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Our Platform.
N but those who make a credible pro-
faith in Christ should be baptized.
are really baptized except those who
ar&towmal upon a profession of their faith in
Christ.
3. None can properly be members of the
church of Christ, except they have been bap
tized.
4. None can properly be ministers ot Christ
who are not members of the church of Christ.
5. Non-affiliation with those wiio refuse to
obey Christ in these things—-with those who re
fuse to walk according to the Divine rule.
6. We shall insist upon Baptists practising
what they hold and teach.
• While we shall firmly adhere to the above
principles, we clo not deny that others are con
verted as w’ell as Baptists; but, as it regards
their ‘baptism,’ we consider’ them as being in dis
order—unbaptized.
baptist fanner.
vAj mA : - tii /
‘ The entrance of Thy Word glveth light’
JAS. NATHAN ELLS, Editor.
Associate Editobs : H. C. HORNADY, Atlanta. •
J. M. WOOD, Newnan.
A. C. DAYTON, L Fayette.
D. P. EVERETT, Florida.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1863.
■■■■•■ ; I
The Sons of the Forest.
On last Sabbath evening, at the First
Baptist Church in this city, Elder E. L.
Compere (Missionary of the Cherokee Bap
tist Convention) gave an interesting state
ment of affairs concerning the Red race
west of the Mississippi. For the informa
tion of our readers generally, we append a
few of his statements :
The most important of the Indian nations
are the Choctaw. Creek, and Cherokee.—
The Choctaw borders on Texas, Arkansas,
and the Arkansas river. So soon as the
State of Arkansas became a member of the
Confederacy, the Chogtaw people signified
their intention to follow ; and it was not
long till a treaty was concluded with the
Confederate government, and troops were
raised and mustered into the service. At
this time there are two regiments, or two
thousand troops, in the service from that
nation. “ And I may as well state here,”
said the speaker, “ what I cannot state of
any other district, West or East, that among
the Choctaws there exists perfect unanimity
of sentiment. Peter Folsom—than whom
no man among the Choctaws is more com
petent to give a correct opinion—said to
me, the last of April, ‘ There is not one man |
in this nation who is the least doubtful.’ ”
The Creek nation lies rathei north-west
from the Choctaw, and took position with
the South about the same time with the
Choctaws. Unfortunately, however, there I
were two parties- —the Mclntosh and the.
Ho-po-the-ya-ho-la. Because the latter was
jealous of the former, he induced a large
number to rally around him ; and when
Confederate authorities required "the dis
banding of these irregular forces, they ’
sought the protection of the Fejerals—the j
result of which was a battle, and nearly
half of the Creek people were driven from
the nation, t>f course their sufferings were
inexpressible; men, women and children
moved in mass, and in great confusion and
in the midst of winter, to a country they
knew not ot. Where they are now we
know not—many hundreds of them must of
necessity be in their graves, from their ex
treme suffering. Our forces have held the
country that time, and but one senti
ment prevails. At this time there are two
regiments, numbering about twenty-two
hundred men.
The Cherokee country is west of Arkan
sas, and south of that miserable land of
Kansas. Thus it is the most northern of
the principal nations. It is a delightful
country, indeed : productive soil, salubrious
climate, mountain and prairie scenery, and
watered by the most beautiful creeks and
rivers,—settled by a race far in advance of
any other Indian people, having more in
telligence, wealth, enterprise, and white
blood. They took possession of their coun
try about the beginning of President Jack
son’s administration, only a part of them
emigrating at first. John Ridge became
their Chiet—John Ross* being at the same
time Chief of the party remaining in the old
nation, b inally the latter party were forced
to respect the treaty with the United States
and go to their new home. The Ross party
outnumbering the Ridge party, Ross re
fused to respect the Ridge government
which had been established—claimed that
his was th# prqpe< government for the
Nation, and that he was Chief. This of
TO JBAJPSXaS
course caused bitter contention, which re
sulted in the death of two of the Ridges and
Boudinot. They being the principal men
of their party, were murdered by men con
cealed, and, as every one believes, by order
of John Ross. Thus Ross was established
Chief there being bitter hate cherished to
wards him by the people he had so greatly
wronged, and especially by a younger half
brother —the present Colonel Stand Watie.
