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‘The entrance of Thy Word giveth light.’
A. C. DAYTON, Editor.
JAS. N. ELLS, Secular Editor.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1864.
The Old i\n<l the
The demise of the Old Year and the
birth of the New Year are events of them
selves calculated to awaken solemn reflec
tions. Whatever shortcomings we may
have been guilty of during the past year,
whatever vices indulged, wrongs done, or
opportunities overlooked, are past recall.
The great English poet says,
• Who can the past recall or the done undo ?
Not the Omnipotent.’
in taking an honest retrospect of the past
year, it should not be with an object to
palliate our errors, but to exercise suitable
penitence, and on such penitence to base
sincere resolutions of reform. Life is too
short to waste on useless repinings.
The past year is prolific_of moral and
political reflections —the present year still
more so. It should be a source of pro
found gratitude to the Giver of all good,
on the part of all who read these lines, that
they are still in the land of the living —
that neither disease nor war has numbered
them among Jits victims/ butjthat they are,
in God’s wisdom, spared for other and
perhaps more useful J purposes. To be
useful should be the grand aim of life, every
one in his own sphere.
But that is not all for which we should
be grateful. We should feel the liveliest
gratitude that our land has not been over
run, our homes desolated, and we ourselves
pining in Federal prisons as many of our
brethren are, or left to the hated alternative
of taking an oath which our conscience
abhors, and by which we commit moral
treason against our own government.
The past year has been fruitful in disas
ters to our arms. The enemy has undoubt
edly gained for himself many and import
ant advantages on our territory. We can
count but few blight spots in the horizon
when we look back on the past year. Yet
some there are, and forjhese wc should
be grateful.
The present year presents to our con
sideration many important reflections.—
Our own soil is next to feel the. tread of
bloody despotism. Yes, Georgia's soil is
to be made drunk with thejiloqd of her
own children. The enemy now hovers over
our northerif frontier,’ready to'comc dow n
upon our sunny and fruitful fields as soon
as Spring with Jts’genial influences visits
the land. Our a coasts, too, are even in the
winter season liable to attack. How are
we prepared in mind and spirit tor the in
vasion ? Shall we meetjt like brave men,
or shall our hearts lose their courage ?
It it were in our power to utter words of
warning that would be heard by all in the
land, wc w ould say Prepare ! And w hen
we use this language wejnean it in a spirit
ual as well as in a political sense. Prayer
is the mighty means by- which Jehovah is
moved. Let this land, therefore, be’lilled
with praying men and women and children.
Let us all humble ourselves before the
mighty hand of God, and He will exalt us
in due season.
Many of our readers m ill doubtless be
fore the end of this y ear have tried the
solemn realities of war. What prepara
tion, therefore, does it become us to make
for those times which try men's souls !
How important that u<* make our peace
with God!
We are glad to believe that the Great
Spirit has been at work among our enemi’s
and inclined [them to better thoughts to
ward us. It is but recently since a re
sumption of exchange of prisoners was
made, the enemy taking the first step to
wards it. The elections at the North man
ifest a decided difference of opinion among
the voters of that conntry. Such differ
ences, if they swell into material magni
tude, may lead to events that will benefit
our country. This year the North is to
be agitated from centre to circumference by
the Presidential canvass. The enemy,
though he has accomplished much, has much
the hardest task before him. He might
bring all his population into the'Con fed
erate States, and there would be room
enough t (the Confederacy is so large) fur
them and us too. The particular portion
THE BAPTIST BANNER
of our country overrun is small compared!
to that which he either has not had the
power or the capacity of overrunning.—
His complete sway extends only over his
track. The broad interior of the States is
alive with population true to the South, on
whom he has not the capacity of expansion
to such an extent as to make/all feel the
weight of his power and his malice.—
And above all, he may well hesitate at the
herculean task he undertakes’when he be
gins his march on Georgia’s soil; for if
Georgia is made to mourn, the land of our
enemies will not be made thereby to smile.
To all our readers, then, we say, Be of
good cheer —a better time is coming.
Tlac Banner.
