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About The Baptist banner. (Atlanta, Ga.) 186?-1??? | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 1863)
Our' Richmond Correspondence. RICHMOND, Va.,'Nov. 13, 1863, Dear Banner .—lzaak Walton tells us, in his “ Complete Angler,” as. his ..first direc tion for fishing for carp, “ that we must put on a very large measure of patience I And if all accounts be true which have come down to us of the domesticjife of the Gre cian Socrates, his wife put him in need of very muchjhe same sort of virtue. A large share of it is doubtless required now for the peaceful reading bf£ the secular papers in their strictures on the President. What do these brave carpet knigtsknow about war? what battles have they fought and won ? what successful strategems have they form ed ? what signal achievements of arms have< they executed? I doubt not they are all i honorable menfmean well to the Confede racy, think it in great peril their counsels are unheeded; but they should not get angry and rave at the President, and call him an obstinate, headstrong fel low, because he follows his own counsel and thinks he knows better than they do. He does know better; and it argues no overconceit of hts own powers, or under estimate of theirs, if he should venture to act as if he thought he knew better. “ We, the pebple,” chose Jefferson Davis, and not the daily press,|as our President; and Jef* ferson Davis would be recreant to his trust, faithless to his pledges, if he did not him self exercise the office, and should quietly, passively, hand it over to the editors of the newspapers. Fancy those editorial critics at the head of affairs’. What a cabinet they would select! How rare their intel ligence! how extended the range of their acquirements, and how varied and magnifi cent their powers’ Would they ever be able to concentrate their votes on the happy Five who should fill the chief offices of the country ? Surely they would not find wis-i dom enough in the entire Confederacy (al ways excepting themselves) to fill worthily the high and responsible positions of cabinet appointments. But, jesting apart, I ask hi all earnestness and sincerity, does it not approach to the ridiculous to hear the criticisms and com plaints that teem in the columns of the daily journals on the course of the President ? If these were strictures on his conduct in civil matters, ifthey concerned affairs with which the writers are presumed to be acquainted, there might be little occasion for comment; but when t hey affect the planning of a cam paign, the mustering and concentration of troops, the manoeuvres of au army, we can not help thinking, and sometimes saying, these gentlemen have forgotten their busi ness—they would do well if they would “stick to their lasts.” Yon should come, to the capital of the C>nfederacy to see the officers! They are abundant. They flow down and float up the streets in bevies of three or four at a time, with enormous gold lace on their coat sleeves, and broad rims down their pants. Some have a star or two or three on their coat collars. There seems to be no end of them Pray what are they doing here?—• There is no chance (it is to be hoped) of a Yankee street fight in Richmond, and if there were, I am sura t here is not a brigade of privates in the city, and less than a bri gade would not suffice to give each Colonel, and Major, and Captain, and Lieutenant, regiments, companies and squads according to their rank. I cannot believe that South ern officers would shirk duty, and 1 must tittribute this great inflow of officials to the. fact of extraordinary demands upon them requiring their presence here. Some of Mdumi have business with the departments; others, perhaps, have taken a short trip to the city to look idler their friends; and others, again, are »/» transitu to their homes to gladden again with their presence the loved ones they have been parted from so long. But, lifter making all these de ductions, there are doubtless here many who ought to be awa\, and their presence ought iVt to be encouraged. They ought to be sent to their commands. We ate not so much overcrowded with private soldiers. Poor fellows, they rarely get a chance to leave eamp, and when they do, they goto their homes immediately. Ii wish most sincerely that mure of them Knild bo allowed the privilege—hut*there is no complaint amongst them. They know how much is defMmdent upon their