight and unequivocal
course. To them, that class of men who
never look beyond the question of right
appear stupid, if not rash.
Lord Macauley has mentioned a class of
politicians whom he styles • Trimmers,’
but such politicians certainly make a sorry
figure when they undertake to trim in mat
ters of faith and practice. The Saviour
will have no such self-seeking among His
servants; and of this He has fully. fore
warned us. According to the philosophy
of the Bible, times and circumstances do
not change principles.
These reYnarks seem appropriate to the
present exigencies of the Churches. If the
Baptists are right in their peculiar views,
should they permit the claims of interest
and the excitements of an occasion to seduce
them from the honest maintenance of their
religious principles ? If Baptists have the
authority of the Scriptures for maintaining
a separate ecclesiastical organization, they
certainly act a very inconsistent part when
they enter into quasi union with men of
other denominations. Such an arrange
ment, to say the least, is partially a practical
abandonment of the truth, as we believe*the
Scriptures teach it.
It is not the privilege of a great Christian
denomination to seek the applause of the
world by either implied or actual compro
mises with, error: The Saviour has plainly
taught that ‘he who will save his life shall
lose it,’ but ‘ whosoever will lose his life,’
that is, put it in peril, ‘ for my sake and the
gospel’s, the same shall save it.’ Those
who quit the plain, honest path of truth for
the purpose of gaining the popular favor,
will most certainly fail of their design.—
The times demand that all who profess al
legiance to Christ should stand firmly and
unswervingly by the doctrines and ordi
nances of the Gospel. True, such an un
daunted course may bring down-the anathe
mas of an infidel world upon our devoted
heads —but Christians ought to know how
to live without the incense of human ap
plause. Sufficient is the satisfaction of
knowing that their conduct is acceptable,
well-pleasing in the sight of God. Our
blessed Saviour is not dependent npon the
short-sighted policy of man for the success
of His cause.
Uzzah essayed to keep the ark of God
steady by his puny arm, and was visited
by the immediate displeasure of God.—
Christians in these times, one would think,
might profit by this example. Personal
ambition and interest must be left to men
of the world, or to the votaries of false
sv stems of religion ; but humility and trust
who claim to be children of
the light. Oh, for that wisdom and spirit
which the dear Redeemer manifested when
here on earth !
EducatioiFal.—The attention of heads of
families, having daughters to educate, is
directed to the advertisement of the Select!
School, at Lafayette in this State, under!
the superintendence of Elder Dayton and,
his accomplished daughter. Parents could
not commit the mental and moral training
ot their children into safer keeping.
■*»■!»
Col. Z. E. II arman, of Forsyth, a distin ;
guished lawyer (and what is better, a Chris
tian,) died, at his residence, on Tuesdav
last, from the effects of a second stroke of
paralysis. He had beeHHong rendered al-1
most entirely helpless from a previous as •
(fiction of the same kind.
Terms of The Banner, S 3 a year.
WHSS
A Question Answered.
Atlanta, Feb. 9, 1863.
Dear Brother Ells :
I have heard it intimated, in certain quar
ters, that you contemplate changing the
denominational character of The Baptist
Banner, and making it entirely a Literary
paper. This I can by no means credit, but
as many others beside myself are interest
ed in sustaining the denominational charac
ter of the paper, will you do me and them
the favor to inform me whether there is
any foundation for the aforesaid rumor ?
Your early answer to this will be appre
ciated. Yours truly,
H. C. Hornady.
A few days since, in conversation Elder
Hornady gave us the name of a worthy and
prominent brother in this State who had
written to him concerning the truth of the
story started in a certain locality, to wit—
that The Baptist Banner would soon be
converted into a literary journal exclusively.
At our request brother H. propounded his
, query to us in writing.
Without pausing to speak of the source
• whence this rumor originated, we wish to
; say, once for all, that the report is a—
• mistake. We came to this place for the
, purpose of doing that which we intend to
i continue, under God’s blessing, to do—
■ publishing a religious and literary journaL
It may not be improper to state, right
- here, that we have been repeatedly solicited
to change the title of our paper —some per
sonal friends urging the suggestion that
many who would like to take it on account
of its literary feature, object to the denom
inational prefix to the word Banner. If
any friend is ‘ scared off’ by this, we can
; not help it. (Do such persons refuse to
‘take’ the third chapter of Matthew’s wri
■' ting because the same ‘ objectionable’ word
occurs in the first verse therein ?) A Bap
tist in principle, believing this system of
religion to be founded upon truths clearly
taught in the Bible, w'e are not ashamed of
our faith—nor afraid to inscribe it upon our
Banner. God forbid !
