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|a£ist_|a«ntr- > /«» fl ■! W kK fWWR® WS® •. 1 vIJ ■ hmi v\ 9 a W f - - - 1 B*® W tt/f \ Aoi'tuujffl > ’O r V /1/X— ■ W" ‘The entrance of Thy Word giveth light.’ JAS. NATHAN ELLS, Editor. Associate Editors : H. C. HOENADY, Atlanta. J. M. WOOD, Newnan. A. C. DAYTON, L-Fayette. D. P. EVERETT, Florida. ATLANTA, GEORGIA: SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 1863. 'I3F° The editor of The Banner is from home—attending the convention of publish ers at Macon, and the missionary conven tion at Henderson. Corresponnents will please be patient for a few days. Science. No one who has read history can be in sensible to the importance of the achieve ments of science. Amongst the consequen ces of man’s fall were the perversion of reason and the introduction of ignorance into the world. Man, turning from the light which the Divine presence shed upon him, plunged into gross darkness and fearful superstition. His imagination, sur rounded by a maze of ignorance, conjured up the most dreadful forms and invested them with the most potent influence for evil. The curse was upon every object which met his gaze; and even the sun, moon and stars were invested with malign influence. All the powers of nature were regarded by him as enemies, and in their operation sent terror to his heart. In the sensitiveness of his dark and over-wrought imagination, he was ready to start at the Sound of a rustling leaf, and to tremble at the roll of thunder as if it were the voice of destiny. But the light of science, at length, dawned upon the world, and those dreadful phantoms, which had haunted man, were dispelled as the. mountain mist. His life had been an agony of fear, but now he began to breathe more freely, as the hide ous shapes, which had hung around him, took their departure, and eFe long he began to exult in his deliveraftce from this night mare of superstition. Thus far had Science shown herself the friend of man, and had she continued in her legitimate sphere and prosecuted her true mission, her triumph would have been com plete. But unfortunately she, in some in stances, confounded belief with superstition, and struck b ddly for the complete disen thrallment of the human mind. Diverging from her proper work of investigating na ture, she turned her energies against reve lation, and by her speculations changed the truth of God into a lie. But no sooner did she leave the path of duty, than she ceased to be the chaste virgin, and became a vile Magdalene, polluting everything she touch ed. But while she has thus prostituted herself, revelation has succeeded in gather ing around it all those who prefer to walk in the light; and until she shall return to the chastity of her youth, her influence over the wise and good must continue to wane. That she has been, in her debasement, the fruitful mother of infidelity, no one can deny who has kept pace with the progress of events. And it is time her votaries should learn that her true mission is to in vestigate nature, not to contradict scrip ture; and hence labor to confine her to her legitimate sphere. Many of the maxims of infidelity, which afflict the world, may be traced directly to the perversion of science; and he who would set aside the plain lan guage of scripture to accommodate some theory of science, is a friend to neither, be cause true science and revelation agree in their testimony upon the works of God.— They do not, they can not, clash. 11. New Publication.— Hill <(• Co.'s Con federate States Hailroad and Steamboat Guide.— We are indebted to the publish ers. 11. p. Hill Ar Co., Griffin, Ga., for the April number of this new enterprise. The Gutde is issued in the best style of tvpo graphical art, containing the time-tables, tares, connections and distances on the rail ways of the Confederate States; also, the connecting lines of railroad, steamboats and stages; together with a complete guide to the principal hotels—in addition to a large variety of valuable information, collected and arranged by Mr. J. C. Swayze, one of the firm. The work (which will soon be come popular) is sold by all book-sellers throughout the Confederacy. ♦ The Baptist Banner is sent to soldiers at the rate of $2.50 per year Have the Brethren considered it? Considered what? The obligation to | support The Baptist Banner. That paper has never, under any administration, given forth any uncertain positions. In everything which has come before the denomination, it has pursued an open, fearless and manly course. If Baptists dislike a plain, outspo ken man. er, then of course they will not like The Banner; but if this is considered an excellence, it will meet their approval. Taking it for granted that all true Baptists like a straight-out open advocacy of truth, 1 would call upon them to come forward and subscribe for this paper. And I can do this with the greater freedom, as 1 am : not pecuniarily interested in its success.