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‘The entrance of Thy Word gi.veth light’
JAS. NATHAN ELLS, Editor.
Associate Editors: H. C. HORNADY, Atlanta.
J. M. WOOD, Newnan.
A. C. DAYTON, Lt Fayette.
. D. P. EVERETT, Florida.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA:
SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1863.
JggP" It affords us much pleasure to an
nounce the names of brethren Hornady,
Wood, Dayton, and Everett, as associate
editors of this journal. They are known
to the Baptists of the South, and require no
commendation.
Let us ask the many friends of The
Baptist Banner to aid our humble efforts, by
their purses, their pens, and their prayers.
. E.
** l "*" l * l "*——■————■—* •
Georgia Baptist Convention.
The Georgia Baptist Convention will
hold its next meeting with the Baptist
Church in the city of Griflin, on Friday be
fore the fourth Lord’s day in April.
Southern Baptist Convention.
It is probable this body will be called,
by Dr. Manly, to meet with the Baptist
Church at Montgomery, Ala., as the Foreign
Mission Board have signified their prefer
ence for that place. The Vice-President is
awaiting the action of the Marion Board
before making the call.
The meeting will embrace the second
Sabbath in May.
The Soizt/i-IPe/rZer/t Baptist, of 19th inst.,
says, “ All things considered, Macon is
perhaps the most central place that could
be selected,” and hopes that the brethren
to whom the subject is referred will acceed
to the wishes of the Macon church.
~
Meeting of Publishers.
The publishers of weekly newspapers in
Georgia are invited to assemble in conven
tion in the city of Macon, on Thursday the
26th instant.
That Communion.
The Index furnishes an extract, from
some of its pedobaptist exchanges, in which
it is stated that Presbyterians, Associate
Reformed, Methodists and Baptists partici
pated in a communion service.
So far as the extract is concerned, we
think it rather exultant in its spirit, and no
doubt the writer flattered himself at the
time that the millenium was about to dawn
upon the world, when the bigoted Baptists
will all fade into the brighter radiance of
pedobaptism. But this h not the first
pedobaptist who has found himself pursuing
an ignis fatuus which is ready to vanish,
leaving him nothing to stand upon, and that
giving way.—
Our Cherokee Missionaries.
Elder Wood has sent us a letter giving
intelligence from brethren Compere and
Slover. Tiiis letter will appear in our next.
1 "■ .—■
Papers for llir 55111 Georgia.
In response to the earnest solicitation of
the Chaplain of the 55th Georgia regiment,
we have determined to send one hundred
copies of The Banner to that regiment of
Georgia soldiers, for three months. In so
doing we incur an expense of one hundred
dollars—trusting the liberality of friends
at home.
As yet we have only received twelve
dollars to aid this purpose: ten from an
unknown lady friend, A. M. W., of Lee
county, % and two from Miss Lucie A. I
Horsley, of Oglethorpe. Who else ’
P. S.— Here are two dollars more, from
James E. Scarborough, of Miller county.—
Any more coming ?
The Jlass hireling'.
HENDERSON, HOUSTON COUNTY.
The Afissionary .Wass Alerting, of
Rehoboth Association, will be held with
the Baptist Church at Henderson, Houston
county, including next Saturday and Sab- 1
bath—the 28th and 29th of March. 1803.*
A large gathering is expected.
Agent* for Tlic Banner.
. " M - i- Beall, of Marietta, is our
General Travelling Agent.
Elder W. J. Spkairs, Starrsvil’e,
Jobs 11. Clarke, Henderson, Ga.
I'. A. Lawson, Gai din, Ga.
Willi km Lowe, AfcDonowgh, Go.
*’• E. Cooper,"A mertc-Mj, Ga.
Dr. John Chkxky, Columbus, Ga.
Independent Missions.
As the anniversary meetings of our de
nomination are approaching, our minds
naturally recur to the work of Missions.
That it is the duty of Christians to preach
the Gospel to every creature, does not ad
mit of argument; because a man must be
an infidel, in part, to deny it. But have
we, as a denomination, embraced the most
Scriptural method of doing the work? —
To those who see inspiration in our present
Board arrangement, of course we need say
nothing; for with them the argument is
closed, and judgment awarded. But to
those who are wedded to no particular plan
we may venture to address a word upon
this very Important subject.
