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main with them, even though a Baptist in
sentiment; but against this every feeling of
honesty and truth revolted ; follow Jesus I
felt I most, and that in the right way, even
though my heart-strings crushed in the act.
My never-failing source of comfort was
prayer; from the mercy-seat 1 alwajscame
awav calmed, and steadfast in mind and j
purpose.
Having, by the help of God, made up
my mind, I announced to my brother, and
my old friend, that at their next meeting it
was my intention to jointhem. Subsequent
ly 1 made known the same to two sisters
who were on a visit; their surprise and in
dignation knew no bounds. The elder, who
was my superior in age, used every means
to persuade me from the act, and when all
her eloquence failed, she brought forward
the case of my mother, and entreated me
not to bring her grey hairs in dishonor to
the grave. How deeply she probed my
tender heart none but God knew; but,
thanks be to His name, I was enabled to
stand every attack, and triumph, through
His grace. I felt this was a matter solely'
between my God and myseltj that by obey
ing His commands I could neither hurt nor
harm the dearest earthly friend I had, and
was ready to exclaim,
*• Through floods and flames if Jesus leads.
I’ll iollow where He goes;”
and I felt ready to prove it. Once, after a
very trying convers -••ton with my sisters
and some friends, I went alone to the Foun
tain of Consm *. >n. Jn my knees I open
ed the blessed Word of God, and my eyes
alighted immediately on this passage : “He
that loveth father or mother more than me
is not worthy of me.” So surprised and
overjoyed vas I at this manifestation of Di
vine : id 1 arose, filled with strength to en
dure, and w ;-t -hadow of a doubt but
that I wa. ‘ right way. As if to save
me any mo. my Heatenly Father
inclined m) .. oer to think as I did, and
instead of dv f »-g with me, or feeling
offended, she • s perfectly willing I should
follow my ih ’ rin the way I thought
right; inde-X .«■ Jien disclosed what I for
the first time .< ?w. that she had, at the
commencement i her Christian course,
wished to join the Baptists, but was opposed
by my father. From this time out I en
joyed serenity of mind, and my peace flow
ed like a river. My persecutions had not
altogether ceased, but they lacked the power
to harm me, and I became impatient for the
day to roll round that was to unite me more
closely to my Saviour.
The day came at last, and Satan once
more tried to destroy my peace. My sister
wmwstill with us—that* is, the elder; the
jogger one haTP'gone home. Shejcwew I
had firmly resolved join the Baptists,
but was not aware that was the day in
which I intended to gve in my experience.
She was preparing to attend the meeting,
(for though a strict Methodist, she went to
hear a Baptist preach sometimes,) when I
informed her of the fact, and remarked that
I was glad she was going, as it would afford
mo no small pleasure for her to be there.
But, alas! she grew exceedingly displeased,
and vowed her intention not to go a step ii
I persevered in my resolve. Again 1 was
troubled, and pondered in my mind whether
it would not do as well, she being about to
leave next week, to put it off until next
meeting, and thus spare her feelings. Down
stairs 1 sped to my old friend, and disclosed
my troubles. Calling me by name, he re
plied to me in a solemn rtianner in the words
of Peter, “ Whether it be right in the sight
of God to hearken unto man more than unto
God, judge ye.” That simple passage es
tablished me—l pursued my way. My
sister went and saw me join. She also at
tended my baptism, next day, and is now a
staunch Baptist herself. Three other sisters,
then Methodists, are now Baptists; the oth
era are dead. For a long time atcer 1 be
came a Baptist they all treated me with
coolness, and I suffered a good deal on this
score; but Jesus was with me, aud 1 never
feared what man could do unto me. Having
found the precious truth, I was anxious for
them to partake of the same; and eventu
ally God brought them, one by one, into
the same path. To His name be all the
praise! _____
A PERSIAN STORY.
Jesus, says a Persian story, arrived one
evening at the gates of a certain city, and He
sent 11 is disciples forward to prepare a sup
per while He himself, intent on doing good,
walked through the streets into the market
place. And He saw at the corner of the
market some people gathered together lock
ing al an object on the ground ; and He
drew near to sou- what it might be. It was
a dead dog, with a halter round his neck,
hx which he appeared to have been dragged
through the dirt, and a viler, more abject,
a more unclean thing never met the eye of
man And those who stood by looked on
with abhorrence. “ Fauh! ” said one, stop
ping his nose, “it pollutes the air.” “How
I »ng,” said another, shall the foul beast of
fen l our sightl” “ Look at his torn hide !”
said a third, “ one could not even cut a shoe
out of it." "And hi# ears,” said a fourth,
•- u |i draggled and bleeding. “No doubt,
said a fifth, “he hath been hanged forthiev
ing • " And Jesus heard them, and b inking
down on the dead creature He said: “Pearls
nrv not equal to the whiteness of his teeth.”
Then the people turned towards Him with
amusement, and said among themselves:—
“Whois this? This must be Jesus of
Naaareth; tor ouly He could find some
thing to pity and approve, even in a dead |
dog;” and', being ashamed, they bowed j
their heals before Him and went each his |
way- [ F’rcAany e?