ooutit- presence in camp, and they have made up their minds to do their whole dut% I . was conversing not long ago with some of ’hem, and th*y all declared it was their ' purpose to remain in the army until the war< w 'ss over—that they knew how to fight, and I 'hough they had no especial passion for arms, they did not desire to leave their comrades or lay aside their armor until the ohj.vt of their hearts was secured.l Others might be willing to do *»; but for themselves, they would never forsake the standard ot their country until our independence was secured. Such noble' ntnnvnts as these, uttered by ineu who 1 THE BAPTIST BANNER had endured the toils of war, are enough to stir the blood and fire the hearts of the cold est and most lukewarm and indifferent of our citizens, and I rejoice to have an oppor tunity to circulate them. They may serve to animate others like devotion in a cause-only less holy than that of Christi anity. The war has created not a few changes in the condition of the capital of the Confederacy. We were formerly a well to do, easy, jog-trot sort of city, quiet as quietness itself, and having just growth enough to keep us from stagnation. A delightful privilege was it then to breathe the air and walk the streets of the old city Richmond. But Richmond has put on' a new face since then. Throngs of citizens ■ and refugees, of officials and subalterns, of terks in the departments and recently im ported venders of dry goods, pass and re pass each other on the streets, and there is everywhere the stir and animation of a large and numerous population—the more stirring because their entrance has been so sudden I and unexpected. We have grown in num ber more than in excellencies I fear. For the criminal calendar is increasing beyond a just proportion, and the quiet, staid old city is fast becoming the centre of corrup tion and of crime. Heaven grant that the evil may be stayed ! There is a prospect just now of its being: stayed. The churches are unusually active. | There are revivals in several parts of the; city, and religious men are awakened to a i degree 1 have not seen before since the great! revival of 1842. These tokens for good are,; I trust, but the harbingers of a more gra cious display of God’s mercy in the conver sion of hundreds. In the Baptist churches,; thus far, more than fifty have been bap tized, and to-night in the Grace street Bap tist church there will be a large addition by i i baptism. On Sabbath, at the First Baptist 'church, thero will be several more. The; Rev. Richard 11. Bagby has been helping; Dr. Burrbws at the Ist church, and at the' Grace street, the Rev. A. E. Dickinson has; been rendering efficient aid to the minister,: Dr. Jeter. Dr. Seely, of the 2d church, commences a meeting to-night. Brother Solomon, of Leigh street, commenced one Sunday night last. In the publishing department Richmond is being aroused. We have two weeklies, the Magnolia and the Illustrated News, start ed since the war began. They are quite equal to the ledger, and are deserving of popular support. Their moral tone is I healthful, and may be safely introduced into’ the family. Some of our beat writers are! regular contributors to them both. The want of school books has been se-j verely felt, and there is to be a meeting of Teachers this afternoon to take into consid eration the best method of securing proper works George L. Bedgood, of this city, has done somewhat towards supplying the demand, in the republication of Smith’s Grammar, and in the “Confederate Spelling Book,” which is really an excellent little book- There is ample room for more en terprize in this humble, yet useful depart-; ment. Observer. - ■ '—— • - ■ Privileges of Hie Sabbath. The Sabbath is the day when you may sit down to the Bible without fear of distur bance. It is the day when, with our sinless progenitors, you may take the tour of para dise, and listen to the anthems of a newly created world ; it is the day, when, along side of £nodh, you may feed the flame of devotion. and try to divine the wonder,and • imbibe the ardor of a walk with God. It is the day when, according to your various, ' moods, you may mourn with Abraham at Macphola, or meditate with Isaac in the • fields of Mamre, or go down into Egypt to view Joseph in all his glory. It is the day’ when you may bid Jacob’s star twinkle: anew, and Zachariah’s fountain to flow amain. It is the day when you may fill your ear with draughts