— There are enough good, substantial Bap tists in Georgia to sustain it, and there are several of these Confederate States which have no Baptist Banner. Is it unreasona- - b’e to expect patronage from the Baptists of those States ? The paper is only #3.00 per annum, and never was an article cheap- - er at that. Brother Ells is making one of i the most interesting papers in the Confed i- eracy, and there are many who are losing more than they wot of, by not subscribing | for and reading it. The brethren will sus itain it, because it is a Baptist paper. Why | not? Yes, why not? 11. C. H. ■, * The Editor. -1 The editor of The Banner is absent this - week, attending the missionary meeting of f the Rehoboth Association at Henderson, e and 1 take tins opportunity to address a i word to the friends of the paper. Arrange -1 ments have been made to make it the ex -1 ponent of Baptist views, and I hope the old - friends of the enterprise will continue to 1 sustain it, and encourage the present pro -1 prietors to enlarge and improve it, until it ‘j shall come fully up to the wants of Land-1 u mark Baptists. 11. C. 11. j r Southern Baptist Convention. , I Place of next meeting. The Southern Baptist Convention, held | in Savannah, Ga., May, 1861, adjourned to meet with the Baptist Church in Columbus,! Miss., on Friday before the second Sunday lin May, 1863. For various reasons it has ■ been thought inexpedient to hold the meet- I ing in Columbus, and at the request of the two Boards of the Convention, ‘he place of ! meeting is changed to Columbia, S. C. The Church has extended a cordial invi i ! tation to the Convention to hold its next 'session with them. We hope to see a full delegation of our brethren present. ' B. Manly, i V. Ps. T. Stocks, >of the P. H. Mell, ) Con ven. March 19, 1863. Georgia Baptist Convent ion. ,1 * Griffin, March 25, 1863. I Editor Baptist Banner : Dear Brother—Please give notice to the I members of the Convention, to be held in ' this place in April next, that when they ar rive in Griffin, they will call at Col. L. T. Doyal’s store, and there the committee of arrangements will assign them places for , lodging, &c., during the sitting of the con j vention. Yours truly, J. D. Stewart, d ® B. Milner, u ~ A. B. ALtiikws, I E *< f T. J. TAp.i.keld, I E<s i I W. 11. C. Mickleberry, J Q 2 ■ [Christian Index please copy. —. The Question Sell led.—Columbia* South Carolina. from the official announcement of breth-! ■ ren Manly. Stocks and Mell, in our paper to-day, it will be seen that the ‘Southern! 1 Baptist Convention ’ i eeting will beheld 5 at Columbia, S. C., on Friday before the I ’ second Sabbath in May, 1863. Lhe Georgia Baptist Convention will' - hold its next meeting with the Baptist j Church in the city of Griffin, on Friday be i tore the day in April. .. . . -——■J l 'rhe Georgia Baptist Convention. By appointment, the approaching session of this Convention is to be held at Griffin, and to prevent misapprehension in regard i to the desire of our churc# and people that - the Convention should meet in our city, we desire to state that the necessary arrange ments have been made by the Griffin Bap tist Church for the entertainment of the I Convent! >n. And in relation to small pox, we have to say that the disease has disap peared there being no case whatever now in the place; we therefore take pleasure in ? announcing that all danger of small pox has entirely passed away, and there is no rea son w hy the t'onv union should not be held here. M e extend a cordial invitation to! the Delegates, brethren and friends, to' e come, and our church and people will take J great pleasure in receiving you, and will, o we trust,render your stav with us pleasant and agreeable. Ihe different Railroads will, as usual pass the members at half fare—that is, thev f will pay full fare in coming and have a free passage home. s By order of the Church. L. T. Dotal, ) E. W. Beck, V § s J. Q. A. Alford, ) . Griffin, March 17, 1863. . asa b st. Religion the Soldier’s best Armor. War is now a terrible reality to us. We feel its effects, we see its results, we mourn its ravages. Three years ago it seemed impossible to realize the fact that this dread scourge, under which other nations suffer ed, could ever come so near us. Even when the war cloud darkened over our land, and its thunders muttered in the dis tance, we were incredulous; so utterly at variance with the spirit of ouf institutions did it seem for brother to go forth to shed a brother’s blood. So mudi did we depre cate the horrors of civil war, that we thought that the same dread would surely operate [ successfully to prevent sensible, not to say . Christian, men of the North from forcing upon us