PIUYKK *UK L’.iCONVtMTW FlllKNDa. — .
A lady in Germany, who had been a sin
cere follower of Christ, but whose husband
was atdl uureuewrd. very much afflict-
ed on his aocuunt, and told a clergy m m she I
b»d done all in her power in persuading and
beseeching him t ’ U»rn from his evil prac- j
lice*, to no < ffccl. “ Madam," said he, “talk
more to G J about your husband, and leas •
|o your hustaud about God
Cje gaptist gnnncr.;
KKXM ®1 CL
• The entrance of Thy Word glveth light’
JAS. NATHAN ELLS, Editor.
Associate Editors : A. C. DAYTON, H. 0.
HORNADY, J. M. WOOD, D. P. EVERETT.
Our Pi al Toy in.
1. None but those who make a credible pro
fession of fdith in Christ should be baptized.
2. None are really baptized except those who
are immersed upon a profession of their faith in
Christ. 4$
3. None can properly be members of the
church of Christ, except they have been bap- j
tized.
4. None can properly be ministers of Christ '
who are not members of the church of Christ, j
5 Non-affiliation with those who refuse to i
obey Chr st in these things —with those who re
tuse to walk according -<> the Divine rule.
6. We shall insist upon Baptists practising
what they hold and teach.
While we shall firm y adhere to the above
principles, we do not deny that others are con
verted as well as B ip' sts; but, as it regards
their ‘baptism,’ we v on-ider them as being in dis
order—unbaptized.
ELDER A. €. DAYTON.
It is with much pleasure we announce to
our readers the fact that an arrangement
has been made, securing he editorial ser
vices of Elder A. 0. Dayton, regularly, in
The Baptist Banner.
Os the ability possessed by oui beloved
and venerable brother, it is unnecessary for
us to speak; he has, to-day, throughout the
South, an editorial and Christian reputation
second to none other; and we are confident
that our friends will experience the same
pleasure in learning this announcement that
we do in making it.
His articles will bear his initials.
SALUTATORY.
'To the Readers of The Banner :
I have been solicited by brother Ells to
furnish one or more articles for every num
ber, and will endeavor henceforth to do so;
.J?ut situated as 1 am, without qgiy exchanges
to keep me posted in regard to what is
passing in the religioffk deprived
of almost all religious books except my
Bible, I shall not be able to make my
communications either so interesting or
instructive as 1 might hope to do under
more favorable circumstances. Add tothis
the distraction of mind and the anxieties
connected with my unsettled and fugitive
condition, and you will, I trust, be prepared
to excuse me ii I fall far short of a hat some
of rny friends might expect rne to do fur
The Banner and our cause. But 1 propose,
so far as God may give me strength, to labor
for the truth as it is in Jesus.
It may be expected by some that my !
articles will be all of a denominational cha :
racter; 1 do not intend to make them so. i
There is much of tiuth which is held by
others as well as by Baptists, and compara
tively’ but little which we alone believe and
practice. Those things, however, in which '
we differ from other denomination?) are of '
vital importance to the faith, the order,and
organization of the church ot Christ. They
may not be neglected. No true Christian
has aright tuiguore them. 1 shall not shun
to speak of them because they are contro
verted matters. 1 have no wish to avuid
controversy. It i- the agitation of the waves
that purifies the waters of the sea—there is
danger and death in the continuous and
perfect calm. While there is aught, of
wrong and error in th.- practice or belief of
those who profess Christianity, it becomes
those who hold the truth to compel attention
to the departure from the right path, to call
upon the wanderers to return, to shout after
them, and, if need be, to get before them,
and by all moral and religious agencies
compel them to return to the “ old paths
and walk in them.’ Nor is there any reason
why we should now neglect or refuse to
perform this dutt more than before the war.
truth and righteousness are no less im
portant now than they were two years
A Christian is not at liberty to affiliate with
religious error because they who hold it are
united with himself in the great struggle for
political freedom. The State is one thing,
the Church another ai d very different thing.
We must take care that our love of country
doesnot swallow up our lute to Christ and
our zeal for the purity and perpetuitv of
His institutions.
I pray that I may have that wisdom and
that love which will lead me to contend
carae«/?jr for the faith once delivered to the
saints, yet kindly and humbly as one who
is conscious that Lehas more than uuce been
mistaken, and who attaches but little ini
purtane* to his declarations when he cannot
show fur them a “ Thus saith the Lord."
A. C. Day 1 ON.
Donation from Nisfnan.—The contri
| button to the Cherokee Indian fund, handed
in by brother Robinson and acknowledged
in uur last paper, w.as donated by the com
munity us Newnan generally ; $25 us the
' amount was given by the ‘Sappho Club,’ a
fine musical asstx iatum, the ladies compo
sing which will ever be held in grateful re
membrane* for the g.xxl achieved since our
, troublous times euininenevJ.
QcißY.—Who can give the Post-office
' address of William Mmett—■ a subscriber ) i
THE BAPTIST I’> A \ \ PT .
NEW SPELLING BOOK.
We have received from the publishers,
‘The Elementary Spelling Book, revised
and adapted to the wants of the Southern
Confederacy, interspersed with Bible lead
ings on domestic slavery; by Robert
Fleming.’