of David’s sounding lyre, or let your spirit ride aloft on Ezekiel’s fly-’ ing wheels. It is the day when you may j take a pleasant walk to Bethany or Em maus, or, as a fourth disciple, ascend Tabor with Peter, James, and John. It is the days when, with Mary, you im.y clasp that cross that quivers no longer, and look up to those ; pale and painless lips, abieh never need; repeat, “It is finished.” and gaze on that countenance, in death so divine, and beneath its thorny crown,so blissful and benign,till it, says to you, “Be of good cheer, thy sinsare forgiven.” It is the day when in the upper chamber, you may listen to the sermon of Paul, or go a pilgrim to Patmos along with [the beloved disciple John again. Truk Courage.— Tis not alone in the , hour of triumph that a nation exhibits true; I greatness. When reverses overtake its arms, and fortune seems to frown; when ; faint hearts despond, and fiekle friends de sert; then it is that a nation's courage i shines most brightly. W hen it is actuated j from principle, and not by impulse—nerved { by love of liberty, and nut by the 4miles ofi furtune ; when its heart grows braver, andj ■ its arm stronger, as the prospect darkens— i this is true greatness. There was a greater display of sublime courage by the marshal | ing of our hosts tor the conflict after our sad i reverses in the spring of ’O2, than in our Iglorious victory on the plains of Manassas. I [Co/amiws Saa ’ Once More Mr. 11. W. R. Jackson has just returned from Richmond, and other portions of Vir ginia, and stepped into our office and de* 1 posited two hundred dollars more to ward the fund for in our midst a Free School for the Orphans of ; Confederate Soldiers. This makes eight i hundred and seventy-five dollars donated by Mr. Jackson, from per centageon the sale of j his books. When shall we have to acknowledge do- ■ nations from other citizens in behalf of this I praiseworthy enterprise ? [For The Baptist Banner.} Ordinations. MONROfI COUNTY, Ga., Sept. 21,1863. Dear Banner:— Our church at Salem has just closed a most interesting meeting. At our last meeting the church called our much esteemed brother, N. A. Hornady to ordination for the work of the Gospel ministry. By request of the church, the I presbytery invited met on Friday last, and !in connection with the church, proceeded to the work assigned them. Elder 11. C. Hornady preached the sermon; examina tion and charge, by Elder W. C. Wilkes; prayer, by the pastor, Elder P. A. Lawson ; right hand of fellowship, by Elder M. D. ; Garr, followed by the presbytery and church. We, as a church, can recommend j brother Hornady to the brethren as a man 'oftalents and piety. Most fraternally, ’ F. BUCKNER, Cl’k. ROCKY CREEK, Jasper County, Ga., I Nov. 10, 1863. [ Dear Banner:— The Baptist church at Rocky Creek, at her last conference, called our much loved and pious young brother, . Joseph L. Whittle, to the ordination of the Gospel ministry. By a vote of the church, a presbytery was requested to meet with I said church on last Sabbath. The exercises were as follows: Sermon and examina ! tion, by Elder W. G. McMichael; prayer, by the pastor, Elder P. A. Lhumhi ; charge, ’Ac., by Elder John Goodman. Most fraternally, Wm. A. AARON, (.Tk. [ #*ar Baptist Banner. 1 ItllMslonary’a Report. LAKE CITY, Fla, Nov. 12, 1833. ! To the Members of the Executive Committee of the Friendship Association, Georgia: Dear Brethren : As the members of your Com-! nilttee are somewhat scattered, I take the liberty ; to make my report to your body through the col. : umns, respectively, of The Banner and the Index. ■ I left your Association much cheered in spirit I by the brotherly feeling manifested towards each ' other by its members, and by the very liberal con- ■ tributions made for army missions, (I think about S3,ooo—very good for an Association that is only I about five years old, numbers only twenty-six i churches, and is also sustaining a native missiona ry among the Indians.) I had to remain a day in Savannah, as the cars on the Central and the Gulf Roads do not connect—a thing to be deplored by the travelling public. On Thursday I visited Major Anderson’s cavalry battalion in Bryan county, nnd intended returning to Savannah on Saturday, and preaching on the Lord’s day, to Colonel Anderson’s regiment of cavalry on the Isle of Hope, but changed my purpose for reasons which will be I stated. CAMP LEE, BRYAN COUNTY. As soon as I arrived in camp