the awful alternative. But God, i in His infinite w isdom, has ordained other i wise; for what purpose w'e know not, but . doubtless for’one wise and gracious. Let ; us not then spend our time in useless re ) grets or sinful murmurs; but bowing in . submission to His will, let us seek to know f how we may best prepare ourselves for the . emergency which is upon us. r It is with reference to the soldier that we r more particular! y write these lines. Thou . sands of brave men havejeft the peaceful , avocations of life, and taken up arms in de fence of our common rights. In addition to the ordinary dangers incidental to hu man life, they have to encumber the risks ’ of war, the exciting dangers of the battle s field, and the calmer, but not less dreaded, > sufferings of the hospital. Disease and death 1 in many forms are incidents of daily occur rence in the life of the soldier. He seeks advice to guide him in reference to his physical health, to teach him how best to care and provide for the perishing body | amid the surrounding perils, but how much i more important is it that he should learn :how he may but care for his never dying I soul, that this priceless jewel may not be lost, or perish with the comparatively ■ worthless casket that contains it. Os the gre it army in the field, we know J that many, and probably the greater part, iofits soldiers are unmindful of the value of their souls, or at least have ma le no prepa ration to insure their eternal salvation in the event of their falling in the strife upon which they have entered. Before they left their homes they were careful for the body, to clothe it well, to protect it as well as possible from the exposures to which it would be liable; but they forget the soul. Engaged in the conflict, they are continual ly on their guard against the enemy, who can only kill the body—but they seek not the favor of Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. This is the saddest aspect of this terribly sad war. If w’e could know that the thousands, who fall victims to the sword and to disease, had only made due preparation for the future, we could look up, amid our sighs and tears, for earthly ties sundered and happy unions broken, and feel that all was well—that the departed ones were faithful soldiers, honor ably discharged, and gone to their homes above, while we who remain are still in the war, striving for the mastery over our ene mies, spiritual and temporal. We knew a young man who, two years since, was engaged in a pleasant and useful business, happy in the enjoyment of home and friends, hopeful for long life and hon ! orable advancement. Having given him ! self to the Lord, his pleasure was in the duties of a Christian life. Though not de isirous of military glory, he volunteered in his country’s service and entered the field,, determined to illustrate the life of a Chris- j I tian soldier, and, if need be, to die his death. He has done it both, and done it well. Our hearts mourn that one so full of promise j should be so early called away from us, i but for him we know that all is well. How it must have comforted his heart in the tri als of the camp, and nerved his arm in the perils of the field, to know that in the days •of peace and security he had insured his life for time and eternity I that dying was but sleeping in Jesus until the resurrection ■ i morn ? Soldier, do you believe in the immortal ity of your soul ? Do you believe in hea-, ven and heli ! Do you believe that without an interest and faith in the blood of Christ, you can not be saved ’ These are momen tous queries, and one of equal importance follows: Have you obtained that interest in a crucified Saviour which will protect you against all these awful dangers and se cure yottr eternal well-being? In your hours of stillness and loneliness, we entreat ‘ y ou, ponder the question in your heart.— Sv- . *• Know by blessed experience how m:. ' eligion can soften the hardships you are <. a. ed to encounter ; how it can strength-, er. y . r arm and raise your courage in the dire conflict with your earthly foes; and how it cm disarm death of his terrors. — Have you left wife and children at home ’ How blessed a privilege to be able to com mend them in faith to a covenant keeping God. How consoling the knowledge that, you are the subject of their prayers; and ( above all, how all-sufficient is the assurance that in your wanderings, your trials, your sufferings, the everlasting God is your Guardian and Guide. Then the sweet words of the poet will certainly comfort and sus tain you: — “ Sovereign Ruler of the skies, Ever gracious, ever wise, All my times are in thy hand— All events at thy command. ****** “ Plagues and death around me fly, Till he bids I can not die; Not a single shaft can hit, Till the God of love sees fit.” S. P. R. Camp Young, Mai