We confess to a feeling akin to pride in
glancing over the column of ‘ Receipts for
The Banner.’
Our sincere thanks aie tendered to the
friends who have exerted themselves in
increasing our subscription list. We hope
they will not grow wearied in well doing.
Brethren, it is our determination, by
the blessing of God, to publish a good
paper —and to keep our Banner floating,
a full sheet, in the breeze. Aid us.
The Orphan School.
We acknowledge the receipt of another
donation from Mr. 11. W. R. Jackson, of
one hundred and thirty dollars —making in
alljhe sum of #1,005 50, per centage on
the sale ofjiis books, which he has gener
ously given towards the establishing in uur
c ity of a Free School for the Orphans of
deceased Soldiers. ,
Ourjcitizens generally will soon be wait
ed upon, and their in behalf of
undertaking. We are sure no
one with aright heart will turn a deaf ear
toy this^appeal for the mental and moral
benefit’of the children of our soldiers who
have given their Jives in our L defence.
This 'school ought to be in operation
within the next thirty days. It can be —
it will be if our citizens will but respond
to this appeal w ith their usual liberality.
Address.
Those w ho may wish to address Rev. E.
L. Compere, can do so as follows : Envel
ope, put a stamp upon it’as.usual, then
write ‘Rev. E. L. Compere, Chaplain 2d
Cherokee Regiment, Indian Department,
Choctaw- Nation.’ Enclose this’in another
envelope, put a stampjupon it, k and direct
to ‘ Air. Compere A. Lyon, care of Capt’n
Moorman, Gen l Jackson s Head quarters,
near Canton. Mississippi.'
The correspondents .' k of Elder Josephs.
Baker jire requested] hereafter to address
him’at Monticello, Ela.
The Soldier!*’ Bible and 'Missionary
9 nion, of Mississippi.
Coraespondence in regard to the business
ofjhis body, as well’asjill funds for it, will
be directed to the Superintendent, Elder J.
B. Hamberlin, Hillsboro, Scott county,
Miss. In his absence, brother W. XV.
Lowry, the Druggist, will receipt for any
funds left with him.
Cold.
In this particular locality of ‘the sunny
South,’ we are at present experiencing a
spell of weather that would do credit to
the barren clime of New England. Yes
terday morning the ground was covered
with snow,’and the atmosphere peculiarly
chilly. G<>d help the poor —and help us
all to ‘ remember’.Them !
Served Them Right.
Some of the passport agents and military
guards on our railways, now-a-davs, are,
like the little dog in the spelling-book, en
tirely ’ too smart.’ One not posted would
be led tojnfer, from their pomposity, that
they out] the territory desig
nated”as Dixie, together with all and sin
gular the denizens thereof, ahd carried the
title-deeds in their pockets.
A day or Dalton train
the passport agent met his match, for once,
lie passed through the ladies' car, calling
for ‘ passports,\and[retained quite a number
which had not expired. Several ladies ob
jected to this, whereupon Mr. Passport in
dulged in very abusive language. The
conductor (Captain Fuller) reminded him
that the ladies must be treated in a becom
ing manner. This angered the passport
man, who ordered the conductor to be put
under arrest. This was attempted, but
a majority of the guard were too much in
toxicated to render assistance ; and the
conductor, backed by a gentleman passen
ger, fought his way out and reported the
facts at the office of the Provost Guard in
this city. The result was, the passport
.agent and his guard were arrested and put
in confinement whore they are awaiting
trial.
—— ■< •
Monc Mountain Association.
The clerks of those churches belonging
Jo this Association. who have nut received
'the Minutes of the last session, w ill please
l inform us at once.
Education of Soldiers’ Children.
It will be seen from the communication
of the Rev. Jesse 11. Campbell which we
copy from the Intelligencer, together with
the editorial comments thereon, that a bili
appropriating #350,000 for the education of
the children of soldiers, only failed in the
Senate, after passing the House, in conse
quence of a failure to reach it before the ad
journment. That it would have passed the
Senate also, had it been reached, thdre is
not a shadow of doubt. We trust our ex
cellent brother, in whose heart this benevo
lent action on the part of our State, was, w-e
believe, first contemplated, may live to see
another session of our Legislature, and see
this noble charity crowned with complete
success.