and put down my ! packages of tracts aud books, the soldiers came j crowding around me, to see what I had brought for ; them; aud many were the inquiries, “ Have you any Testaments ? ” Ono young man seemed much grieved when I answered the inquiry in the nega tive. He told me he had obtained one from me at one of my former visits, but some one had stolen it from him. It is to be hoped the thief will read it and “ steal >.o more, but rather labor with his bands that he may have to give to him that need- ' eth.” I distributed tracts, hymn-books and camp hymns, nnd preached at night to a large and atten- ; live congregation of soldiers arouad a camp Arc. ( Learning that Piedmont Association was to meet on Saturday, about eight miles from No. 6, Gulf ' Road—that conveyances would'be there on Friday 1 j for visitors, aud that some of the soldiers of this ( battalion (many of whom were from that section of country) expected to attend, and, moreover, suf fering greatly from a diseased tooth, which unfitted ’ me for preaching profitably in camp, I determined | to leave on Friday for the Association, instead of ( returning to Savannah, and did so. PIEDMONT ASSOCIATION. This body is composed mostly of feeble churches I gathered among the pine-woods of Southwestern , Georgia. The introductory sermon was preached i , by Rev. Moses Westbury, the oldest Baptist minis ter, I presume, in the South. He is ninety years j iof age, has been preaching sixty years, and telle .me he went to school to my step-father. I had oft- i |en heard of him in roy youth, but never before met with him. He bids fair to live to preach yet 1 many ye ars. At this Association I received con- 1 ■ tributions for tracts for soldiers, etc., to the amount i of 110,15; and for the sick and wounded, in the ! hospitals at Atlanta, $10,25. The latter amount was turned over to ourslster, the widowed relict of ' ' our late brother, Col. Williams, who died in Mont gomery, Ala., of a disease incurred in camp. The suffering from my tooth increasing, I left on Mon-' day tnorniug before the Association adjourned ;* re turned home : hail the/offendlng tooth extracted;! lay by two days, and started for the Florida Asso- ■ ciation, which met on the third Sabbath in Novem bar. Here 1 exerted my feeble efforts in behalf of missions generally, and in behalf of army missions in particular. As to the effect of these efforts, I leave It to be disclosed in eternity. CAMP FINNROAM, FLA. On Monday I proceeded on my way to this camp,* aud spent the fourth Sabbath in iL 1 preached at ' nights, and began to preach on the Sabbath; bat a shower came up aud broke up our meeting before I got into the merits of my subject. I preached to an infantry battalion aud to a portion of a cavalry I company, and was to have preached to an artillery company, but a mnrderons affair occurred to pre ’ vent it. A lieutenant of the company had boarded 1 bis family with an ex-captain of cavalry. They quar- 1 reled about board. The lieutenant went up to Lake I. City. The ex-captain went up after him on Friday night, in a hand-car. and shot him through the heart ’ on Saturday morning, just before day, instantly kil - ling him of course. His trial is now progressing before the Superior Court, which is in session in this town. I was to have preached to the artillery company on Saturday night, but all of the company except a small squad (to serve as guard), were al ; lowed to come up to this placa to attend the fune , ral of their lieutenant. On Monday, I came up to Lake City,.and continued daily laboring in the hos ‘ pital, and with a company encamped in this vicini- ty, for eight days. Labors in the hospital I consid er not less important than labors in the camp. On my last farewell visit, as I aproached the bunk of one wasting under disease, he said to me, while the tears rolled in streams down his cheeks, “ My dear old friend, Ido love to see you; for I always feeb when you are here, that God is'near me.” I endea vored to impress the truth upon his mind that God was always present with those who put their trust in Him, and to awaken gratitude in him to that merci ful God, who had put it into the harts of His people to send me to visit him. I narrate this little circum stance to show that the visits of the missionary to the sick are appreciated by them. CAMP COOPER, FLA. This Camp is located within eight or ten miles of Fernandina, where the Yankees are securely en trenched. The