■ Ross, in order to gain popularity, had al
ready resorted to the expedient of marrying
a full-blood Cherokee—himself being not
more than one-sixteenth Indian. Thus he
made the full-bloods, who were in the ma
jority, feel that he was an “ Edzulaha,” —
equal, or brother. (It is due, however, to
thepresent Mrs. Ross to state that she is a
highly accomplished lady from Delaware.)
Ross now resorted to another expedient:
to combine his influence with Evan Jones,
who commenced his labors as a Baptist
missionary among that people forty years
ago, and, laboring almost entirely fbr the
! full-bloods, he had gained an extensive in
' fluence by the time we refer to. These,
two men were the most masterly spirits in
! the nation, and were to each other as .Jona
than and David —save in the virtues of those
ancients. And that intimacy has always
been a mystery, for Ross was a Methodist
. and Jones a Baptist; Ross was an extensive
I slaveholder, and Jones an Abolition mission
ary. When the Triennial Convention was
formed, the Boston Board proposed to
Jones that, as he was upon Southern soil,
he should come under the patronage of the
Southern brethren ; but he requested that
he might receive his support as formerly,
and it was agreed to—nobody at the South
thinking that he would labor to disseminate
I his infidel doctrines.
That the speaker might be excused for
having no confidence in Evan Jones, he
gave an instance of that worthy’s duplicity :
In course of time there were slaveholders
who demanded baptism at his hands, and
he received them. But his “instructions”
from the Boston Board were, to receive no
I slaveholders into the churches. In order to
extricate himself from his dilemma, just
! before making out-his annual reports to the
Board he would give certificates of dismis
sion to the slaveholders, and then report no
slaveholders in membership ; so soon as the
report was gone he would take- in all the
certificates, and thus restore the persons to
membership. At the beginning of the war
he reported thirteen hundred members.—
These were all as he was.
His influence was never disturbed till
about five years ago when brother James
A.Slover entered the nation, under the pa
tronage of the Marion Board, and began the
work of receiving and baptizing slavehold
ers. About two hundred members have
been gathered into seven churches, and,
with seven native preachers, organized into
j an association. •
Ross added a third expedient to retain
j his position over the people which he has
held a quarter of a century : Watie’s influ
ence was gaining, and giving the old Chief
some alarm, when, tour or five jears since,
John (the son of Evan) Jones conceived the
idea of a Yankee secret society for political
ends—the object of which was to keep Ross
and his party in power. At the succeeding
elections the Watie party, which .were the
Southern and mixed bloods, were defeated
in tolo ; and though they were the intelli
gent and wealthy part of the population,
not one of them has ever held an office sinqta,
! the organization of the “ Pin Society.”—-
The rule of an inferior race could not be
endured bj a people of proud bearing like
tha Southern Cherokees. Under this state >
of affairs President Davis tendered a com
mission to Stand .Watie, and soon he was
in the field at the head of a fine regiment.
John Ross still adhered to his neutral pol
icy, till after the battle at Oak Hills, which
convinced him that right and truth were]
on the side of Southern arms. Immediate
ly he called a convention of the entire voting i
population, and upon his recommendation
every man of his party, four thousand war
riors. voted for the secession of the Nation ;
the Watie party refusing to cooperate, as
they had no confidence in Ross and his con
federates. A national regiment was raised
and placed under command of Col. Drew,
and tendered to the Confederate service.—
In the difficulties among the Creeks, to
which the speaker referred, this regiment,
except Colonel Drew and some other officers,
deserted our colors and fought with the en
emy. But when the enemy was routed,
Drew’s regiment desired to return, and it
was thought best ly Colonel Cooper, com-'
manding brigade, to pardon the deserters —
ascribing their conduct to a want of intelli
gence. The battle of Elk Horn served this
regiment to retrieve its lost character, for
in this engagement they did well; and this
was a source’of general joy in the nation, as
we began to hope now for a return of good
brotherly feeling, such as had not existed
tor years between the rival parties, now
they had fought side by sidejn the same
battle. But these hopes were soon blasted.
The Federals came down on Grand River,
desolating the fairest portion of the West.—
Evan Jones was with the enemy; he called
upon his people to come to him—and “ the
Great Father would protect them, and once
more establish his right in'the nation.”—-
They flocked to him from all parts, so that
the country was in a perfect work. Nearly
every man in Drew’s regiment left him and
went to the enemy. Rcss was in a bad
box: his party had left him, and he was
threatened by the enemy—while he did not
have the conscience to ask protection from
Watie, whom he had so grossly wronged.