From the Atlanta Intelligencer.
Education of Soldiers’ Children.
We invite the attention of the Inferior
Courts of our State to the communication
of the Rev. J. H. Campbell, which appears
in our paper this morning,on a subject that
should reach the hearts of every citizen of
Georgia, and stimulate them to prompt ac
tion, lest it should be neglected—that of the
“ Education of Soldiers’ Children.” We
sincerely regret and deplore that the Senate
of our State failed to pass the appropriation
which would hava put in active operation
the benevolent intention of the reverend
gentleman who originated the measure, and
who, with others, embracing most of the
intelligent, benevolent, and patriotic of our
State, feel so deep an interest in. Our brave
soldiers in the field will be mortified when
they hear of its failure at the past session of
the Legislature. W h’at our Inferior Courts
can now do, as suggested in the communica
tion referred to, we hope they will promptly
do. No time should be lost in providing for
so laudable an object, and discharging so
important a duty as that of educating the
children of the brave men who have been,
avd are soldiers in the war. Many, too, of
our youth will, in six months, or in twelve,
have to take their places in the ranks of our
army. To these, six or twelve months at
school would be of incalculable value —
hence the necessity for speedy action.
[communicated.]
Mr. Editor :— lt is with deep mortifica
tion and regret 1 have to announce to your
readers that the bill before our late Legisla
ture to make special provision for the edu
cation of the children and orphans of our
soldiers failed to become a law. It met
with no opposition in either branch, and
passed the House with an appropriation of
#350,000, but failed in the Senate solely for
want of time to give it a third reading. But
why this Jack of time? The answer is
easily given. Three-fourths of the session
was consumed in attending the Code, in
passing local bills of little or no impor
tance, and in making “speeches for Bun
combe.”
As this measure has failed in the Legisla
ture, it is earnestly hoped the people will
not permit the education of these poor chil
dren and youth, amounting probably to at
least 20,000, to be wholly neglceted. The
Inferior Courts have the authority to assess
a tax sufficient to meet this expense, and I
trust that you, Mr. Editor, and others hav
ing control of the press, will use its niighty
agency in arousing the public mind on this
subject. J. 11. Campbell.
The Board Discussion.
The Confederate Baptist thinks a discus
sion of our plans for missionary work is
very much like stopping to dispute as to
which of two kinds of ordnance is most ef
fective, instead of turning them both upon
the enemy.
We accept the suggestion, though the
comparison is not quite applicable—for we
do not propose to stop any of the guns
while we discuss their merits. Let them
blaze away. We shall not hinder them by
word or deed. We would gladly add a
hundred fold to their efficiency. But if a
blunderer has, in disobedience of orders,
brought a battery of wrong construction
upon the field and left the right one in the
workshop, may we not protest —may w r e
not call the officer’s attention to the mistake
—without being accused as an enemy to
our army and the cause it fights for ?
If we think theie has been such a blun
der from misunderstanding of orders, have
we not a right to go to the order-book and
see how it stands in the record ? Mean
time let the old battery blaze away, till the
matter be investigated and the whole busi
ness set right.
This is our position. We are confident
that there has been a mistake of the Great
Commander’s orders; and whether the
guns in use are better or worse than those
ordered to be employed, is none of our
business. Our duty as soldiers is not to
argue, but obey. Let us look at the
Order-Book. a. c. d.
To our Brethren in the MiniMry.
Will each of you take a voluntary agency
fur The Banner, and present its claims to
each of the churches to which you preach ?
It will not be much trouble, at your next
church meeting, to inform the brethren of
the change that has taken place in our edito
rial management, and ask them if they are
not willing to assist brother Dayton in es
tablishing a thorough Baptist paper, and
giving it such a circulation as will make it
widely useful. Five dollars is not much
for such an object, in such times as these.
You can certainly prevail on some of your
people to subscribe.
MISSIONARY PEANS.
No. I.
CENTRALISM AND INDEPENDENCE.