ch 20, 1863. Brother Ells: I have deferred writing several days, thinking I might have more leisure time, but have concluded that the prospect is not flattering. I am preaching for Wilson’s brigade, there being no other chaplain among us. The labor is great. I have held sixteen meeting sin the last twelve i days and there is much interest manifested. I do hope that 1 may have help in a short time. There are efforts made by one of our regiments to get a chaplain. I hope they may be successful. I have labored among fourteen regiments, battalions and independent companies since I have been on the coast. I have distributed as much or more than a thousand Testaments, and many tracts; I trust that I have done some good. • One thing I know, I never have la bored so much in the ministry for the same length of time. My congregations are usu ally very large, and I never in my life had better attention to my ministrations. I have baptized four, and if I could have an associate in the labor, I think the prospect good to have others to witness the good confession of the lovely name of Jesus be fore men, in order to put Him on baptism, and walk w’ith Him in newness of life. There is a camp rumor that we will have to go to Tennessee in a short time, but it seems to me very improbable while pros pects for a fight here are so menacing.— Our men are in fine spirits; they wish to meet the enemy and decide the war. If there must need be more blood shed, they are ready to make bare their breast for the leaden hail of the Yankees. I lately visited a detached portion of my regiment, to hold meetings with them. — Tiiey are at Proctor’s Point, about three miles below Fort Jackson. From the pre parations of defence 1 witnessed on the riv er, the enemy will hardly reach Savannah by water. Our men at Fort Jackson, Lee’s Battery, and another Battery (the name of which 1 have forgotten), and Caustou’s Bluff and Thunderbolt, are ready for the fight. The ladies’ gunboat and the Fingal are in the river just below the Fort. A people were never more united in the de termination to conquer or die in the contest ’han our soldiers on the coast, (dur cause is just, we know it, we feel it, and the God of justice and righteousness gives courage to the hearts of our soldiers, and nerves their arms to drive back the hateful Yan kees, who wickedly and lustfully would take our homes and insult our wives and fair daughters of the South. May the God of ancient Israel, who discomforted the Amelikites and caused ITis people to tri umph over them, help us; and He, who sent the destroying angel in the camps of Senachereb and slew his army —may He be oug God to help us and fight our bat tles, and deliver us from the wicked pur poses of Lincoln and his minions. So mote it be. You will please send The Banner to the ' names below : ****** Dear brother, I desire the prayers of God’s people, that I may prove faithful un ’ til death. I am yours, truly, in the good hope. A. B. Fears. Vicksburg, Miss., March 10, 1863. I have no war news. Everything is qui et on both sides of the river. It is the gen eral opinion here that the Federals will I shell the town and leave, as their camp j will soon be overflowed, if it is not already. One of their gunboats came down close , enough to throw a few shell in the town! yesterday, but done no damage, as they did , not reach quite far enough. A .boat ofi some description pissed down last night— it was so foggy that we could not tell what kind ; but the opinion is that it is only a coal boat; we will know soon. Yours, R, Principles and Passions.—l don’t mean to say that principle is not a finer thing than passion; but passion existed before j principles. They came into the world with us: principles are superinduced. There are bad principles as well as bad passions, and more bad principles than bad passions. Good principles derive life and strength and warmth from high and good passions, but principles do not give life; they only bind up life into a consistent whole. One great fault in education is the pains taken to inculcate principles rather than to train feelings. It is as if we took it for granted that passions could only be had, and are to j be ignored or repressed altogether. From our Army Evangelist. A moving mass and a crowded city—An interesting lecture—Dearth of the Word and thirst for it— Wagon trip in good company—lntelligence and morality of our soldiers—Brigade meetings. Savannah, March 16, 1863. Brother Editor : After an absence of a few days, looking after home matters, I returned to this city the day following the last attack on Fort McAlister, at Genesis Point. Ou my way down I encountered a moving mass rushing hither to meet the foe, armed with almost every kind of weapon, and resolved to de fend this city or perish in the effort. From the crowds of men on the