Hence he allowed himself, with about four
teen families, to be taken prisoner and
carried to the enemy.
The Federals holding Grand river, and
such confusion being produced, the Southern
people en masse fled their country , leaving
every thing behind. At this juncture the
present government was organized—Col.
Watie was elected Chief, and E. C. Boudi
not representative to Richmond.
The sufferings of this people, as eloquent
ly described by the speaker, touched every
heart with deepest sympathy, and especially
the reference to the distress and present
situation of his beloved associate, brother
J. A. Slover. These sufferings have been
mentioned in our paper of the 6th instant.
Notwithstanding the extreme necessity
to which these people have been'red need—
many of them having already died, while
many more must —brother C. assured us
that he had never heard a word of murmur
ing on account of their situation, and, in his
opinion, the last man and woman would
rather die than submit to Federal rule
again.
M. T. Sumner.
We saw this brother for a few minutes,
Tuesday, on his homew'ard trip from Rich
mond. According to the papers, Elder S.
accomplished much good, at the Virginia
Baptist Convention, in behalf of the trans-
Mississippi portion of our army. After his
earnest appeal, the brethren in the Old
Dominion contributed three thousand Tes
taments and three hundred thousand pages
of Tracts. These have been shipped, la
belled ‘ Virginia, to her Friends across the
River.’
A friend in Augusta informs us that bro
ther Sumner, in passing through that city,
called at the Factory and bought a bale of
domestics (which Mr. Jackson, learning the
object, sold at a great reduction) for the
suffering Cherokees—stating that he knew
his congregation at home would cheerfully
pay for it. Os course they will. He is to
make a similar visit to Columbus, Ga.—
Good for brother S. 1
Soldiers* Orphan-School Fund.
We have received another instalment
($45 50) from Mr. H. W. R. Jackson.—
Surely our citizens do not intend that Mr.
J. shall accomplish the worthy object de
signed,' all alone. We ask the people again
to read the explanatory announcement, ‘To
the Public,’ in this paper. Let us hear
from you.
To the Public.
From and after the 29th April, 1863, in
the sale of ‘The Confederate Monitor,’ and
all other works published by me, twenty
five cents, on each copy sold, shall be do
nated to establish and support a Soldiers*
Orphans’ Male and Female School, said
School to be established in Atlanta or its
vicinity.
v The editor of the Atlanta (Ga.) Baptist
Banner, is appointed to receive any and all
contributions made to the object and pur
pose above stated.
I propose to be one of twenty who may
j donate SSO each into the hands of the par
ty above mentioned, as the starting point
for the establishment of the institution
above described, and hope that this hum
ble offering will be cheerfully responded
to even by more, and many more, than the
nineteen who are called upon in this article
, to lay the foundation of an institution which
must eventually elevate to posts of honor
' and responsibility, “at some future day in
this infant Confederacy,”.many of our now
humble and destitute orphans of soldiers
who have freely given their lives in defence
of liberty and their homes and hearths, so
sacred and dear to man.
I herewith deposit SSO, together with
$lO5, as the amount of proceeds of the per
cent, set apart in the sale of my publica
tions since the 29th April, 1863.
Respectfully, tec.,
Atlanta, May 25,1863.’ H. W. R. JACKSON.
Handsome.
We understand that the members of the
First Baptist Church in Augusta have in
creased their Pastor’s salary to $3,000 per
1 annum.
w ’ T ’
Religious Mew*.
Elder W. W. Odom thus writes from
Savannah:
’ I will tell you what God is doing for us
down here. On the 31st May I visited
South Newington with the pastor, brother
Tebo. The meeting continued eight days,
and th : rty persons united with the church
by experience. It was a glorious time.—
To God be all the glory.
Terms of The Baptist Banner, $4 a year.
Churches In the Army.
Elder Daniel Morris, of the 14th regi
ment of Ist Texas Brigade, informs me that
the Baptists of his regiment constituted
themselves into a Church, chose him as
Pastor, elected Deacons, tec. Since their
organization they have held regular confer
ences for all the usual purposes of such
meetings, have prayer-meetings twice per
week, and regular communion services.—
They have licensed a brother to preach the
Gospel, who is exerting a good influence in
the army, and have received and baptized a
considerable number upon a profession of
faith in Christ.