booming of their cannon may occa sionally be heard in camp. There are three several encampments at this place. It may not be prudent to speak more definitely of them. I paid them my first visit last weekend remained with them one week, preaching every night to large and attentive congregations. On the third night I invited up those who were desirous of securing the salvation of their souls, and would have us to unite with their petitions of mercy. Aco nsiderable number came forward. The invitation was renewed every night afterwards, without any diminution in numbers or interest. Officers and men came and bowed toge ther for prayer, regardless of what others might say or think of them. Whether any were led to indulge a hope or not, I cannot say, as I adopted no measure to test that fact. Two things greatly encouraged me on my first ar rival in camp. The first was, to find that they had erected a sort of tabernacle in the wilderness for the worship of God—a large shed With an angular roof covered with clapboards, (split boards) and fenced around with poles to keep cattle from seeking shejj ter under it. The seats were made of flattened logs. A stand, covered with earth, was reared near one corner, on which bright lightwood fires were kin dled every night of our meeting, and which super seded the necessity for candles or a lamp. A light wood tire was also kindled on the opposite side on the ground. The second thing that encouraged me was the coming forward of two or three Baptist brethren who made themselves known to me as such. In other camps Baptist brethren have failed to do this. Another thing with which I subse quently became acquainted also further encouraged me. It was, to learn that all of the commanders : are professors of religion. One of them is an ; Episcopalian, but he attended our meetings regu larly, appeared attentive and duly solemn, ai>d i made a pecuniary contribution to aid in procuring ■ tracts for soldiers. Speaking of contributions reminds me that I ■ ought to acknowledge gratefully, aud place upon record, the fact that I received from officers and i men at this camp,without solid ation,voluntary of-1 i ferings to the amount of $105,50, to aid in procuring ' i tracts for thesoldiers. Os this amount $lO was given ■ ; me by one of the men on the cars yesterday, as we J were receding from the camp. He observed, “some j say it is throwing away money to lay it out in tracts —that the soldiers will not read them, but will tear them up or throw them away. I once thought so too; but I know better now. I was out the first night jou lectured and distributed trai ts. The next day I saw the soldiers reading them in every tent, and when they g >t through theirs, they would ex change them with oihero for their tracts. I was sent out on picket duty, and I saw a soldier at the depot, deeply absorbed in reading one of your tracts, while the tears rolled down his face.” I have mueh more of interest I would like to write, but time and paper fail me. Brethren, your contributions are not thrown away, nor are your i prayers offered in vain. Continue unceasingly your " labor of love, and your heavenly Father will most . surely grant you au ample reward in the world of glory, if not in thia. Forget, not to pray, day by i day, for your missionary and brother in Christ, JOS. 8. BAKER. P. S. I expect io leave tomorrow for Middle Florida. I arrived hero last night from Camp i Cooper. J. S. B. >dcorglu Relief and Hospital Asso ciation. The Board of Directors of this Associa tion assembled at Augusta on the 28th ult. 1 The Committee on the Annual Report, of which Rt. Rev. Stephen Elliott was Chair man, and Bishop G. F. Pierce was a mem ber, recommends to the Executive Com mittee to present strongly to the Governor and Legislature of Georgia the exhausted resources of the citizens of the State, and their inability to supply the soldiers for the future with such things as blankets, wool ens, shoes, liquors, die., and to recommend the immediate importation of these articles under State authority. The balance on hand Oct. 10th, 1863, was as follows : Amount drawn, but unex pended, t 6,013 26 ; amount undrawn from State Treasury, $20,000; amount of pri vate contributions unexpended, $26,142 28; total, $51,15554. $31,087 61 wasexpended up to Oct. 26th, and $6,319 39 received, leaving a balance at that date of $26,387 82. The value of articles on hand, including materials, clothes, groceries, medicines, hospital stores, Ac., Ac., at cost prices, is : estimated at 200,000, making a balance of fundsand material at $226,337 82. The Committee says : “This will enable the Association to carry on its work upon a limited scale for some i time to come, although the disproportion between the money on hand and the inate-: rials on hand, may prove embarrassing.