A Seasonable Thought.
When the blessed Saviour sojourned up
on earth, the sacred narrative informs us,
He ‘ went about doing good.’ Suffering
humanity found in Him prompt and effect
ual sympathy. The poor had abundant
cause to bless Him.
Follower of Jesus: how stands the case
with you to-day ? Are you imitating, in
this trying season to the poor and needy,
the example of your compassionate Re
deemer—are you ‘doing good’? Do you
. know of any family in your neighborhood
who are suffering for the necessaries of life
—any who, in this inclement weather, are
sadly in need of food, raiment, or fuel ?
Say not thou, with the worldling, ‘Am I
my brother’s keeper ? ’ but, rather, remem
ber ye are not your own, ye have been
bought with a price—even the precious
blood freely shed by Him who, though rich,
for your sake became poor—and who, while
in the flesh, daily furnished an example for
those who profess to love, obey and serve
Him. Oh, remember, reader, the poor!
If your kind Heavenly Father has blessed
you with the comforts of life, attest now
your gratitude by obeying Him in reliev
ing the necessities of the less fortunate ones
around you. Be liberal; and if your cha
rities be dispensed in the proper spirit, you
shall have your reward.
Newspapers—lncreased Rates.
The editorial convention, which assem
bled last week in Augusta, after a fair dis
. cussion, determined on an advance of the
F price of daily papers. The proprietors of
, the dailies in this and other cities have there-
• fore given notice that, after the 15th inst.,
> their papers will be issued at the following
, rates: one year, sl2; six months, $7;
three months, $4; one month, Si 50. —
| An advance has also been made on the rates
[ of advertising.
We notice, also, that the proprietors of
, The Intelligencer and The Confederacy, in
| this city, have raised the price of their
i. weekly papers to ‘ four dollars per year.’
« This increase in rates has been made ne
; cessary by the high price of paper, its
F scarcity, and the certainty that it will be
, come scarcer and higher in price.
The paper on which The Baptist Banner
j is printed costs three times as much as the
; price paid less than a year ago, and press
expenses have been more than doubled;
yet we hope to be able to get through the
year without increasing the subscription
price. This would be impossible, however,
;if the editor were not a disciple of the
i‘ Black Art’ practised by Faust.
Let us ask our friends to bestir them-;
selves, arid help to double our present cir- ■
culatiou ere this month shall close. It can
be done. It will be done, if each subscri
ber determines to send us one new name. I
Friends of The Banner, what say you I
Fire in Penfield.—By a private letter
we learn that, on last Saturday night, a fire
I broke out, accidentally, in Penfield, Ga.,
i which consumed the post-office, two store
| houses, a tailor’s shop, shoe store, dentist’s
[office, and the town hall.
Valentine’s Day.
The fourteenth of February, as most of:
our readers are aware, is called ‘St. Valen
tine’s Day.’ It is, or has been, customary
on this day for young ladies and gentlemen
to send to each other, in love and in sport,
either a beautiful, sentimental or a ridicu
lous comical ‘ Valentine,’ neatly enclosed in
an envelope, through the post-office or by
private conveyance, which creates an abun
dance of curiosity and pleasure to the par
ties, and sometimes terminates in friend
ship, love and matrimony.
St. Valentine was a Catholic bishop,
whose festival is observed on the 14th of
February. Macaulay tells us : ‘ Soon after
Christianity achieved its triumph, the prin
i ciples that had assisted it began to corrupt.
It became a new paganism. Patron saints
assumed the offices of household gods. St.
George took the place of Mars, St. Elmo
i consoled the mariner for the loss of Castor
and Pollox. The Virgin Mother and Ceci
-1 lia succeeded to Venus and the Muses.—
- The fascination of sex and loveliness was
joined to that of celestial dignity; and the
: homage of chivalry was blended with that
. of religion.’
