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About The Baptist banner. (Atlanta, Ga.) 186?-1??? | View Entire Issue (March 7, 1863)
(Ljc baptist W f « ©»I oi S I ■IM J W uj/ ‘The entrance of Thy Word giveth light.’ Contributors to The Banner. Rev. IT. C. Hornady, Atlanta, Ga. “ J. M. Wood, Newnan, Ga. “ J. S. Baker, Thomasville, Ga. “ I). P. Everett, Orange Hill, Fla. “ N. M. Crawford, Penfield. Ga. “ B. F. Tharp, Perry, Ga. “ J. H. Campbell, State Evangelist. “ A. E. Dickinson, Richuivud, Va. JAS. NATHAN ELLS, Editor. ATLANTA, GEORGIA: SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1863. An Appeal.—Who will Respond? The chaplain of the 55th Georgia regi ment, stationed at Cumberland Gap, asks that one hundred copies of The Banner may be sent to that regiment for the next three months. The Colonel writes : “The chaplain has been very energetic in his efforts to secure reading matter for the regiment. I cited him to your journal as a valuable paper—the best, in my opin ion, of that character in the State. A great many of your old readers are members of the 55th regiment, and 1 would be happy indeed to meet with the rich treat your paper would furnish.” Who will aid us in the matter of furnish ing one hundred copies, each week, to the 55th Georgia regiment? Let us hear from the brethren and friends at once. It will cost one hundred dollars to comply with this request. All sums contributed will be duly acknowledged. Criticism on Religious Papers. In the last number of the Index, its At lanta correspondt nt ‘Theopilus’ takes the position that it is improper for a religious journal to publish certain kinds of adver tisements, and among those that should be “ negro dealers inviting people to patronize their ‘ negro-yards and safe lock-ups.’” The Baptist. Banner, claiming to be a re ligious newspaper, contains an advertise ment in which the above quotation occurs ; and as in our humble opinion the trading in slaves is not inconsistent with Christianity, we fail to see the force of the criticism.— ‘ Theopilus ’ should, for the sake of those unacquainted with him, have made his point more transparent. The same paragraph in this Metabasisian of ‘ Theopilus,’ administers a hard blow to the medium in which his criticism appears —where he alludes to the practice of reli gious journals puffing secular newspapers ‘ whose moral tone (if the editorial conduct authorizes such a conclusion) must be in a high degree pernicious.’ This portion of the Atlanta correspondent’s ‘ point of order ’I is a perfect sockdolager to our brother of the Index, who quite recently took occasion to commend a couple of newspapers—the one edited by a Iniversalist and the other by an Infidel. —• ——♦ • »• t>aj of Tasting; and Prayer. Eriday, the 27th instant, has been ap pointed b\ the President of the Confederate : •States, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer to Almighty God in behalf of our country —that He will continue His merci ful protection over our cause, scatter our enemies, set at naught their evil designs, and that lie will graciously restore to our beloved country the blessings of peace and security. Corn ! Corn ! Corn .'—Some one has very sensibly remarked, that the question of Confederate independence is a question of corn. There is danger that the high i prices of coitou and the stimulus to the demand supplied by government purchases will tempt farmers to plant heavily in the staple. It would be a crime against Con federate liberty to do it. Make food enough, and we can fight the enemy forever. Fail to make it, and not only your other crops "ill do you no good, but you will lose your lands, your negroes, and your country’s independence. The Child's Index.—Attention is called to the advertisement of this excellent pub heation for children. The price is only 50 cents a y ear, and the paper should have the support ot those who would rightly train the future men and women of O ur nation. Terms of The Banner, $3 a year. ( S? K M WA3?® £S W 3® A MMS& • Pure Pleasure. Religion is rich with pure influences, for it is a principle infinitely varied. It pre sides over the different phases of human life, and sanctions and hallows them all. Religion forbids folly, forbids excess, for bids an empty, frivolous living—and who wishes to live so? Religion bids us have a time for all things, and wisely live for a higher and purer destiny than any of this earth. It bids us not be profane or indo lent, or licentious, or wasteful? Who wishes to be so ? But it does not stop us of one true glory. It forbids not one in nocent amusement. Look up at the sky : is not an expression of cheerfulness and joy there, blended with purity ? Look abroad upon the earth . is not nature glad? —has not God dimpled the valleys with smiles, and thrown sun light over the water, and crowned the hills with rejoicing ? It is true, life has many and grave duties; different spheres in life have different measures of duty; and the true conscience must always consult cir cumstances without, and the great law