In the New Testament we have ample
evidence that the primitive Christians were
quite as zealous in prosecuting the work of
Missions as are those of modern times ; and
it is remarkable that there is not the slight
est semblance of the Board system found
in the inspired writings. Paul was sup
ported by Churches, and his labors directed
by 7m- own good sense, under the supervision
of the Holy Spirit. Missionary reports
were then made to the Churches, and they
received the commendation of the Spirit for
their faithfulness and zeal in the cause of
Missions. But this simple and apostolical
plan is found too inefficient to suit the no
tions of our Baptist fathers in these days of
improvement, and hence we have the pres
ent elaborate system which gives the great
Baptist family a head, or rather heads, in
the shape of Boards.
If our present system is to prevail, we
would suggest that it could be made much
more efficient if the Convention would go a
step further and assume legislative func
tions, so that their resolutions would have
the force of laws. And why not? If the
Convention- is Scriptural (and by this we
mean not anti-Scriptural), the Word of
(rod makes its decrees binding, so far as
they accord with the letter and spirit of that
Word. And if the Word of God confers
such authority upon the Convention, why
not assert it ? The Convention has 8s
much authority for compelling Baptists to
contribute to the work of missions as it has
for its own existence. If, then, it does exist
Scripturally, it may pass laws say ing how
much each member shall pay annually.
The truth is, the Convention is an extra-
Scriptural arrangement; and as the Scrip
uivj uunuvi |>iuoav ivu
its powers, it is limited in the latter only
by its discretion and what the people are
willing to grant. If Baptist Churches are
each separate and distinct sovereignties, and
a confederation is necessary, the Holy
Spirit has certainly made provision for it,
and laid down the basis upon which it is to
exist. If not, then the Scriptures are not a
sufficient rule of faith and practice. But no
such provision has been made; and hence
we find no confederation of churches in the
New Testament only as they were united
in Spirit and practice, each doing its own
mission work in its own way, and each
looking to the Great Head of the Church
for guidance and success.
But the Convention, as at present organ
ized, is not a confederation of Churches,
but of individuals, and hence is wholly in
dependent of any Church or all of them.—
‘ Its members represent themselves, and
have no constituency.’
‘ A word to the wise,’ &c. 11. C. 11.
Confederate State* Teachers* Con
vention.
It is proposed to hold a general conven
tion of the Teachers of Schools in the Con-
I federate States, on the 28th of April next,
•' at Columbia, S, C., “ to take into consider
[ ation the best means of supplying the ne
, eessarv text books for our schools and col
leges, and for uniting their efforts for the
! advancement of the cause of education in
the Con ted e racy.”
This is a most important step towards
( the ultimate and permanent independence
lof our rej üblic. He was a shrewd observ
er who said. “ Let me have the making of a
people’s songs, and I will make that people
I u hat 1 please.” But he who has the ma
king of the school books, wields a much
greater power. These contain the lessons
which control the whole life. These model
, the men who are to the nation.—
It is well for the South that we are no lon
ger either willing or able to procure from
abroad the text books and reading books,
,by which the minds of the people of Eng
land and the North have been trained to
take views of political morality. These
have already wrought great mischief.—
Their place must be supplied by such as
will teach truth. Bible truth, and therefore
sound philosophic truth, in relation to that
institution on which our political and social
fabric rests. Nor is there any reason why
all our school books should not be the pro
duction of Southern talent. The ability to
prepare them is not wanting, but it needs '
to be called out and cherished. This Con 1
vention can do much to accomplish this <>b
eet. Let every teacher, who can do so. j
SKSB XS 3, H'S
attend, and let all others write to C. 11.
Wiley, Raleigh, N. C., and make such sug
gestions as may seem to tl<m ijr.pnta
for the consideration of the Convention.
A. C. D.
Relief for? the Poor.