In England the festival of St. Valentine
occurred about the time that the birds
; choose their mates, and this was probably
the origin of Valentines. In London, it is
said thet four hundred thousand letters be
, yond the daily average pass through the
; post office on the 14th of February: and
it is estimated that one hundred thousand
’ more are delivered by parties and messen
gers, as many of the Valentines are of so
• large and elegant a character as to prevent
their being folded for the post-office. Not
many sounds in life, to the young, are so
. delightful as the knock of the postman on
the auspicious morn; and though he is
sinking under a load of delicate embarrass
■ ments not his own, yet his knock is light,
airy, confident, and befitting one that
‘ bringeth good tidings’; and then how de
lightful to see the happy girl open, with
careful finger, (heedful not to break the
emblematical seal) the mysterious missive
—then such exclamations of joyous surprise
as one after another, the pretty emblems of
love, truth and affection (the delicate allu
sions to Cupid and Hymen,) unfold them
selves.
Lovers, and those beloved, are well
aware how many beautiful passages from
Shakspeare, Moore, Chaucer, Cowper, and
others, may be culled to fill up the blank
space of a Valentine.
Should any one, who may read this,
wish to send «« a Valentine; if, on this day
for choosing mates, the reader wishes to
choose a Visitor for fifty consecutive weeks,
he or she might sit down and write to our
address something like the following, re
ceived just now from Oxford :
‘Dear Mr. Editor: Please find enclosed
> the price of subscription for two copies of
: your Banner— one to me here, and one to
, my brother in the army, , An-
derson’s Division, Longstreet’s corps, Rich
mond, Va. I have for some time been one
of your weekly readers, and think The
Banner has no superior. Long may it
make its visits to camp and fireside—speak
ing words of comfort to the weary soldier,
and cheering those at home who impatient
-1 ly await their return.’
" - -- -
How They Feel at the North.
We have received (no matter how) a
letter from a friend who is now in one of
the Northern States, but who will not be
in that latitude long if there be away to
get out. The letter, from which we give an
- extract, was written last month :
“ I can hardly describe to you our sen
sations on receiving your letter. It seemed
’ like being brought into converse with those
who had been separated from us by an im
passable gulf. We have felt much solici
tude about our friends South, in view of
i the statements in Northern journals, so fre
quently reiterated, that your people were
r suffering so seriously for the necessaries
life. As I was well informed in relation t!J
the vast resources of the South, I have nev
er given credence to these stories, yet the
particulars you gave in regard to your con
dition as a people proved most welcome.
From the quality and quantity of paper
used for your letter, I infer that stationery
cannot be very scarce.
“ The result of the recent terrible battle
at Fredericksburg was a most stunning
blow to the Union army. The slaughter
must have been most fearful, as it is now
admitted that Burnside lost from sixteen to
twenty thousand men ! The North is stag ;
gering under the blow, as you will see from
all our New York and other papers. It
will be months before Burnside’s army can
be recruited, and it is now conceded that
■he most go into winter quarters. Your
I southern Generals havecenainly displayed '
■great skill and energy, and they are both'
feared and respected. The late victory at
[ P redencksburg is certainly a grand achieve
ment of real military skill and courage'
over the force of numbers, which must have
a great bearing upon the issue of the con
test now waging between the two sections.
I heartily join you in the prayer that
\ ‘ God would bring this cruel war to a speedy
close But how is this to be effected ?
lhe North will not yet consent to recognise
your independence; they may do it when
there is no other alternative. I believe,
however, that two-thirds of the North are
I sick of the war, and will give you the Crit
'! tenden compromise, if you will demand it
!as a condition of peace. Mr. Lincoln’s pro
clamation of freedom to the slaves in the
seceding States is opposed by a large ma
jority of the North, as a mad and wicked
scheme to excite servile insurrection—one,
too, which, in the present state of affairs,
is, to use his own language, like the ‘Pope s
Bull to the Comet.’ At present 1 can see
no immediate prospect of peace—though
the ‘peace party' has been wonderfully
strengthened since the battle of b redericks
burg. Let us wait, and hope, and pray
that, these dreadful scenes of strife and
bloodshed may soon cease.”
P Home for Invalid Ladles.
We are glad to see that this benevolent
• and patriotic enterprise is increasing in in
. terest to the public, and that its claims are
s about to have a wide circulation through
. the Southern press.