I'his hook is in all respects the same as
Webster’s, with additional lessons in spell
ing; it has the names of the Confederate
States, with their capitals, population, and
dates oi secession ; also, the names of men
' and women found in the New Testament,
with the. pronunciation accepted by Walker
i and Webster. Interspersed through the
; pages are Bible readings on the subject of
1 Slavery—full quotations, made without com
ment, thus grouping, in a convenient way,
an amount of valuable instruction suited to
adults as well as the rising generation.
Elder F ieming has, in our judgment, thus
made an excellent book (Webster’s) more
excellent. The typographical execution is
highly creditable to the Franklin Printing
House. ‘ Fleming’s ’ will certainly become
the standard Speller in this section; and
teachers and merchants would do well to
send their orders for it to the publishers,
| J. J. Toon As Co., Atlanta, Ga.
A HOME CATION.
We are indebted to Mr. H. W r . R. Jack
sun for a copy of his new publication, uac
hundred and twenty pages, ’'The
Southern Women of the Second American
Revolution.’
Criticism, in this instance, is disarmed.
The book before us is dedicated to Woman
—that dear ‘gift,’ last at the Cross and first
at the Tomb, foremost in aud inspirer of
every good work ; and the noble-hearted
compiler announces that twenty-five cents
from the proceeds of t-a<-h copy sold shall
be donated to establish and support, in this
i vicinity, a School for the Orphans of Sol
diers. T/tis of itself should securea large
sale for tlie book.
The price of the volume does not appear.
We would say to Mr. Jackson that the use
of our columns is cherfully tendered, free
of charge, in bringing this and his.other
works before the public. Let us all du
what we can for these orphans, the sons and
daughters of our martyred defenders.
■ THE BANNER FOR THE ARMY.
Elder Wood sends us thirty five dollars,
contributed by the Newnan Baptist Church
to send The Banner to our soldiers.
Elder A. E. Dickinson sends us seventv
five dollars, to pay for seventy-five copies
of The Hanner for three months, for the
Virginia. He adds :
“ I wisWe werfrmble to thous-
and The Banner for the soldiers
fin Virginia. It is eagerly sought for and
: perused with pleasure and profit. Can’t
| you induce some of your subscribers to
1 contribute two thousand dollars fur this
purpose ? I would not wonder if several of
them have not made double that much, clear
of expenses, since the opening of this year.
To what better purpose could they devote
a portion of it ? ”
AT WORK.
j
Elder B. F. Tharp, of Perry, Ga., is now
■ at Chattanooga, engaged in holding a series
jof meetings amongst our soldiers. An
j arbor has been erected, and arrangements
made for two services each day.
‘ This is an important movement, and by
Divine permission the writer expects to
join brother Tharp in a day or two. In the
meantime we earnestly request the prayers
i of our brethren, for our success in preaching
i the Gospel to our brave defenders. God
has ordained that by the foolishness of
i preaching they shall be saved \*ho believe,
and yet no good can be accomplished with-
I out the aid of His Spirit. Will not the pa
rents ano relatives of our soldiers pray the
Spirit to be with us I Surely, surely they
! will not forget us while we labor in the good
• cause. H. C. H.
WHAT OF THE WARf
Our community for a few days past has
been ‘ vibrating between hope and despair,’
' produced by the varied rumors attendant
I upon the convulsions of War. Croakers
j have been in clover. Beware of such !
The intelligence reaches us, from a relia
ble source, that the army of General Lee
instead of being ‘ r >uied,’ or* whipped,’ is
safe — that the Confederate successes have
l»een us tic most substantia! character, and
i at the present moment the daring leader of
( our army enjoys a secure and commanding
i position tor future operations.
Port Hudson, which the Yankees seem
. to consider ‘the great stronghold us the
. Mississippi,’ was surrendered to the Feder
i alists under Gen. Banks on the 9th instant,
with five thousand prisoners. The telegram
I says that previous to the surrender ‘ the last
mule had been devoured’ by our men.
The fight has commenced in earnest at
Jackson, Mississippi. Johnston’s whole
army was drawn up in line of battle inside
the entrenchments on theevening of the 9th,
since which the enemy has gradually been
increasing his attacks.
With regard to*the ‘situation’ at Charles
ton, the Yankees having got possession of
the southern half of Morris Island, the edi
: tor of the Mircnrg expresses the opinion
that there is but one way to save the city : 1
the speedy, unflinching use of the bayonet, j
This, he goes on to show, is the only course i
of safety, and, he adds, fur an economy of
lives. He believes it can easily be saved
with promptness, and energy, and dash.
From the published correspondence be
tween the President aud Vi.-e President, it j
has been ascertx r.ed that Mr. Stephens’ re
cent visit to the enemy’s lines wunui
' nvssion of humamtv, tv mitigate the horrors
of war, in the inode it is conducted by the
enemy. The Yankees refused to confer
j with him—Assigning a flimsy pretext about
form as an sicuse. Ou the head# of th* .'
enemy let the consequences fall.
HOW A CHRISTIAN SOLDIER DIED.