The present high price of provisions is
fraught with evil. Our people are rapidly
d.ifting towards a state rn which the ‘staff
of life’ will be broken from under them,
and the indigent consigned • to the tortures
of hunger and the lingering agonies of
starvation. It is, therefore, the imperative
duty of all who pretend to anything like
Christian charity, or natural humanity, to
look the approaching calamity in the face,
and endeavor to avert its advance. The
vulture has already plunged its beak into
the breasts of the poor, and the cry is raised
for bread. Relief of distress is a Christian
duty. ‘ Whosoever seeth his brother have
need, and shutteth up his bowels of com
passion from him, how dwelleth the love of
God in him ? ’
Extreme want is dangerous to a common
wealth, because it presents the strongest
temptations to theft and violence. ‘ Men
do not blame a thief, if he steal because he
is hungry.’ Such was Solomon’s experience
of human nature. But theft, even from
necessity, is demoralizing. It breaks down
the fences of virtue in the poor, and initiates
them in the school of vice. Larceny and
| burglary are on the increase.
But what concerns us still more is the
fact, that people will not consent to starve
when food is within their reach and may be
gotten by violence. ‘ A hungry populace,’
said a wise man, ‘knows no fear,’ and the
worst of all civil commotions are those
which are roused by the clamor for bread.
Already our women have assailed railroad
i depots in quest of salt, and they may yet
attack granaries to get corn. It is idle to
say that woman is timid and gentle. The
sparrow will fight for her young. War un
sexes woman ; and if ‘oppression makes a
wise man mad,’ the cry of famishing chil.
dren may arouse her to deeds of terrible
desperation. The miser who hoards his
provisions for high prices, may see them
I wrested from him, without money and
without price, while an indignant commu
nity looks approvingly on, and no arm is
raised to punish the assailants.
But nobler motives than fear should ac-
'tuatfr the possessors of wealth. Our brave
Soldiers’ families are entitled to our prmcc
. tion and care, for those soldiers are our
, i defenders. When Manlius saved, by his
valor, the citadel of Rome, every man in
that half-starved garrison brought him a
present of half a pound of flour and a thitd
of a flask of wine. Our soldiers are enact
ing the part of Manlius, in our behalf. If
we duly appreciate their generous bearing,
we shall be willing to share with their
families the product of the fields, which
their valor makes secure.
Let us remember, too, that ‘ he that hath
I pity on the poor, lendeth to the Lord ; and
that which he hath given will He pay him
I again.’
Backsliding.
The causes of backsliding are—the cares
of the world ; improper connections; inat
tention to secret or closet duties; self con
ceit and dependence; indulgence; listening
to ami parleying with temptations. A
backsliding state is manifested by indiffer
ence to prayer and self-examination ; trifling
’or unprofitable conversation; neglect of
public ordinances; shunning the people of
(rod; associating with the world; thinking!
lightly of sin; neglect of the Bible; and
often by gross immorality. The conse
quences of this awful state are—loss of
'character; loss of comfort; loss of useful
nets; and as long as any remaia in this
, state, a loss of a well-grounded hope of fu
ture happiness. To avoid this stab, or re
cover from it, we should beware of the first
appearance of sin ; be mti.’h in prayer; at
tend the ordinances; and unite with the
people of God. \V e should consider the
awful instances of apostacy, as Saul. Judas,
Demas, &c.: the many warnings we haves
of it—Matt, xxiv; 13. ITeb. x: 38; Luke
ix:62; how it grieves the Holy Spirit;
and how wretched it makes us; above all
things, our dependence should be >n God,
that we may always be directed by His,
Spirit and kept bv His power.
1 ashion. —Avoid the fooleries aid sin of,
fashion, never have seen, n- r never j
will see, a truly sensible, unworldly-minded .
person an extreme devotee of fashion. If
good people are sometimes found among
fashionables, it is to be attributed t< a weak
point in their characters, and is a demerit|
in them. Fashion is certainly in opposi-j
tion to sober-mindedness and pietv
Be earnest, natural and virtuous. You.
should endeavor to reach solid excellence.;
not stoop to the practice of those things
which are frivolous and vain.
Mve P° time to s P ort awav the hours '
u must be earnest in a world like ours."
No Feeling.
1 We often meet with this excuse for the
neglect of duty. Sometimes when you
urge professed Christians to take part in
social meetings, to converse with sinners
on their spiritual state, or to pray in the
family or in secret, you are met with the
following reply : “ What is the use of my
attempting to do so when I have no feeling?