within; but pleasures and amusements are not forbidden by religion —it gives them a more genuine and delightful ministry than any thing else can. But not only this. It sows within us the seeds of an undying joy that fails not when outward means of happiness fail, when animal spirits grow feeble and low, when sorrows darken and cares appall. This it gives us, shedding abroad a holy serenity on the heart, and imparting a calm lustre to the brow. It is a principle of truth, and therefore it allows us Slothing that is treacherous ; all that is grateful and good it opens for us In abund ant measure. It reveals new sources of . happiness. It makes the spire of grass and the twinkling star beautiful ministers of delight. And do we think that we must sacrifice pleasure by choosing religion as our guide and our end? It is a sad mis take, as they well know who cling to the chalice of sin and drink the bitterness of its dregs. Do not hesitate to follow Christ because you think your pleasure will be lost.— Every real source of enjoyment, every truly pleasant thing, it sanctions ; and de-; prives us only of the evil—and even for this it far more than repays us. It may check a boisterous folly, but it bestows en i during peace of mind. It may put back' the hand that reaches out after clustering! deceits, but it lights the pale cold face with now will be less a pleasure then—it will be, deeper and more beneficial, TI Thorwaldsen’s Christ. The following poem is an illustration of an actual incident in the life of Thorwaldsen, the great Danish sculptor. It is told of him that, when found one day by a friend in a state of despondency, he pointed to his statue of Christ, . and exclaimed, ‘that his genius was fast decay ing, as it was the first work he had felt satisfied with, nor should he ever again have a great idea.’ Silent stood the thoughtlul sculptor, Gazing on the breathing stone, From the chaos of the marble Into god-like being grown : But a gloom was on his forehead, In his eye a drooping glance, And at length the heavy sorrow From the lip found utterance. ‘ Holy Art' thy shapes of beauty Have I carved, but ne’er before Reached my thoughts a faultless image, Still unbodied would it soar ; Still the pure unsound Ideal Would ensoul a fairer shryre ; In my victory I perish, And no loftier aim is mine.’ Noble artist! thine the yearning, Thine the great, inspiring word, By the sleepless mind forever In its silent watches heard ; For the earthly, it is pleasure Only earthly ends to gain ; For the seeker of the Perfect To be satisfied is pain. Visions of an untold glory Milton saw in his eclipse. Paradise, to outward gazers Lost, with no apocalypse; i Holier Christ and veiled Madonnas Painted were on Raphael’s soul ? Melodies he could not utter O’er Beethoven's ear would roll. Ever floats the dim Ideal Far before the longing eyes . Ever as we travel onward, Boundless the horizon flies; Not the brimming cups of wisdom Can the thirsty spirit slake, And the molten gold in pouring Wifi the mould in pieces break. Voice within our inmost being Calling deep to answering deep, Midst the lite of weary labor, i ,v Thou shall waken us from sleep' All our joy is in our Future, And our motion is our rest; Still the True reveals the Truer. Still the Good foretells the Best. Ordination. Monticello, Ga., March 2, 1863. According to previous appointment, a presbytery met with this church, Feb. 28. After an enquiry into the Divine call of brother G. \X . Pritchett to preach the gos pel, and a satisfactory examination of the doctrines he holds, the choice of I leaven was ratified, and the earthly seal set by the presbytery, brethren C. Malone and P. A. Lawson. F. M. Swanson, Clerk. Elder J. R. Gr aves.—ln answer to nu merous correspondents, we mention that communications intended for J. R. Graves should be addressed to him, care of Dr. George Snider, Magnolia. Pike co., Miss. [F’or the Baptist Banner.] “ JESUS"’WEPT.” The sounds of sorrow and the signs of woe Were in the house at Bethany, For death was there : A loved and manly form was there laid low,— The friend they called upon in need Heard not their prayer. The mourners thought the Master was their friend: Behold, he whom thou lov’st is sick,” Was all they said. Surely, thought they, when we this message send, Jesus, our friend, will quickly come To raise his head. And was the heart so cold, and love so poor, That melted at all other woes Save of the three Whose hearts with joy had beat when at their door, AV earied and spent, He sought for rest At Bethany ? lie whom thou lov’st ” —the Saviour owned the tie, I Noi did he ask who he might be That made the claim. O, blessed lot! may I, when called to lie Upon a bed of pain and death, Possess the same. And Lazarus dies—and yet it is but sleep,— While angel guards their vigils keep Above his grave. The Master comes at length to those that weep, And meets the sad reproach, “ Hads’t thou Been here to save ” ! He knew that He was Victor over death ; And to the weeping maiden saith, “ He’ll rise again.” , His meaning went beyond the hearer’s faith ; ’ The day too distant seemed to ease The present pain. Then came those words sublime, with power so rife 1 To thrill the human heart ■ And light the eye,— “Zam the Resurrection and the Life," “ And he that puts his trust in me ’ Shall never die.” “ Where have ye laid him ? ” said His kindly voice, • And, deeply grieved, He moved to where In death he slept: And though He soon should make their hearts re joice— I To show His love and sympathy— ?