streets and in the neighborhood, one would almost conclude that the whole male population of the State had emptied itself into this place. The en emy seems to hesitate. No wonder. Foil ed in his third attempt on Fort McAlister, and knowing, as he no doubt does, the strength of our defences and the desperate resolution of our troops, he shrinks back from the fearful sacrifice he must make in capturing this city. If he could form even a faint conception of what awaits him, he would relinquish his mad design altogether. I had the pleasure, a few evenings since, of hearing a most interesting and instruc tive lecture on the wai, from Dr. Palmer, of New Orleans, who is known to many of your readers as a distinguished Presbyteri an clergyman. His manner is peculiarly free from affectation and ostentation, and in this respect he is a model speaker. His lecture was well-timed, and was calculated to inspire the patriotism and nerve the arms of our people. He is confident of our final success, and the triumph of our cause. He can not be much rising forty years of age, and, if I am not mistaken, joined the army as a private immediately upon the fall of New Orleans. He wears a felt hat, and is dressed in a full suit of gray homespun. At least 2,500 Testaments have been dis tributed around this city since the year commenced, and yet I have no idea half the ■ soldiers are supplied. If your readers knew the real number of troops hereabouts, they would not think strange of this. Yet they are more anxious to obtain religious read ing, especially Testaments, than ever be fore. As far as I know, the Baptists are the only denomination which has missiona ries in this field. If there are any others, I have not found them out. And, with the same qualification, I state that there are only three chaplains around this city, two of whom are Baptists. “ What are t hese among so many?” Shall we, as a people, shrink from the responsibility thus thrown upon us? God forbid! On a certain day I hired a single-horse wagon (for which I had to pay three dollars for about three and a half hours), and invi ted brother D. G. Daniel to join me in a colporteur expedition among the camps a few miles from the city. Wherever we went, w'e received a most cordial welcome, the poor fellows flocking around us and ac cepting our wares with many expressions of gratitude. I take occasion to repeat a remark made by me months ago, in regard to the intelli ligence of our soldiers: that is, that I sel dom find one who can not read, the propor tion amounting to one per cent. lam sus tained in this opinion by brother Daniel. This may not be true of all our army, but is certainly true of our Georgia troops. — And then the idea, entertained by some people, that our soldiers are a most reckless and God-forsaken set, is untrue and deeply | unjust to them. Ido not remember that, | during the past month, I have seen a drunk i en soldier or heard one utter a profane oath, j I do not mean to say that they neither get drunk nor swear; but 1 do mean to assert that such is their respect for religion, they do neither of these things in my presence. I could, however, tell your readers what I have heSrd and seen. As I have passed among their camps, “ sowing the good seed of the kingdom,” I have heard the sweet songs of Zion floating on the passing breeze. Yes, and I have often heard the voice of prayer ascending from groups of Christian •soldiers, pleading for their country and t for their wives and little ones at home. I have seen hundreds, if not thousands, sit on the ground, or stand, for an hour at a time, and give the most marked and serious attention to the Word preached. And I have seen hundreds bathed in tears, asking prayer for themselves and their fellow-sol diers. Therein much wickedness in the land, but it is not all confined to the army. Like the ministry of the gospel, 1 think it probable that the experience of our men in campswill prove to some the “ savor of life unto life, to others the savor of death unto death.” For two Sabbaths past, I have held brig ade meetings, which were more numerous ly attended, and were every way more en couraging than any I have hitherto had.