It would be hypocrisy.” And such persons
do not appear to realize that they have any
thing to do with the matter, and that their
want of feeling is a sin for which they are
accountable to God.
Tell an un converted man that, as a sin
ner, he is guilty before God, that, he is in
danger of eternal ruin, and therefore should
immediately cry to God to have mercy
upon him, and he will probably say : “1
know that you say is true, but what can I
do ? I have no feeling.” And thus he
makes himself easy in his neglect, and tries
to rest satisfied in an unsaved state. A
man suffering from paralysis is alarmed at
the fact that he has no feeling in the affect
ed limb, and he earnestly uses means to
restore sensation. Does a son act ungrate
fully to a kind and indulgent parent, or a
daughter bring shame upon herself and
those who love her, and do they, when
urged to alter their course, plead that they
have no disposition to do so, it is regarded
an evidence of great depravity, and an in
crease of guilt. But with reference to spir
itual things, men suppose they have only
to plead want of feeling as an excuse for in
dolence and neglect, and no blame can at
tach to them.
Let those who are disposed to offer this
excuse look it fairly in the face, and decide
whether it is of any value; and when con
vinced as they ■will be that it is not, that
want of feeling is not merely a misfortune,
but a sin, let them use those means w-hich
are likely to produce feeling by leading
them to understand their true state and the
claims of God upon them, and without wait
ing till this feeling is produced, let them
humble themselves before God, seek the
teaching of the Holy Spirit, pray —‘God
be merciful unto me, a sinner ;’ and with
an earnest desire to know, and sincere de
i termination to do the will of God, ask,
|‘ Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?’
Desire of Bielies.
The accumulation of v ealth is often stim
ulated by the wrong application of a right
principle. Labor is man’s proper vocation,
and so essential to ms neaim ami u.ippi
ness, that even in his unfallen state, when a
resident of the garden of Eden, he was com
manded, ‘to dress and to keep it.’ Work is
his duty. The Old Testament repudiates the
sluggard, and the New deems the idler un
worthy of the food he consumes, while it
denounces the man who does not provide
for his household, as worse than an infidel.
Industry and economy are excellencies en
joined by inspiration, and these are the
usual products of wealth. Hence is is ar-
gued—and argued correctly—that the me
pursuit or possession of opulence, is not
variance with Christian principle. But
is this very circumstance that constitut
the danger. While engaged in those occ
pationsand in the practice of those virtue
which lead to pecuniary success, the flo’
of wealth may secretly spring up in tl
heart, and become, at length, a ruling pu
1 sion. Ihe man’s nature is changed, whi
his professions re main the same. .Go
has become his idol, yet he vainly ima.
ines that the self-restraint, and thrift, ar
actively employed in its accumulation, ai
i the sole objects of his esteem. lie is co
etous on principle. Conscience is suborne
by avarice; the sanctions of religion ai
invoked not allay, but to increase the thin
for riches; its very virtues are impresse
j into the pursuit of gain ; and the censer <
the sanctuary is made to supply the incens
which he burns upon the altar of Mammor
It is under the cover of this delusions, ths
covetousness creeps into the church; an
i many a professor of religion, who regard
himself merely as a careful thrifty Chris
I tian, is denounced by the world as a grasp
ing Shilock, to the scandal of the Christiai
name.
The Scriptures are replete with warning
on this subject. ‘They thai will be riel
i fall into temptation and a snare, and int<
many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drowi
! men in destruction and perdition. Fo
the love of money is the root of all evil
which, while some coveted after, they hav<
I erred from the faith, and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows.’ Herein wt
have—briefly and sententious!/ expressed
—the natural history and the fearful doom
of avarice.
YY hen Gen. Johnston arrived at Chatta
nooga, Tenn., a party of persons vehement
ly called him out for a speech. At last he
appeared, and told them he “ would much
prefer to see them in the army.” This
spee< h was to the point, and one of the best
speeches that has been made or published
during this war.
As fire is opposed to water, so is vice to
virtue.
Thanksgiving.