— Should the Legislature entrust no further appropriation to this the un designed would recommend the Executive. Committee to take such measures as will bring about a proper proportion between the cash on hand and materials. “ Should the Legislature desire to use the agency < f this Association fqr a longer pe riod in furnishing the wonnded, sick, and ’destitute troops of Georgia with such nec essaries and comforts as they cannot other wise procure, the Association will take pleasure in placing its organization, which is now very perfect and complete, at the disposal of the State, aud will cheerfully undertake the work of disbursing such sums as the Legislature may appropriate I to this purpose. 1 ’ FOR MAYOR. tO announce JAMES M. CALHOUN,.the present incumbent, as a candidate for re-election to the Mayoralty of Atlanta. Atlanta. Land Agency. PURCHASERS can find very desirable Residences andHnvestments. Persims o ’dering tale will write accurate and complete descriptions. OFFICE at Slewart & Moore’s, Decatur st Address, JAMES'N. MOON, ’ Box 12, Atlanta, Ga. A Lady Teacher. AV IRGINIAN offers her services, and will teach the usual branches with music on piano and guitar. Has elementary French and musical works, oil and water colors, and a guitar, at the service of pupils. Address (stating salary, &c.) Miss E. H. R,, Barnesville, Ga. ; meim ms Tllte TEN PRESSES IN OPERATION I AU kinds of Printing executed in the best style. Address J. J. TOON A CO., Proprietors, FRANKLIN BUILPINO, cbawfordTfrazer & co. GENERAL COMMISSION MERCHANTS, Auctioneers, J¥o. *• 8.” Whitehall Street, (Opposite the “ Intelligencer ” printing officer ATLANTA, GA. /pHE REGULAR AUCTION SALES of our X house will hereafter be on TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, and SATURDAYS OF EVERY WEEK, AT HALF-PAST TEN O’CLOCK A M All goods, wares and chattels should be sent in the evening before, or early in the morning of sale day. STOCK SALES OF HORSES, MULES, ETC., will commence at FOUR o’clock in the after noon on each regular sale day. Xo. 8. CRAWFORD, FRAZER & CO.. Of* In addition to oar AUCTION AND NEGRO HOUSE, at No. 8 Whitehall street, we have FIRE-PROOF STORAGE of three thousand barrels capacity at our new ’Ware-Rooms—No. 1 Alabama street. Our NEGRO YARD and Lock- Up, at No. 8, are safe and comfortable. Dealers and other parties will flud us pre pared to feed and lodge well; and, from experience in tlie business since our boyhood, to handle the negro properly. Charges reasonable and right, and satisfac tion guarantied in every instance. Parties at a distance may know our market by addressing us. Pease &, Davits WHOLESALE AND KET A II I> EALE US IN PRODUCE and PROVISIONS, AND COMMISSION MERCHANTS (Winship’s iron-front store, Peach-Tree st.) ATLANTA, GA. P. P. Pease.] " [L. B. Davis Ant business entrusted to us will receive prompt attention and returns early made. We ask oui friends to give us a call when in our city. Any Pro duce consigned to us will receive every advantage our market can give. Also we can make purchases to the very best advantage, as we are always pos ted in reference to the market prices. February’ 15, 1862. Anderton, Adair A Co., I WHOLESALE GROCERS, PRODUCE AND COMMISSION MER CHA NTS, | Whitehall street, near Georgia R.-R. Bank,) ATLANTA, OA. i Oct. 11. 9m ’ Gen. I. R. Foster. J. L. Queen. 11. R.Fowler. Footer, Queen A Co., GROCERS, AND •* COMMISSION MERCHANTS ATLANTA, GA., Lone, Fanibrougli A Co., GENERAL COMMISSION MERCHANTS, IN DANIELS’ AND WINSHIP’B BLOCK, ATLANTA, GA. t-iP For the sale of PRODUCE, and all kin di of MERCHANDISE; Negroes, Real Es ate, <tc., Ac. Orders and coWignments respeclfnily solicited. TPOJFL A fine Cotton and Corn Farm, containing Seven hundred and fifty-three Acres —160 open —IOO good Creek Bottom. Good Springs, good two-story frame Dwelling, and necessary build- . ings; Gin house &c., Ac. ; situated halt mile from the Railroad and Town of Thomaston, Upson County, 7U miks by Railroad from At lanta. S. D Xiles, INSURANCE AGENT, Corner of Whitehall and Alabama streota, ATLANTA, SA. Oct 18