— : Yesterday I preached, in the forenoon, to Col. Gait’s regiment of State troops, in a fog of dust, blown right into my face. At the close, many presented themselves for prayer. Had only fifteen or twenty min utes to rest, when a common two-horse wagon, without springs, arrived to convey me to a brigade three miles below town. Here I found an immense.crowd of officers and men, to whom I preached in the after- . noon. Here, as elsewhere, they all observ ed the utmost decorum, gave the most se rious attention, and many of them exhibited the most tender emotion. I should think from two to three hundred came forward for prayer. J. JJ. Campbell. Bible and Colporteur Society. The friends of this society are now in orme that we have paid* all demands against it, South. We now owe to .the Con federacy about 81,200, sequestered. This m y Dpinton, is a favorable time to pay , IS 11 / e bL As agent, I propose to pay and, as an individual, S2O. Now my good brother and sister and friend, will you do as well ? If so> send it up to me> at Macon, Ga., and our cherished society ’ wm be placed on an independent basis. The society is now more than selfsus-’ taming, and it is very desirable to increase our stock, besides paying off all indebted ness. Our sales are greater now, by far, than at any former time since my connection with the society. We now’ have on hand a very good variety of religious books; several excellent libraries for advanced children in Sabbath-schools. We have Ist Youth’s Library- -70 vols., $16.00 2d Evangelical Fam. Lib. - 15 “ 10.00 3d “ “ “ - 25 “ 16 00 4th “ “ “ - 37 “ 25.00 sth Religious Library, -20 “ 20.00 6th, Set of bound tracts, -13 “ 13.00 Miscellaneous books for Sunday reading, and a variety of writing paper, envelopes and other things. The Board has abandoned the idea alto gether of closing the Depository and sell ing the books, and this is a -wise step, for our prospects were never better than at this time. Therefore send up your sss, slos, s2os and ssos, and let us pay the $1,200; and by the blessings of God, - we . may live long and do much good. F. M. Haygood, ■ Macon, Ga., March 19. Agent r . O * Heard From at The following letter was received a few ’’ days ago. Really I had began to fear the worst for brethren Compere and Slover. Their friends will rejoice that matters are no worse with them, and that we may ex ’ pect to see them‘during the Spring, the ! Lord permitting. Dardanelle, Ark., ) . » Jan. 10, 1863. f Elder J. M. Wood : My dear Bro.—You see that I am yet ’ west of the Mississippi river, though still hoping to start east in two or three days. 1 was ready to start three weeks ago, but > w'as detained by a General Order from Maj. t Gen. Holmes. I called on Gen. Hindman to see if he could give me a pass over the river. [Perhaps you are not award that all persons going from this District east of the I Mississippi are required to procure a pass t from Gen. Holmes.] Gen. Hindman re ferred me to the Enrolling Officer of our County, who would certify to my exemp tion, and thus ensure me a pass whenever J might desire one. Col. Spring, the En- i | rolling Officer, is a thorough Methodist and . a perfect gentleman, and has known me ever since I came to the State. He assured me that he would take pleasure in certify ing to my character and right to pass ; but showed me his printed Orders from Gen. Holmes, to cause “ all male persons, between the ages of 18 and 40, to go into Camps of Instruction." He advised me, therefore, not to leave the District till said order might be modified, or till the roll list# should be completed. A week after he sent me the pass. Being detained by the General’s Order, I I waited, hoping that brother Slover would lbe able to get his family from north ofy Boston Mountain to the south of Arkansas river by the time I procured a passport for us. More than two months ago he was j driven from his family by the Federals, and up to the 28th December had not been ! able to return. On that day Gen. Hind man started a train of Commissaries for sick soldiers north the Mountain, nnder flag of truce. Some citizens from north Mountain started back with this train. Bro. * | Slover was in the company. It is said, when the train was a few miles out, and Major Crump, Commandant of the Post, F, \ an Buren, heard the Feds were near town, , he ordered it back. At all events the train . I was seen coming back ’in a great hurry ; and as it has not been heard from further, the conclusion is the enemy captured it, not - regarding the flag. Thus 1 have waited a i fortnight to hear from brother Slover, and ' 5 j no tidings yet. Besides waiting for brother j i Slover, I have been closely confined with my father, who has been, and is yet very < ' sick; so that I cannot leave him till there • is a change. . About two months ago the Feds—that is, Gen. Blunt’s division of Kansas Jayhawk ers, Pin Indians, negroes, and other out laws, rushed down into Washington Co. and took position on Cane Hill. After a few days Gen. Marmaduke, commanding a Division of Cavalry, crossed the Mountain and gave them a running fight, with a loss of eight men killed, while 130 of the thieves# bit the dust. W e lost neither prisoners nor trains, an"d took none. Such was the battle oi Cane Hill. A few weeks later/ Gen. Scofield left Springfield on a forced ' march to join Blunt. Some friendly agen cy, almost with electric speed, communica ted the intelligence over the mountains to Gen. Hindman at Fort Smith. He rushed’