I have been looking in the papers for some further
notice of the death of that remarkable young man,
the Major of the 6th Alabama regiment, who fell
at Chancellorsville ; but Hie mourning- for t hat other
Christian hero, General Jackson, and the hurry and
excitement of the stirring events which have suc
ceeded the battle of C., seem to have vanished from
the minds of nun the memory of the less eminent
among the slain. Ido not propose to speak of the
military or personal character of Major Augustus
M. Gordon, but merely to tell of his death as an
illustration of the power of religion to give peace
i and joy T even in the most fearful cireuinstances.
! Major Gordon was a Christian---a humble and
trusting child of God. All his conduct and conversa
tion was of such a character as to impress those who
knew him best that he was a sincere and earnest
Christian. I have before me now a letter which he
wiote to his only sister, several months before hr
death. In this he says, “I sometimes feel that I
don’t want, a great deal, to live long in this world ;
particularly is this the case when I have more of
what I believe to be the Holy Spirit in my soul. —
‘I would not liv?alway, 1 ask not here to stay.’ —
Oh! Lord, bring me closer to Thee—may Ibe more
like Thee. May Ibe more a Christian. My sis,
pray for me often. Pray that I may be a Christian
in the true sense of the word. 1 have a stroqg hope,
and believe that, should I be carried away in some
battle before this war is ended, I should be carried
to Jesus’ bosom. 0! what a blessed and consoling
thought; what a preciou.- what a glorious hope I
Dwell in Jesus’ bosom! ” Iji another letter he said,
“It matleis so little what time we are called, if we
are prepared to meet that call in peaee; aud I do
feel, my dear parents, that if 1 should fall now, I
shuuld be carried to Jesus; uot because 1 deserve
It, hui because, through His wonderful love, He has
redeemed me.”
Such were the habitual out gushings of his young
and loving heart as written from the camp and the
battle-field to the dear ones at home.
He bad a strong presentiment before the battle in
which he fell that his time had come, and remarked
that he did uot expect to survive the conflict. He
wos so feeble from recent sickness that it is proba
ble that the excitement aud fatigue of the battle
field would have caused his death, even if he had
not been wounded, and the surgeon insisted that
be should no: go upou the field at al. He could
not, however, be dissuaded, aud, in the absence of
the superior officers, the command of the regiment
devolved upon him. His last words to the regiment
were “ Charge, my boys, charge," and right gallantly
were they obeyed. For though he who should have
led in the charge was stricken down just as he ut
tered the’command, his men, who loved him like a
brother, rushed on, aud made it one of the blood
iest charges of the war. He-was shot through tlie
chest with a ballas large .is a hen’s egg, yet, strange
to tell, he did not instantly expire. He walked to
the rear of his men and lay down, when Capt. Greeu,
of Opelika, and some others carried him back. He
desired to remain on the field, nut they jeured our
forces might fall back from tftat position and were
unwilling to leave him where his body might fall
into the bauds of the enemy. On hearing this lie
permitted them to bear him along till he felt that he
was dying. I cannot bet er describe his death than
by using the words of his brother, Brigadier General
Gordon, written some days alter to his parents :
“I wrote you the other day what were his last words
in front of his regiment, but they were not as I then
supposed, the last he uttered. After Captain Green
and some others took him up to carry’ him back he
talked a little, but very little. And what, my fa
ther, do you suppose were the last words upon his
dying lips ? Whose name do yon suppose the dear
boy pronounced last upon this earth? It was uot
mine, nor yours, nor Ma’.-, uor that of any member
M#our family ; it teas the ?iar/4 s,od
; to Captain Green, ’ Lay me down n w, Captain, for
lam dying—l am not afraid to die, Captain, for I
know lam going to be with niy Jesus; ’ and as he
said this his bright spirit left "him tor the bosom of
that Saviour whom he loved and trusted evut in the
hour of his death.”
Can we mourn when one goes to be with Christ,
which is far better than to remain in this cold, dark
vrorld of sorrow, bereavement and tears ? Yet our
I hearts will oleed. He was to young; only twenty
three summers had shone on his head. He was so
good, so beautiful in his early manhood, so noble,
so affe-tiouate, so happy In himself, and such an
inspirer of happiness In all around him. How
can we help but grieve? I loved him like a son;
; aud none who knew him failed to love him. Lord
, comfort the hearts of those who mourn for the
| slain in tuis cruel war.! Oh, Lord 1 how loug ? how
. long ? When shall sweet peace come down from
! Heaven and rest with us again? A. C. D.
[For The Baptist Banner.]
“ Vicksburg has Fallen,
Andi am afraid brother Compere will be captured
on his return with our goods for the suffering
Cherokees,” is the reasoning of some good people.
Well, iny brother, your fears may be realized; I
may be captured on Mississippi River, and with me
your goods. But do not let this fear hinder you a
| single day from sending youi contributions to At
i lama. While you are hesitating the Yam-ecs may
. rob your own homes, and thus convince you there
I is danger in Georgia as well as on Mississippi River
! You bad belter make a large loan to the Lord, by
i coutribuU.-:tr Liberally to the poor Cherokees. He
' can lake better care of your funds than you can.—
‘ It will be no trouble for Him, who gave a safe pas
sage through the Red Sea, to open up away over
the Mississippi River. Now the Federate have taken
Vicksburg, it is probable they will retire and leave
the whole valley more quiet than for mouths pa<t;
If so 1 shall be able to cross without much danger.
