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Cljc baptist gannet. L ffioix I «s»*-n V\y / j .f . a . '«\ '{/ Y\ i 4 IfZ I £X-7>X I v-”4<-£ j® k T \V7 li i‘ . - ti\ i\//7 ''H ‘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 *