Brother E. L. Compere, who has been
laboring with two regiments of Southern
Cherokee-Indian soldiers, also states that
the Baptist Indians have a regularly organ-
ized army Church.
The facts, to my mind, are very impres
sive, and will have an important place in
the history of Baptists after the close of
this war. The examples serve to illustrate
the simplicity and efficiency ot Baptist
church organization. Who can say that
these churches have not been Scripturally
constituted The members voluntarily
; agreed to live together upon common art.i
--■ cles of faith, bound by a common covenant
to work for Christ and His cause. Thus
coming together they are competent to re
ceive and discipline members, and to do all
• other things which any other churches can
: do. No such simplicity characterizes other
so called Churches.
There is, perhaps, not a regiment in the
Confederate service which has not Baptists
enough to organize a respectable church;
and I hope that brethren in the army who
may see this article will take the suggestion
and organize hosts of army churches.
The good results to be accomplished, to
my mind, are: Ist. It will be a fruitful
source of spiritual improvement and enjoy
ment to those who become components of
such organizations. Many sigh for the union
of hearts and church privileges once enjoyed.
This will at least partially gratify, and will
bind them the closer together.
2. It will increase the efficiency and use
; •
fulness of our brethren in the army. They
will be known as Christians, and thereby
have power for good.
3. Many of them will select their own
preachers from the ranks of the army, call
ing them to work, and repudiating the
worthless chaplains with which the army is
cursed. Or, chaplains of their faith and
order, worthy of their confidence, will have
anew field of labor and a multitude of co
laborers to help them.
4. It would relieve all difficulty about
. the regularity of baptisms which occur in
the army. It certainly would be more sat
isfactory for converts in the army to be
baptized by the sanction of an army church
. than to be baptized upon the responsibility
of individual ministers. Some ministers
. are very indiscreet, and some are unscrupu
, lous—none are perfect. The most reliable
, would rejoice at the Cooperation of his
- brethren.
Brethren, think of these things, and look
j for another article next week. W.
| BAPTIST MEETINGS.
First District.- -Coosa.
• ’ The General Meeting of the First District
Jof the Coosa Association will be held at
,• Pisgah, commencing Friday before the first
j Sabbath in July. D. B. Hamilton.
Flint River Association.
The general meeting for the Second Dis
trict of this Association will hold its next
annual session with the church at Jackson,
Butts county, Ga., commencing on*Friday
before the fourth Sabbath in July. Intro
ductory sermon by J. G. Kimbrell.
(There is no small-pox at this time in the
vicinity of Jackson, nor has there been for
some months.) W. Jeff Speairs.
Middle Cherokee Association.
Meeting commences on Friday before the
fourth Sabbath in September, at Dalton.
Rclioboth Association.
Meets with Union church in Macon coun
ty (three miles from Reynolds, on Colum
bus road), embracing third Sabbath in
September.
Coosa Association.
Meeting commences on Saturday before
the second Sabbath in October—at Poplar
Springs, Chattooga county.
Agent in Mississippi.
5. R. Whitten, of Louisville, Miss., is
1 an authorized Agent to receive subscrip
tions for The Baptist Banner.
Agent in Tennessee.
Elder William McNutt, of Cleveland, is
an iftithorized agent of The Banner.
Our Army Agent.
Elder Daniel Morris, of the 14th regi
ment cavalry, Ist Texas Brigade, is duly
authorized to receipt for subscriptions to
The Baptist Banner.
The Trustees of one of the Female;
Colleges of this State wish to find a suita
ble person for President—a good place
offered. For particulars apply at this
office.
[For the Baptist Banner.]
Mr. Editor:
I was exceedingly well pleased with the
article published in the last issue of your
paper, on Theatres, and your comments on
it. It is to be regretted that the other
journals of this city not only fail to con
demn theatrical exhibitions, but exhaust the
vocabulary of praise upon them. Is it be
cause of the little patronage bestowed upon
t h em perhaps twelve or fifteen dollars per
wee k—that their voices are not raised in
condemnation of them ? If that is the rea
son, I suggest that the moral public raise a
fund for these editors, of an amount equal
’ to fifteen dollars per week for the year, to
put a stop to the puffing of such demoral
izing exhibitions. Was not the grossly
immoral drama of “La Tour de Nesle” per
formed on Monday night; and what journal
warned its readers against it ?
But the theatre inculcates good morals (?)
we are told.