> The ‘ Home for Invalid Ladies ’ proposed
• to be erected, by Dr. T. S. Powell, in this
■ city, we consider altogether a desideratum
-for our Southern community ; it is one we
j must have as an auxiliary of Southern in
t dependence in toto. We understand that
; the institution is not designed simply for a
‘hospital,’ as some might imagine, but as a
s home retreat for invalid ladies of respecta
i bility; and while the best medical advice
■ will be engaged for attendance upon them,
j this elegant ‘ Home ’ and its surroundings
• are to be ornamented with home appliances
; that may amuse or instruct its inmates —
I books, pictures, flowers, statuary, etc., and
I by thus continually diverting the mind from
■ physical infirmity, powerfully aid in the
> restoration of health.
: The elegant volume of choice and origi
; nal miscellany contributed by our distin-
> guished lady writers, entitled Voices from
i the South, we hear will be published soon
i as the state of the country will justify. —
• The nett proceeds of its sale will be appro
, priated to the erection of the building ; but
; the ladies desire to furnish the Home by
• donations, of which some have already been
i received, and the finance committee are
i calling upon the public to assist them in this.
» This praiseworthy enterprise, with its
> two-fold object—the inaugural of an inde
f pendent literature, and the erection of a
• Home for our afflicted ladies —though con-
• templated before the war, has been gradu
ally progressing far as circumstaces would
1 allow ; and if all will do their duty at once,
i as Southrons should, the plans may soon
I be completed and carried out with eminent
: success. No one should believe that God
in His infinite justice will ever allow us to
, be subjugated by our fiendish foes; we wil)
'. yet have a free and happy country, and the
> war need not retard us, farther than abso
, lutely necessary, in the progress of any
’'benevolent or patriotic work. Our true
and noble Southern women are enlisted in
■ behalf of this enterprise; and as it is for
II their peculiar ■-benefit, and we see that their
B hearts are so engaged in this work for the
• j relief of their sex, the men of the South, far
as they consistently can, surely will not re
. fuse to aid them. Woman has ever been
? our firm, kind helper ; no words can tell
& the sacrifices she has made, the hardships
unmurmuringly borne, the sweet comfort
’ and invaluable assistance she has given du
ring our struggle for independence. The
wild and horrible confusion of war in which
our people have been thrown, has been
1 greatly calmed and made endurable by her
f gentle presence and ministrations of love,
! and we can never express our admiration
' and gratitude. Then, if only to meet the
1 calls of our noble women, we should at
once respond, to a man, and do all v e can
■ to aid in this work of benevolence and hu-
I inanity. We hope every reader of ou r
paper, ladies and gentlemen, will subscribe
and send the money at once for a copy of
F the Book—-the prices of the different quali
ties of binding being, respectively, five dol
; lars, three-and-a-half, and two dollars ; or
| if some are not able to buy the book, send
a donation of one dollar or more at their
option. Surely there are none so poor but
they can donate one dollar, if not a greater
amount. Our colleges and other institu
tions are endowed, and rightly so ; and this
Home for Invalid Ladies, none can deny,
will be a social and national benefit, and,
more than all, a home benefit, restoring so
many of our wives and mothers to health
and happiness.
Then, friends, do not hold back. Send
in your subscriptions or donations at once
to Mrs. J. N. Simmons, of this city. Lot
all move together, and in less than a month
the desired end may be accamplished. j
We think the ladies would be anxious to
respond to this call; if our lady writers
have freely contributed the whole of a
splendid volume of literature for this be
nevolent purpose, the rest of their sex, we
'feel sure, will not be wanting in generosity.
The committee of finance are pledged to
keep a record of all names of donors and
the amounts given ; and when the proper
time arrives the record is to be published
with the aggregate amount, so that all may
see what assistance has been obtained, and
the manner of its appropriation.
Os Dr. Powell, professor of obstetrics in '
our medical college, who has been chosen
to superintend the establishment of this in
stitution, we can bear testimony to his em
inence in his profession, his intellectual at
tainments, cordial and genial disposition,
and unblemished Christian character
while his remarkable energy and persever
ance will enable him to carry this work
through successfully, if it be in the power
of man to do so.