The churches which were established by
our Lord Jesus Christ were independent
democracies. In them each member was
equal to every other member. To each of
these independent churches He gave all the
power which He gave to any or all of them.
He put no authority above them, nor did
He give to ten, or twenty, or a hundred, or
a thousand of them in any associated capa
city, any power which He did not give to
each one alone, and independent of all oth
ers. Hence, anything which any number of
associated churches has Scriptural authority
to do, a single church may rightly do. There
can therefore be no doubt that a church is
competent to do all that a convention or an
association of churches may do. Why,
then, should we give up to associations and
conventions any part of the work which the
Lord gave in charge to His churches ? F
the work of missions is such a work, on
what ground can it be taken out of the
hands of the church and given to a conven
tion or a board, over which the church has
no control? There can be but one excuse
for such conduct, and that is that the church
is unable to do it of herself. But if one
church is unable alone to send out a mis
sionary she may unite with another, and
another, until the means can be secured.-
Better do this than not send at all. Sever
al churches contributed to the support .of
Paul while he was an acting missionary.—
But does this justify a church in casting ofl
all the responsibility and care, and feeling
that she has done her duty when she has
sent a few dollars to a board of an organi
zation of which she forms no part, in order
that this Board may be able to send some
one chosen, not by her, but by itself, with
out her counsel, and responsible, not to her,
but to itself? May a church thus perform
her duties by proxy, or delegate them to
strangers ?
It is; nothing that some churches have
done so. Churches may have done wrong.
It is nothing that the majority have op
posed this plan. Majorities have been
known to err.
It is nothing that this plan has secured a
good measure of success —the right plan, it
may bo, would have secured a vastly greater
measure.
The question is, What saith the Scrip
ture? How readest thou ?
If the Lord had intended that all the
churches should be made subsidiary to
some great central power, would lie not
have given some intimation of it in His
Word?
If it is a custom originating in the last
generation, and copied after the w'orkings of
the hierarchies of the earth, is it not ‘more
honored in the breach than in the obser
vance ?’
What then? Shall we d* nothing? Nay,
we must do more. We can do more, and
will do more, by bringing the work directly
before each church, and insisting that it shall
send its own missionary, or, if unable to do
so alone, to ask for help from those who can
unite with it in his selection, as well as in
his support. a. c. d.
Gone, Hl Last.
Among the altar-ations of the closing
year, it will be seen, by referring to that
column of our paper which feminine readers
are said to glance at first, that our young
brother Compere has at last met his com
peer. Ditto, brother Hamberlin. As
Colonel Gaulding was wont to say, ‘ This
is a move in the right direction.’ To the
parties in interest we extend the hearty
wish that the three Il.’s may be theirs—
Health, Happiness (in this, and) Heaven
(in the life to come).
Monroe Female University.
The attention of parents and guardians is
called to the announcement, for 1864, of
this excellent institution, which has been
patronized for the last thirteen years.
We were once a passenger in a vehicle
of public conveyance, where a young man
annoyed very much his fellow passengers.
He seemed to be the son of opulent parents,
but had manifestly, been very badly brought
up. He was on bis way to his home in
Mississippi, and had been drinking freely.
Silly remarks, vulgar jests, profane speech
and unrestrained impudence characterized
his whole conduct. Oh I what a need for
scores of missionaries for the southwest,
where hundreds of such young men live.
How sad the sight of a healthy, vigorous
young man, prostituting his powers to such
low ends!
True virtue, sound wisdom, a quiet con
scence, and steady trapquility of mind, the
love and favor of God, a title unto endless
joy and bliss, are purely the gifts of heaven :
and thence they will not descend of them
selves, but prayer must bring them down.
Be temperate in all things, and seek God’s
guidance in all your actions.
A Beantlful’Poem.
We know not who is the author of the
following poem. It was handed to us by
one of those dear girls who are the life and
joy of our school, but she could not tell
whence it came. It deserves to be repeated
and perpetuated. a. c. d.
THE PAST.
Thou unrelenting Past,
Strong are the barriers round thy dark doruuin,
And fetters sure and fast
Hold all that enter thy unbreathing reign.