| Our Jesus wept. . O, wondrous love and condescension this! i The King oi glory deigns to weep With sinful man! He comes to earth from highest realms of bliss, And loves and labors, to perfect The gospel plan. . “ Now take away the stone,” —He would not let The sister’s want of faith prevent His kind design. I Though death four days ago his seal had set I Ou dust now turning back to dust, He must resign. . “ Father, I thank thee thou hast heard my prayer—” No life to mortal eyes as yet In those grave clothes : j Then lifts His voice upon the silent air, I And “ Lazarus, come forth," he cries— And he arose! ; 0 Thou, our gracious Lord and mighty King, 4 Sneak thus Hu>ur dead souls, and call I rom sin away : I Thy matchless goodness and Thy power we’ll sing, And grateful tribute to Thee bring From day to day. 8. P. R. ■»'. Southern Baptist Convention. The members of the Baptist Church at Macon held a meeting on the 27th ultimo, and adopted the following : Whereas, The Southern Biennial Conven tioe is appointed to meet at Columbus, Mis sissippi ; and as that place is manifestly unsuitable at this time, owing to the war; and as we understand that the church in Columbus, Miss., thinks it best for the Con vention to meet elsewhere, and believing that the Vice-Presidents, with the advice and consent of one of the Boards of the Con vention, may appoint a more suitable and convenient place at which the Convention may meet; and as it is very important for the interests of the Baptist denomination that the Convention should hold its regular meeting, therefore be it Resolved, That the Baptist Church at Macon, Ga , do cordially invite the Southern biennial Convention to meet with her in the city of Macon at the appointed time. i Not a Reason for Impenitence. A gentleman on being expostulated with, on his own neglect to seek earnestly the salvation of his soul, excused himself on the common insufficient plea, “That t e ristian world was divided into so many sects that he should be at a loss to decide with which one to unite.” The reply ie received was substantially as follows: " i gieatlv deceive yourself if you re -.ai< t is as asatisfactory excuse for an irre ligious life. You make that a primary which is only a secondary question. There are var.ous sects which have distinguishing pe culiant.es but there is a great foundation - repentance towards God, and faith in X d° rd J \ S,IS Christ ”-on which they are U' , ’ I““ r consideration • h uld |.<- to get a safe standing on that foundatton, and then you will be fble, with on danger more deliberately to determine a th which sect to unite. 'You r all, even the precious life ol yuur J u |Af U ;, : | ,, U- VOU '-,P r '“"‘Pcrii; ju , situation I „ k »t ■’ , secondar y question.— Look at that vessel trembling under the power of the gale her sails rent? her seams? opening her rudder lost, and she driven hopelessly toward the rockv shore Os I what are her crew thinking? I s not the! mam and absorbing object with every one l to secure a safe footing onshore? Sun use one of them, with death staring him ini the face should refuse to make an Exertion for his safety because he had not determined whether he should be entertained at this house or that which he descries on the land This is your case. Get to shore first set your foot firmly on the rock, then you may safely take time to decide to which house’ you may repair. * Fothing reliable from Savannah, up to the hour of going to press. The many friends of W. A. Mercer will no doubt feel a melancholy pleasure to read the following letter from him. Thou sands of parents will sympathize with him in' his sad bereavement. W. Flowerdale, Freestone co., Texas, ) January 15, 1863. j Dear Brother Wood: In the midst of affliction, it is my lot now to address you. A few weeks since, the sad intelligence reached us, through a letter from brother S. D. Collins, that our son, John H. Mercer, was dead. Two days afterwards a letter came from my brother in-law, J. B. Crim, of Adairsville, Ga., giv ing us the particulars of that sorrowful event. Hearing of John’s sickness at Winches ter, Va., brother Crim went to see him, but talas ! it was too late; the poor boy was gone to the spirit land. He died of diar rhoea on the 2d day of November, 1862. Brother C. was informed by the surgeon of the hospital that John had an attack of rheumatism in his back and hips, but was not confined to his bed—was better. The day before he died he sat at the table and eat his breakfast as usual. In a short time afterwards he was seized with diarrhoea, and was