Thenfis no duty, perhaps, in which Chris
tians are more delinquent than in the duty
of thanksgiving. Enforced by express in
junction, it is sti I recommended by
the example of angels. If we possess His
spirit, if we hope to share their glory,
should we not betake ourselves more fre
quently to the throne -of grace, with fer
vent, joyful confession of the bounty which
supplies us, and the love by which we are
crowned with blessings. How Paul felt in
this matter, his own language of exhorta
tion informs us: “Giving thanks always
for all things unto God and the Father, in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Oh,
if we remember our nothingness and ill
desert; how the least of the Divine mer
cies transcend our merits; how the great
est, nevertheless, come showering down
along our path through life—shall we not
feel that this is but our reasonable service?
Shall we not feel that, though like the Jews,
we rehearse a hundred benedictions every
day, they can not discharge the debt of love
we owe; that language is too poor to utter
it—that it must pijss unuttered except as
the soul, burning with quenchless flames of
gratitude, speaks without voice to God,
and makes its very self, as it were, a song
of thanksgiving.
Christian brother, we have mourned and
murmured enough over these evils of war.
Even publicans and sinners give thanks in
times of peace and prosperity. It remains
for those who “have been with Jesus”—
for those who have Jesus w-ith them—to il
lustrate the diviner power of faith and love, j
and “give thanks for all things”
strife shakes the land, and w ant and sorrow
shake the soul. Let others, if they will,
gaze only at the cloud and shrink and cower
beneath it. Be ours the wisdom that looks
beyond it to the sun —the triumphaat tru*t
that rises above it to the light without a
shadow and the day without an end—in
fine, the thanksgiving w-hich obtains, for re
compense,, the gift of God’s unbroken peace.
Filling Empty Ch u relic*.
Whosoever would preach to crowded,
attentive congregations, let him take heed.
If we would enlarge our congregations and
increase our usefulness, we must:
1. Preach more powerfully. Sermons
that interest, and move, and save our pres
ent hearers, will bring more people to hear
ns. Our discourses should* be well studied,
fieuueut and pertinent quota
tions from Scripture, and sparkle with stri
king illustrations from real life. We must
follow the example of Jesus—announce
generally rather than argue at great length
the doctrines of religion—then illustrate,
and then enforce these doctrines on our
hearers, (dur hearts must be better pre
pared for preaching. If the speaker’s heart
be cold and unsympathizing, all goes for
nothing. As cold iron would never melt,
so neither cold-hearted speakers set their
hearers on lire.
Having our skeletons well prepared on
paper or in our minds, which is better, we
should go from our closets to the pulpits,
with souls more than full of love to God,
and sympathy for the erring and the lost.
Who is heard with most interest and profit
in our prayer-meetings and social times?—
Is it not the one who is holiest—who, in
simplicity and godly sincerity, expresses
the sentiments and feelings of devotional
souls ? Should we not learn from this?
Who succeed best in preaching or exhort
ing I Certainly not the most learned—-not
the one who delivers the most finished lit
erary production. It was the heart elo
quence of Whitefield that drew the million
to him and to Christ. His written ser
mons where are they ? Literary critics
have consigned them to eternal oblivion.—
Let the critics go—to criticism—but let us
preach with full hearts and with all our
might, to save souls. Is not our preaching
too general, too formal, too powerless?
XV ith our talents and our advantages, why
do we not set the world on fire ?
My dear brother minister, if your church
is comparatively empty, or if your congre
gation is decreasing, think on these things,
and see if empty preaching has not helped
to empty your church. No show of learn
ing, no argument nor discussion, no illus
tration in the pulpit is worth its time, only
as it tends to save souls from death. Read
the histories of revivals, the biographies of
successful ministers, and see if the preach
ing above indicated has not drawn and
saved its thousands and millions.
Call up. also, your own observation and
experience. How did you preach, and how
did others preach, when Christians shouted
and sinners wept and trembled ? If we
consider these things prayerfully, the Lord
will show us our defects, and, if we are
willing, He will lead us in “a more excel
lent way.”
Persecution is not wrong because it is
cruel, but cruel because it is wrong.
He w ho dreads new remedies, must abide
old evils.