Thou hast my better years,
Thou hast my earlier friends—the good, the kind—
Yielded to thee with tears —
The venerable form, the exalted mind.
My spirit yearns to bring
The lost ones back —yearns with desires intense,
And struggles hard to wring
Thy bolts apart, and pluck thy captives thence.
In vain ! Thy gates deny
All passage save to those who hence depart;
Nor to the streaming eye
Thou giv’st them back—nor to the broken heart.
In the abysses hide
Beauty and excellence unknown ; to thee
Earth’s wonder and her pride
Are gathered as the waters to the sea.
Labors of good to man,
Unpublished charity, unbroken faith.
Love that ’midst grief began,
And grew with years and faltered not in death.
Full many a mighty name
Lurks in thy depths unuttered, unrevered ;
With thee are silent fame,
Forgotten arts, and wisdom disappeared.
Thine for a space are they,
Yet shall thou yield thy treasures up at last;
Thy gates shall yet give way,
Thy bolts shall fall, inexorable Past!
All that of good and fair
Has gone into thy tomb from earliest time,
Shall then come forth to wear
The glory and the beauty of its prime.
They have not perished—no !
Kind words, remembered voices once so sweet,
Smiles radiant long ago,
And features, the great soul’s apparent seat,
All shall come back—each tie
Os pure affection shall be knit again.
Alone shall evil die,
And sorrow dwell a prisoner in thy reign.
[For77ie Baptist Banner.]
Ordination.
Brother Editor: —-Yesterday, the 22d in
stant, I attended the ordination of brother
N. B. Binion, at the Brookville church,
Randolph county,” Ga.
The exercises were conducted as follows:
1. "Organizing the Presbytery by calling
Brother M. B. L. Binion to the Chair,
and appointing brother David Rogers Sec
retary.
2. Presentation of the candidate by bro.
Sale, a deacon of the church.
3. Examination of the candidate on his
Christian experience, call to the. Gospel
ministry, and doctrinal views by brother
J. O. Hixon.
4. Ordination sermon by the writer.
5. Prayer by brother John White, and
imposition of hands by the Presbytery.
6. Charge, and presentation of the Bible,
by brother David Rogers.
7. The Presbytery and_church extended
the right hand of fellowship.
8. Benediction, by the candidate.
These exercises were of the most impres
sive and solemn nature. I have never at
tended an ordination where such deep feel
ing and interest were manifested.
Brother Binion (the candidate) is a man
of deep-toned piety, good education, and
great zeal for the cause of Christ. I think
ho has a peculiar gift for the ministry. And,
lastly, but not least, he is an unflinthing,
unyielding Landmark Baptist. I have never
heard a man undergo so thorough and satis
factory examination. He is perfectly
sound.
For twenty months past he has been con
tending for Southern rights on the field of
active strife. He now retufns to his home,
his dear wife and little ones, an invalid,
having an honorable discharge.
Since he can no longer endure the fatigue
of a carnal warfare, and fight as a soldier of
his country, he has taken a more aesponsi
ble position in the army of King Jesus. I
most cordially recommend him to the
churches generally, and the world at large,
hoping and praying that God may crown
his labors with great success.
D. M.
Dawson, Ga.
* Kitrffr
How to Break Up Sabbath School
Classes.—From ministers, superintendents
and Sabbath School children, you contin
ually hear the complaint that it is not easy
to find punctual, regular Sabbath teachers.
Let teachers read the following little excerpt
and resolve that they will do what they can
to keep their classes together, by prompt
and regular attendance:
“Lieut. Governor Day, President of the
late Connecticut Sabbath School Convention,
said he had been thirty years superintendent
in a Sabbath School, and that he had as many
as fifty classes broken up by the irregularities
of teachers. A teacher would be absent
one Sabbath, and then the scholars would
be absent the next, and so till all are gone.
“This is a very serious matter, and should
be pondered carefully by every teacher. A
class once broken up, is very hard to be
gathered again. Let every teacher beware
how his example leads to such a sad result.”