If obscene language sufficient to make
the blood of its moral attendants curdle,
and profanity the most shocking, constitutes
morality, then we grant the assertion. But
we’challenge its advocates to cite a single
instance, from the inception of theatres to
the present time, when a drunkard was
made a sober man or a swearer left off* his
oaths, the libertine his licentiousness, or a
man was made one iota a better man. The
instance cannot be cited. Call upon them
for the proof and they say it is puritanical
cant, or something else, but fail to produce
a single proof of their boast.
If the dramas placed upon the stage are
so moral and elevating in their tendencies,
why is it that it fails to reform those who
perform its characters ? Why are so many
of them drunkards, gamblers, roues, etc. ?
The love of the drama is often the love of
the dram-ah! Surely, if you would have
your child taught grammar you would have
the tutor acquainted with its rudiments.
But, says one, you must criticise the
drama, not the actor! And we are further
told that it is impossible to live up to the
doctrines of the New Testament; and why
should we demand more of the actor than
we do of the Christian ? We assert, with
Christian confidence, that by Divine assist
„ ance it is practicable to live according to
the doctrines of Jesus Christ! It is impi
ous to say that He has laid down rules of
conduct which it is impracticable for us to
follow. He who said “Be ye therefore'
perfect, even as your Father which art in
heaven is perfect” would not have laid such
‘ an injunction upon us if it was impractica- -
ble. But it is impiacticable for the Chris
tian (?) to follow up the precepts of Jesus
and visit the theatre, where his ears are
saluted with oaths and obscenity, and his
nostrils polluted with the stench of gin and
• tobacco, and the poisonous effluvia arising
: from crowding so many together in ill-ven?
i tilated houses. It is impracticable for him
, who has become subservient to worldly
amusements —for “no one can serve two
! masters.” The professor who is beguiled
• into visiting such places, is a perfect God
send to these champions of thejtnl/ yes, the
pit!— significant title. With what vim do
these champions tell of the evil influence
exerted upon some church-goer, by seeing
the pastor he has been listening to, in a vile
s place ! Yes, these exceptions furnish them,
they imagine, with a complete abattis be
hind which they can defend the theatre. We
acknowledge that instances have occurred
where ministers of the Gospel have degra
ded themselves, but it was not the result of
; the doctrines they had espoused. It result
i ed from evil communications.
We boldly assert that theatrical exhibi
tions —like gambling, horse-racing, and its
■ attending licentiousness—“pre productive
. of idleness, dissipation, and a general de
pravity of principles and manners.” For
proof, we cite the lives of almost every
actor. It is the legitimate fruit of the sys
tem. Has the actor and the Christian ever
■ been combined in the same person ? Never.
In attacking the licentiousness of the stage,
we must nesessarily attack the characters
' of those who act upon it. •
The influence exerted upon the commu
nity by theatrical exhibitions has been evil
and that continually. How many young
men, dazzled by its glare and tinsel, have
been, like the poor candle-fly, but lured to
his destruction ! How many have robbed
their employers (if they stayed with them)
to get means to procure an entrance ! How
many drunkards, gamblers, and loathsome
characters have been made by it! Is it not
a notorious fact that these exhibitions are
daily growing more injurious in their ten
dencies ?
If theatrical amusements do not produce
, the good claimed for them, they are surely
necessary as popular amusements!—this is
another deceptive plea set up by its chi m
pions, which cannot be sustained. Il is a
humbug!
The most profitable amusement is to go
-1 about doing good. But theatres, circuses,
and negro-minstrels are not amusements!
Good instrumental and vocal music is harm
> less, when not used for improper songs or
r tunes. The place for every man and wo
man and child at night is around their own
hearth-stone. Plenty of amusement there?
All the noble and holier sentiments can be
j brought into play. What more pleasing
. sight than to see the family assembled at
night, instructing their minds, or uniting
! with voice and instrument in song. God
never endowed man with all his powers to
jbe perverted at the theatre. Home is the
plach to seek amusement. Those who seek
it there never become degraded.
A writer in one of our city papers has
. justly teimed actors the fungi of society —
for they breed upon society without return
q ing any benefit whatever. If in ordinary
times they ought not to be tolerated, ought
they to be countenanced now ? When burn
ing houses and smoking ruins form the
foot lights, and the piercing groans of the
: wounded and dying —the anguish of the
bereaved ones, the orchestra of the present
drama, ought this mockery to be allowed?