The finance committee, composed of some
of the most intelligent ladies of our city,
are entitled tojthe highest praise for their
unremitting labor and unflagging interest
in this enterprise. While they have cheer
fully endured their portion of self-sacrifice
during the war, and faithfully toiled for the
comfort of our soldiers, they have also been
unfailing in their exertions towards assist
ing the completion of this institution, de
signed to relieve the suffering of their sex.
There is a touching beauty and eloquence,
even, in the nature of their twin work of
humanity and patriotism, that ought to
reach every heart, enlist the sympathy, and
procure the assistance of every man and
woman at the South.
Let the enterprise move nobly forward,
we say, even while the war lasts. Let all
assist. We should be a generous as well
as a brave people. There is plenty of
money in the country, and we can materi
ally aid in this enterprise, and also build
asylums for the widow and orphan, if ne
cessary. It will be a disgrace to the South
ern people to let it fail.
Brethren of the Press: let us wield our
pens for this noble ‘ woman’s work,’ as well
as for ‘ the war.’ Let us aid, presenting
solid columns, our true-hearted, lovely
Southern women. Their grateful thanks
and approving smiles, added to the bless
ings of those who shall be rescued from un
timely graves, will be our sufficient reward.
Missionary’s Report.
Dear Banner,:
Below is the report of brother W. H.
Robert of his operations in the Hospitals
of this city, as a Missionary to our beloved
soldiers. As the Agent of Army Col port
age, I had furnished him with Testaments
and Tracts, and the report, I suppose,’ is in
acknowledgment of this. Hereafter he will
doubtless furnish matter directly to The
Banner.
Way-Side Hospital, )
Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 5, 1863. f
Dear Brother Hornady:
Through your kindness as Depository
Agent for tracts here, I have been supplied
with them for our soldiers in and around
Atlanta. Allow me to report to you, that
during the month of January, I distributed
13,647 pages of tracts, 290 Soldiers’ Text
Books, 152 Hymn Books, and 69 Testa
ments, connected with my mission to our
soldiers.
These have directed many a soldier’s at
tention to serious truth; and sowing in
tears, we shall reap in joy. The bread
scattered thus on the waters shall be gath
ered after many days, and God will have
all the glory. Fraternally yours,
W. H. Robert,
Missionary to Soldiers.
Brother Ells:
It is proper for me to acknowledge the
following sums collected for Army Col
portage :
At Macon, $ 400 00
At LaGrange, 172 35
At West Point, 23 30
Columbus Baptist Church, - 500 00
Savannah Baptist Church, - 245 00
Trinity Meth. Church, Sav., - 57 00
Augusta Baptist Church, - - 300 00
At Newnan, ------ 63 35
At Social Circle, ... - 21 00
At Greensboro, 146 00
At Fort Valley, 11 25
11,940 25
At some of the places named, pledges
were made, which will be paid and duly
acknowledged. Wm, Huff,
General Agent and Army Evangelist.
I _
Moneys Received Tor Col portage.
Rev. W. N. Chaudoin, - - - % 800
Miss Sallie Jones, . - - - 500
Mrs. Captain Buttrell, - - - 500
Baptist Church at Greenville, - 13 50
West Florida Association, - 120 00
H. C. Hornady, Agent.
Agents for The Banner.
The following brethren will act as Agents
ior the Banner, and will receipt for money
paid for the paper.
Elder J. S. Murrow, Traveling Agent.
“ F. M. Haygood, do
“ J. H. Stockton, Thomson, Ga.
“ Thos. Muse, Cuthbert, Ga.
“ Robt. Cunningham, Macon, Ga.
“ Thos Aldridge, Millwood, Ga.
“ G. F. Cooper, Americus, Ga.
“ J. H. Campbell, Griffin, Ga.
“ W. J. Spkairb, Starrsville, Ga.
“ John H. Clarke, Henderson, Ga.
“ P. A. Lawson, Gaijfon, Ga.
“ William Lowe, McDonough, Ga.
Dr. E. R. Carswell, Waynesboro', Ga
William Roberts, Byrumville, Ga.
R. H. Jackson, Franklin, Heard Co., Ga.
J. H. B. Shackelford, Spring Place, “
Dr. John CheneT, Columbus, Ga.
Those wishing papers changed, should give
the Post-Office they wish changed from, as well
as the one to be changed to.