Even if the euemy remains, he cannot be every
where at onee, aud if he gets In my path perhaps I
can wait till he gets ou of it; or I can go n-uud
him. When I came over there wa- but one place
i where the river could be crossed from the fact that
! the entire swamp was overflowed, and yet I crossed
' at that place without much trouble. The water is
! gone now, and there are many places not held by
I the Yankee*.
I Are you going to wait till all risk of loss is re
' moved before you help the poor Cheerukees ?—lf
i so you will not help th. mat all; for many of them
must of necessity go to their graves if they are uot
relieved soon. Suppose your friends in the army
greatly need clothing and eannol possibly get U any
where, are you content to withhold and let them die
for want of it because there is some risk to run in
grtiiug it to them ? In the first place “the box
might be loat on the way,” secondly, “ the • nemy
may capture it,” thirdly, “ the Quartermaster to
whom ths clothes are consigned may give them to
somebody else or keep them himselt.” Would you
reason thus ? If so, we pity the one that takes you
; for a friend.
Please mark your goods to me, care of The Bap
tist Banner, Atlanta, and send them Immediately—
before some raid breaks up communication, and I
will spare no effort to carry your gifts to the poor
Chervkeea.
E. L. COMPERE
“ The Sovereignty of God" is the theme
i tube discussed by the pastor at the First
Baptist Church to murruw morning at ’he
I regular hour for preaching. The discourse
will be a doctrinal one, and those whoinsy
i hitherto have been puzzled in regard to the
| subject of “Election,” would do well to be
j attentive listeners.
The South Carolina Baptist State Con
vention will meet at Darlington, ou Friday
next. It we are to be disappointed in meet
ing uur Palmetto brethren on that occasion,
we hope our go>d brother Mayfield will
oblige us with a sketch of the proceedings
The Trustees of one of the Female
Colleges of this State wish to find a suita
ble person fur President—a g.»od place
offered. For particulars apply at this
ufioe.
PRAYER.
At the hour of five o’clock on Monday :
afternoon, at the City Hall, those who have :
faith in the promises of God are invited to
assemble for the purposeof supplicating the
God ofNations in behalf of our afflicted land.
On this occasion the spacious hall should
be entirely filled. It trill be, it the profess- 1
ed followers of Christ in Atlanta are sincere
in their professions.
Christian fellow-citizen, do joii realize
•the responsibility devolving upon you in
’this matter? Have you indeed and in truth
been ‘ born again,’or are you resting under
a fataidelusion? Do you believe in yoiir
heart that God reigns—that He who is
cognizant of the sparrow's fall also watches
the actions of empires—that His ear is ever
open to the cries of those who have been
ransomed by the blood of His dear Son ?
Have you that faith without which it is ini- i
possible to please God ? Oh, think of this ; i
decide the question at once. If you can
place your hand upon your heart and say,
‘ Lord, J believe ! ’ go, we implore you, to
the place of prayer ; test the promise of
your blessed Redeemer, and show to again
saying world that there is reality in the
religion you profess.
[Juz- The, Baptist Bann a]
Coosa-District llectiiig.
Coosa, Ga., J une I*l, 1860.
Brother Ells : The Ministers and Dea
cons’ Meeting of the Ist district, Coosa .
Association, held its annual meeting with
Pisgah Church on the 3d, 4th, and sth ot
this month. The at.ten .Lmce of Ministers
' very small.
The following is the report of the com
mittee <>n business for the next annual meet
ing, w hich is to be held with the Bush Arbor
• Church, commencing on Saturday before
the second Sabbath in August 1864:
Elder J. F. Swanson to preach Introduc
tory, on the subject of the Future luheri
-1 tance of the Saints.
D. W. Gwin, essay, Family Religion.
D. B. Hamilton, essay, the Nature and
, Extent of the Atonement.
, J. VV. Pullen, essay, Obligation of Church
, members one to another.
, Deacon M. G. Garner, essay, Deaconship.
• Elder W. C. Hend icks, Duty of Church
members to their Pastor.
: S. G. Hillyer (C. B. Martin alternate),
I essay, Infant Salvation.
’ The business of the meeting was closed
on Saturday evening. Religious service
( closed on Sunday evening. Good feeling
prevailed throughout the meeting.
. Brother Compere'yvas present; preached
! at 11 o’clock <>n Sunday,and at the close of
L his sermon he gave a) brief account of the
. destitution of some ofVhe native Cherokee
Indians. No was taken, but I
i am happy to say that Tie ladies of the vi
cinity, without regard to jdenomiuation, met
on Monday evening a n<y organized a Relief
Society to aid this spAeial purpose. Coii
trihutioffs of y—ttee-ee+w
coming in, which willJbe forwarded to your
office the last of thisjnveeki Yours,
N. mRBROUGH, Secretary.
Banner.]
The Good W®rk Progressing.