a corpse in twenty hours. The doc tor seemed toregrethis death, and John was loved by all. Brother Crim inquired if he had been decently buried. The steward of the hospital told him he was, and went with him and showed him his grave, the head-board of which was marked with his name, company, State, and date of his de cease. There the uncle stood, and wept over the spot which contained the jnortal remains of a beloved nephew, who sleeps beneath the soil of Virginia—the grave-yard of the soldiers of the Confederacy, far away from home and kindred friends. The sur geon told him John was willing to die ! Oh, blessed thought—was willing to die! The Lord’s name be praised for such a con soling reflection. John, 1 trust, has served his God for ten years, and his country for near eighteen months through an arduous campaign, and now has been taken from a land of war and strife, to a world of peace and love. Brother C., who had voluntarily taken charge of John before we left Georgia, and had done all that a parent could have done for his comfort while in the service, now thought of having his body removed to his home in Georgia; but upon reflection con cluded to let it remain where it lay, until the morning of the great resurrection, and "hen there, amidst the hosts of themartyrs of Southern liberty, his body, reanimated by the long absent spirit, would rise, to im mortality and eternal life. 1 approved of his conclusion. If my sons must fall while in the service of their country, and can be decently buried, there I wish them to re main. I can not think the sight of the de caying body of one of my children could afford me any pleasure. Dust we are and uulo oust we mITsT return, is Hie decree of heaven. Several letters have been received from friends in Georgia, giving us some accounts of the death of our dear son. Prof. Col lins wrote us a kind and sympathizing let ter, filled with expressions of comfort, which doubtless came from the heart of a Christian brother and tried friend. Robert Headden, a messmate of John, who was at home on a furlough from a wound received in the battle at Boonsboro, writes, under date of Nov. 24, as follows : “ The other morning 1 received a letter from Sergeant Billing, containing sad intel ligence. It is hard to relate the death of a friend; but, oh! how much harder to bear the death of a son. John is dead! He died from exhaustion and exposure, after he had passed through some of the most terrible battles on record. John was a brave and true soldier, never shrinking from any duty assigned him to perform.— He was beloved by all, and I know his loss will be deeply felt by the company. John was always kind to the sick, and won his. ! way to their hearts by his many good deeds. lam sorry the Sergeant wrote me none of the particulars. He merely men tioned the fact. 1 will write you fully when 1 get back to the company.” > Cousin James Mercer, of Albany, Ga., ! in a letter announcing the death of John, ! says : ' “ I received a letter from L. S. Rawson, ’ dated Culpepper Court-House, Nov. 9, in ’ forming me of his death as follows: ‘1 write to let you know of the death of John Mercer. He died about the last of Ccto-! ’ her, at Winchester. How long he had been ’ sick there Ido not know. He belonged to 1 Col. Phillips’ Legion, company B, which is , ! attached to our Brigade, under the corn-, mand of General Drayton. J saw John at, Richmond in July, and again in August,] the day before the battle on the Rappahan-j nock. He was then in fine health. It i.S| said by his company and the Legion, that a more faithful or gallant soldier has not, been in the service. At the battle of Sharps- ; burg, Md., he led in front of the Legion , some thirty yards, acting with more spirit, than any man in the Brigade, and was not! only noticed by his own command, but by all.' His death is very much regretted by i his company.’ ” t j Cousin James then proceeds: “Thus, . dear cousin, have I announced to you the ■ death of your first-born son. May God j (enable you to bear the blow with Christian, resignation. The record given of him in the above extract, shows that he was a gal lant soldier, and that he continued to the last—as he had always done before—to possess the love and esteem of his comrades and acquaintances. I had become anxious about him, as I had received no letter from him since the battles in Maryland.” i I have thus, brother Wood, given you some of the particulars of the death of our beloved John. I know you will pardon me for saying so much, have long known John, and knew his character and 'standing, both in the church and among his 1| fellows at school, and in the community } where he had lived since, his boyhood.