Our Army Correspondence.
lleadq’rs 31st Alabama Vol., )
Vicksburg, March 6, 1863. [
Dear Banner :
Much of interest has transpired around
the “terraced city of hills,” since I wrote
my last, and still the sieg j of V icksburg
goes bravely on ; her frowning batteries
and huge fortifications yet strike terror and
dismay into the hearts of the nonplussed
invaders over the river, who, with many
tears and long-drawn sighs, feast their eyes
on “ the hills away,” without the slightest
prospect of ever reaching the promised land
of Abe the Dictator. For some few' days
all has been quiet on the Mississippi—the
occasional firing of our guns, which com
mand the scene of the enemy’s operations
across the river, alone disturbing the dull
monotony that reigns around.
The prospect of an early attack on our
stronghold is not at all flattering. It has been
ascertained that the combined forces of
Grant, Sherman and Morgan docs not num
ber above 40,000 effective men. In forty
eight hours we can concentrate that number
ourselves, and it would be perfect folly for
them to attack us before our works, unless
they have brigades to pit against our regi
ments. It is thought in military circles
they will do their do at Vicksburg during
the present month; then, if Vallandigham
and Cox don’t reconstruct the Union by the
first of April, they will ascend the river
commence operations against this place by
the. line of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad,
and our forces will be sent to Holly Springs
and Grenada to resist them.
Your readers have heard of the capture
of the enemy’s iron clads, the Queen of the
West and Indianola; but have they heard
the particulars ? The Queen of the West
had quite a galorious time before the rebels
nabbed her. In passing down the river,
she met several of our inoffensive trans
ports, laden with the good things of this
life for the army at Vicksburg, which she
seized and destroyed, and went on in her
headlong course. Iler destination seemed
to be some point on Red river, for she took
the pilot oil one of our boats—familiar
with that stream, —and compelled him to
conduct them up the river; when he, know
ing the perils of such an undertaking, frank
ly told them the Confederate batteries on
the river would send them swiftly to the
bottom. No excuse would do; they must
go up the river. With the DeSoto in tow,
atViiy-ljoau of oUTs they had previously
taken, and a rebel steersman at the wheel,
the Queen of the West began the ascent of
the river. You know what large bumps of
inquisitiveness the Yankees have; so they
were continually wanting to know of the
pilot the distance to the fortifications. It
is said when he neared the guns he told
the Yankees it was yet fifteen miles to the
point, and at the same time rounded the
gunboat to the front of our batteries.—
When the terrific hail of shot and shell
was hurled at them from our guns, the val
orous “ blue-coats,” like rats from a burn
ing building, precipitately left the Queen
of the West, jumped aboard the DeSoto,
steered for the shore as fast as possible,
and set her on fire, the most of the Yankees
escaping through the woods. Thus this
formidable Yankee ram, with all her equip
ments, and unharmed, fell into our hands.
Many thanks are due our brave gunners on
Red river, and the shrewd pilot who led
the boat into the ambuscade.
Meantime the Indianola, a splendid
iron-clad, passed Vicksburg under the cover
of darkness and the fog on the river. Iler
career of glory among our steamboats was
rather short-lived ; for two
looking crafts, the Queen of the West,
wrested from the enemy, and the gunboat
Webb, built upon Red river, suddenly
heaved in sight. What could the Indianola .
do? Cruising between our batteries at
Vicksburg and the two iron-clads below,
her case was hopeless. A short distance
below Warrenton our boats overhauled
her, when the fighting began. She was rim
into by both our rams; a desperate hand
to hand fight ensued, but soon the Yankees
cried for quarter. The Indianola was part
ly sunk in the engagement, and would have’
been saved to us, and a most valuable ac-
quisition too, had it not been for the te
merity and short-sightedness of somebody
—I don’t know who. The Yankees fixed
up a queer looking water craft, and set it
afloat down the river; when our men, sup- j
posing it be something dangerous, when it
was only a trick of the enemy, were order-
eu to blow up the boat. The ruse was dis
covered before the order was executed;
but before the courier, bearing the counter
manding order, could reach the place where
the boat was lying, the earth shook, and
the heavens resounded the terrible noise of
the explosion of khe Indianola. But th-j
communication with the West, via Red
river, is now undisturbel; and we dare
the Yankees to present us with any more/
gunboats to add to our Ram fleet.
Just now I saw a mournful-looking pro *