Richmond, (Ya., July 11, 1863.
Dear Brother EUs : L
I send you extracts mom two interesting
letters, one from Rev. /v. Broaddus, who is
J laboring as General Evangelist in the Vir-
• gima army, in our emlploy, and the other
; from the Rev. Josephs E. Carter, Rome,
[ Ga. The blessing ofjd>b Lord is manifestly
: upon these laborer6~and upon tiiei: work. —
Please insert the accompany ing.
i : Yours. &e,,
\ A. E. DICKINSON,
Gen. Sup’t, Ac.
'
One week ago, to day, I came to the en
campment oi tiie 26th Virginia regiment,
General Wise’s brigade, and have been as
sisting the Chaplain, Elder Win. E Wiatt, i
ever since, in a protracted meeting. Bro
ther Geo. F. Bagby, Colporteur, has also
been fully enlisted with us in the exercises.
On my arrival 1 found that, through the la
bors of brother Wiatt, there were evident
i indications of an approaching revival of
religion. We have met, regularly, three
times a day ; twice for preaching, and once
for prayer, confession and exhortation.—
The chapel has been well filled and fre
quently crowded with attentive hearers of |
the Word. Already some nine on ten have i
professed Conversion; while several, who i
had forsaken their first love, have returned :
with weeping and rejoicing to the Lord’s
vineyard. To-night there was evidently '
more of the presence and power of God 1
manifested than on any former occasion.-
We confidently look for many others, ere ■
the close of our meeting, to become “obe
dient to the faith.’’
From the General Association 1 went |
with brother C. C. Ch iplin to Danville, and •
during a period of ten days I preached the i
Gospel to soldiers in the ho-pital ; not, I
trust without good results. A number
bowed in the congregation for prayer, who, I
I sincerely hope, have found, or may find i
mercy of the Lord.
A. BROADDUS. .
1 have been laboring, in connection with I
the Virginia Baptist Sunday School and j
Publication Board, since the 19th ultimo, in !
i the hospitals at this post, and am happy to
say that, during this period, 1 can report !
' progress in the good work of our great I
Captain. During the month ending 19th
i June, I have distributed 9 500 pages of
' tracts, 250 religious papers, and 53 Te. ta
j meats. I have preached in the different
' hospitals seven times, and find that the re
’ suLs of the various means combined show
a great seriousness among the soldiers, ai;d
considerable penitence among the hard-heart
ed ; while, among the many asking our
prayers, three have professed a hope in
j Christ. ’I hank God for this much, as an
I earnest of what He will do in blessing faith
j ful labors in this vineyard.
Several times have I been Called to the
bed of the sick and dying, and as often
have 1 heard the words “Pray for me” from
the feeble lips of some mother’s darling boy,
or wife’s devoted husband. Gue soldier
friend called to me as 1 passed through his
ward, to know if he could buy a Testament.
Taking one from my pocket, 1 handed it to
him, ami seated myself on his bedside to
j see the exercises of his mind. Nut more
tf.au a word was spoken after he look the
b<H>k before the full, burning tear filled his
eye, and as he looked through the tear that
broke and furrowed his flushed cheek, he I
exhibited the linage of Jesus. Hespokeof <
the ones far away, and the tear dtied aa he
said, “ Je»us is luy ouly hope.” ;
J. E. CARTER i
.1. S. MUIiRO%V.
We have seen a letter written by Elder
; Marrow, the Missionary sent out by Reho
bo'h Association, received recently by
brother Tharp—dated Seminole Agency,
22d April. From it we are pained to learn
that Mrs. Murrow is in wretched health;
j her constitution does not seem equal to the
| trials she is compelled to undergo,
j We give a few extracts from the letter:
i “The Lord is working a good work in
> the hearts of my friends, the Seiniuoles.-r
I enjoyed the precious privilege of baptizing
ten happy souls for our Master, a few days
since. There is a general and deep feelipg
of inquiry pervading the Nation. Soldiery,
citizens, all, all are inquiring—-old and
young, all seem much concerned. And
what is better, there is no excitement; ’tis
the Spirit ofGod working.
“My other business [feeding, for the
Government, some twelve, hundred Indian
j women and children daily] takes up moat
, of my lime. Ido not devote as much time
I to prayer, talking and preaching as I ought;
but y et, thanks be to God, I never felt near
er to Heaven in my life—-I never loved the
world less, and was so perfectly resigned to
the will ofGod, as during the last four or
five months ; and I believe such is the ex
perience of nearly all Christians about here.
May God have mercy on all our souls, and
help us to drink more f reely of the water of
life.” [.l?zte« /
Hur Army Correspondence.