—• Ours has been a house of lamentation and mourning for three weeks past. It is so 1 hard to give him up and say, “Thy will, Oh God, be done! Thou gavest and thou hast taken away, blessed be thy Holy name.” John was a lovely son—kind and generous to his brothers, obedient and faith ful to his parents, courteous and obliging : to all his acquaintances; and, best of all, , he loved that Jesus whom he had so often heard your preach. ' But he is gone. His once manly form 1 now fills a soldier’s grave, while his spirit, 1 trust, rests in the paradise of God, where wars nor rumors of wars are heard no more. Nothing will ever again disturb the quiet of his soul. He answers no more the roll call of his company. He stands sentinel no more, exposed to the rude blasts of the 1 weather, and to the more deathly blasts from the enemy’s guns. He is called upon no more to make a forced march over hills and along muddy roads, to meet the foe. No more he hears the rattling drum or booming cannon announcing the battle be gun. He meets the enemy of his country no more in mortal combat. Never will he again lead his men in front of the cannon’s mouth, to liberty or to death, and see his comrades fall by scores around him, and hear them groan, and bleed, and die. No more nights to be passed upon the bare ground, tentless, hungry and cold. No more rheumatism or cholera to convulse the body and take his life away. No—he is gone where sickness and sorrow, pain and death are felt and feared no more. My dear brother, the stroke to us is most severe. We had hoped that it might be our privilege to see him again; to have him join his parents and brothers in their far-off land, and sit with us around our hearthstone and recount the trials and suf ferings of the war; to have him near us, that he might be a comfort and protection to us in our declining years. He often in his letters expressed a desire to lie at home, but would often say, “ I must serve my country a little longer, until its enemies are driven back, and our government estab ! fished among the nations of the earth. — Then the way-worn soldier may think of ease and enjoy it at home.” 1 sometimes feel like taking up the lamentation of Da vid over his lost Absalom—“Would to God I had died for thee, oh, my son ! my 1 son ! ” But 1 must submit. Do, my broth er, pray for your afflicted brother and sis ter Mercer, and ask the good Lord to af ford them grace according to their severe trials. William Judson, our second son, is still in Arkansas. lie. was quite well and in fine spirits a month ago. He has been in several battles, through which he passed unhurt.. Our hearts yearn over him now. We often think of him and ask, Will he too be taken away ? shall he also fall a vic tim to this insatiable and cruel war? He wrote to us some time since that he was ■ entitled to a furlough of sixty days, and thought of returning to Georgia to visit his friends, and of going to Virginia to see his 1 brother. Poor fellow ! little thought he that that brother’s manly form was then lying in the silent grave ! 1 have v ritten • to him and requested him to come and see his bereaved and grief-stricken parents and ■ brothers. May a gracious God spare the boy, that when the sound of the cannon shall cease, and peace again be restored to the. land, the way-worn soldier may return to his adopted country, kindred and friends, and enjoy the balance of life free from the strife and confusion of war. If this passes the blockade and reaches you, do write to us and give us the counsel and comfort we so much need, and which I know your Christian heart will cheerfully afford. Our kind regards to sister Wood ; and may God bless you through life, is the prayer of your unworthy friend and broth er. barewell. As ever yours, W. A. Mercer. [JCor The Bapti t Banner.] “ Wasteful Benevolence.” Ihe views of J. S. 8., in a recent num ber of The Banner, are painfully' true. Packages sent to company and regimental officers are. rarely distributed among the men. We know of no way by which we can reach the heart of the Soldier on the tented field so easily and surely as by the little tract, or the well filled religious news j paper. At his leisure the soldier scans this welcome visitor, and eagerly devours its ! contents. On picket, while waiting his time to shoulder his musket, he roads his paper. Ihe wearying hour of drill is over, and reclining in his tent he feeds his soul , with the rich feast of sacred literature.— | Prostrate in the hospital, his nurse reads | softly to him some sweet paragraph, some I touching talc, that cheersand comforts his i heart. 1 here is no chaplain in his regiment.— INo minister visits his tent. Then the roli ilious paper comes like an angel visit. In the hospital he craves for something to while the awful tedium of hours of pain. How bright to him then would be the pages of the religious visitor of his happy home ! (j ' Agent* for The Banner. The following brethren will act as Agents for the Banner, and will receipt for money paid for the paper. * Elder J. S. Mlrrow, Traveling Agent. “ J. H. Stockton, Thomson, Ga. “ Thos. Mure, Cuthbert, Ga. “ Rout. Cunningham, Macon, Ga. “ Aldridge, Millwood, Ga. “ G. k. Cooper, Americus, Ga. J. 11. Campbell, Griffin, Ga. W. J. Speairs, Starrsville, Ga. John 11. Clarke, Henderson, Ga. “ P. A. Lawson, Gaiffiu, Ga. W illiam Lowe, McDonough, Ga. Dr. John Cheney, Columbus, Ga.