Camp Near Chattanooga, i
Julv 15, 1863. )
Brother Editor:
Your readers are a ware that the army of Gen
eral Bragg has fallen back to the south side of
the Tennessee River. This is variously’ ac
counted for by many, and regretted by all. Some
ot our editors consider it vastly beneficial to our
cause; a great rflrategeiia movement, &c. But
where can the benefit be? Is there any’ benefit
to our cause in giving up such a section of
country as that from which our troops have just
departed, extending about one hundred miles
into the fertile disti icts of Tennessee T It is said
that General Bragg had positive orders not to
hazard a battle ontheuoith side of the Ten
nessee River. Grant that to be true, and even
then, it does not justify the falling back. From
all that 1 can gather in this quarter relative to
the retreat, I am satisfied that there was culpa
negligence somewhere. The whole matter
resulted from tie disaster of losing Hoover’s
Gap. The Union women around there knew
when the attack was to be made, and on that
very day invited the officers to a big dinner;
and w hen the alia k was macle they were drunk
on the wine prepared tor them by these false
Dalilahs. So, of course, the enemy being pre
pared for it, took the Gap on the first effort, and
caused all lhe attendant disasters.
I have learned that a retreat is little better
than a defeat. Men are broken down, left on the
road, deceit; horses are killed, skinned, crip-<
pled, broken down and destroyed; wagons,
caisons, ordinance are scattered along the way ;
and disaster follows upon disaster. B it the men
ot lliis army boast of the ability with which
General Bragg cun conduct a retreat; they say
he cun run finely ; but as to his ability to per
form the other duties of a great General they
are doubtful. And he certainly has good reasons
for being universally unpopular with his army.
The result ot thingsnow is that our men are on
half rations. They get three-fourths of a pound
ot poor beef, or one tnird of a pound.ot worse
l”' 1 ' i tl>e bacon they day in
lhe week. It it were not lor lhe chance they
now have of purchasing some little things with
their money they would almost suffer. ' I find
men here whom I know at home equal in every
respect to their commanders, living in this wav;
: and they do it only from love of country.
■ All are conjecturing as to the object of Rose
| encranz. But it is now thought that be will go
i towards Knoxville; still he keeps up appear
t nces here. Yesterday abom five thousand
Yankees came down to Bridgeport. Our pickets
talked with them, and they passed some com
pliments and some curses across the river.
It is evident to the most superficial thinker
that this must be our line ot defence as long as
possible. If we fall back below this, we can't
keep the enemy out of lhe very heart of the
Confederacy.
The piospects of the Confederacy are gloomy.
Our enemy are crowding us on every side. But
we must show ourselves men, and fight to*the
| death. Aud above ail, my de ir brother Editor,
\ impress it upon your readers to continue in
| prayer to God for His blessing upon lhe cause
j of our country. I fear He is forsaking us. In
' Him is our trust.
COLPORTEUR.
[jbr The Baptist Bantier.]
Catechism.
Oom piled from Writing* in the Christian Jndex
and other high Authorities.
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. To glorify God.
Q. What then is the duty of man ?
A. To do all he can to glorify God.
Q. What is the design of Conventions 1
A. To enable men to fulfil their chief euj.
Q. Then what do bWthren go to Conven
, tions for ?
A. Doubtless to glorify God.
Q. How oo they do this?
A. By going home as soon as possible,
Q. Why don’t they go home at once?
i A. They can’t leave till the business is
■ done.
, Q. Do allstay till the business is fipished?
A. No. Many leave before.
Q. Why?
i A. They glorify God so fast that it Is not
worth while to stay longer.
Q. What is the business of the Conveh
| tion ?
A. El rsZ to organize; Secondly to make
i arrangements for next meeting.
Q. What did they do this year?
A. Organized and made arrangements
( for next year.
.* Q. What will they do next year ?
A. Organize and make arr ahgements for
the year following.
i Q. Which are the most useful meetings
, of the Convention ?
A. I hose in which th<- business is soonest ■
I done? I
Q. What is the chu-f duty of the mod- '
I erator ?
A. Io put the business through.
Q. W hat are the chief merits of a report?
-1. Eirst t<» be short; Secondly to have
nothing debatable in it.
<9. W hat is the duty of the members ?
A. To pnoimtc the usefulness of the (Con
vention.
Q. How can they Jo this?
A. Bv helping to put the business thro’.
Q. \\ hy are the membeis so happy when
they break up?
A 1 ney feel that they have glorified God ,
enough to la-t till next year.
Bjuhi 11, ] July, 18C3. PEDRILLO.
A pious old man was one day walking to j
the sanctuary with a New Testament in his
hand when a friend who he met said ;
“Good morning, Mr. Price.”
“Ah’ good morning,” replied he, “I am '
reading my lather's will as I walk along.” I
“Well, what has he left y>»u ? ” said his ;
friend.
‘ W hy, he has bequeathed me a hundred
fold more in this lite; and in the world to
come, life everlasting.”
k waa a word m season; his Christian !
friend was iu circumstances of affliction, but j
went home ooxnfurtad.
[/'<w77/- Baptist Sunni
Letter from the North.
I J/r. Editor:
iVs many of your readers will be iuter
| esied in hearitig words of sympathy and
i encouragement from the land of the enemy,
I send you some extracts from a letter just
received,(via. Nassau,) dated New York,
April 24, 1863. J'he writer is a younir
married woman, born and bred in’ New
England, and having pp<*nt a few’ weeks in
the South, some years ago.
Jlctir S:
W e received your letter a few days ago,
with dates as late as March 27. It had been
so lung since we had heard from you, that
everything told us was new, and we were
surprised to hear of all that had taken
place.
Your letter was very gratifying, and it
was a great pleasure to ascertain that you
were all as comfortable as you represent,
and that you are doing so well. We think
of you constantly, ail-1 Tave written when
ever we have had ’a“chance; but I suppose
the letters have nuUgot through. * *
\V e attended an auction sale of pictures
the other day, and, strange to say, the
Southern pictures sold best of a'l, and were
greatly admired. So, you see, there are
I people of taste left here, in spite of Lin-
I coin’s war.
We see C. occasionally, though not as
j often as before this dreadful war. We have
i no sympathies in about it ; and
. though he is opposed to the Administration
' aud the abolitionists, he believes in a vigor
: ous prosei utioui of the war, and that you
; rebels have got to come back—while I have
I such an utter detestation of the entire North
that we cannot agree; so we say as little
about it as possible.
Next Thursday is Lincoln’s fast day—
which we hope to make the occasion of
a public thanksgiving for all the successes
of the South. How brave aud g'.orious
you Southerners are I foiling these Yankees
al every point, until defeat is the only word
' they know. I never own myself a Noth
ern< r, and only wish that 1 could help you
all with my hands as I do with my lieart;
not that my hands have been idle, either.—
1 A little circle of us have made up hundreds
‘ —1 might almost say thousands—of gar
. inerts which have safely reached lhe Uon-
• federate prisoners; and thousands of dollars
> have gone to purchase necessaries for them
from our friends. 1 have collected, myself,
great quantities of garments which 1 know
■ have gone South on their backs—and last
> summer we had the pleasure of distributing
• with our own hands clothes, food and del.
icaeies, to the prisoners taken in the battles
. before Richmond, who were long ago ex-
• changed.
Our acquaintances, for the last two years,
- have been principally Southerners and Eng
' lish people; lull you are allowed to speak
! a good word fi r the South now without the
fear of Fort. LaFayette before you. There
1 are a gnat, many Southern sympathizers
here—our boarding house is full of them.
We are with a family of Virginians, and we
have had parties this winter with our parlors
hung with Confederate flags. “ Dixie” and
the “Bonnie Blue Flag” are cur songs,and
rt-J and white uueSrktes. Not having anv
victories to eclvbrate,4he people here have
commenced on the defeats; so the capture.
<>i I'ort Sumter, and the Baltimore riot,
• had the due complement of cannons firing
, and flags flying, to notif, the people of the
, commemoration of those events. Are
• they not magnanimous ? And when “Bull
Run” conies round, what a time we shall
] see!
lhe next time you write, A. wants you
to tell us about the crops—if they arc good
—and about the manufactories. The papers
here would make us believe t hat you are all
starving; but your letter quite satisfies us
on that score. Lincoln’s greenbacks are
abundant here; but everything is dear—cot
ton goods, and provisions, especially. Give
our dearest love to all the family.
\Ve go to an Episcopal church, now,
having found one where they don’t preach
war and negroes. Our church has acted
shamefully about this war; and I think the
Baptist ministers have tried to out-so each
other in calling down vengeance on the
South. lam glad you have Dr. B. 1 never
saw him, but, of course, have heard a great
deal about him.
Now* do write, as soon as you can, again,
e never hear from you except when you
write, unless through vague reports, that
we know not whether to believe or not.—
A. joins me in love to you, and 1 am, as
ever, Yours very affectionately,
MARY.
[For t‘ie Bapt et Banner.]
An Appeal for ilie Sulicrlng.
The readers of Banner have been
apprised of the visit of E. L. Compere to
Georgia, and of his statement of facts re
garding the extreme sufferings of the fami
lies of the Southern Cherokee Indians and
frontier settlers—many of whom have been
robbed of everything, and driven from
their homes, by our common enemy, and
have to follow the army to keep from
starving. In view of these sufferings, the
Executive Committee of the Cherokee, Ga.,
Baptist Convention approve of the appeals
of Rev. E. L. Compere to get material
aid for thtir relief. Will not. our brethren,
sisters aud friends in Georgia do something
liberally for this cause, and send their con
tributions as soon as possible to The Banner
offiee, Atlanta, Ga.
After a few weeks srjourn with us, bro
i ther Compere will take charge of these
■ gifts and distribute them when he gets to
. his field of labors.
J. M. WOOD, Ch. |
A. B. ROSS,
D. B. HAMILTON, I Corn. Ch. B. C.
A. J KING.
A. \V. BUFORD. )
I-Tliit Itivcr Association.
Thegem.-ral meeting for the Second Dis
trict of this Association will h->ld its next
annual session with the church at Jackson,
Butts county, Ga., commencing on Friday
before the fourth Sabbath in Julv. 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 Spbairs.
Rchoboth AMoclation.
Meets with Union church in Macon coun
ty (three miles from Reynolds, on Colum
bus road), embracing third Sabbath in
September.
General Hood is reported to have said
that if | w were a belting man, he would
•lake all that he is worth tjiut peace would
be made by Christmas. General Longstreet
evidently entertained the same opinion, as
one might infer from his recent order ex
horting men and officers to a faithful and
rigid diachaige us ibeir duties as tending to
bring about a speedy peace.