THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
T. FANNING AND W. LIPSCOMB, Editors.
VOL. VII.
NASHVILLE, SEPTEMBER, 1861.
NO. 9.
SYNOPSIS
Of an Address on the memory of a Young Soldier, from Isa. 2, and 15th of 1st Cor.
“Shall spring ever visit the mouldering urn? Shall day ever dawn on the night of the grave.”
FELLOW CITIZENS:
We have met “to weep with those who weep” and pay the last tribute of respect to our young hero, friend, Boney Day! When the stern demands of a fratricidal war called our young friend from the quiet of home to the tented field, he, unlike many, was ready to prove his patriotism by his prowess. He did not carry his patriotism in his pocket book, or permit it to bubble on his lips whilst treason wrinkled in his heart!
The first and last battle of our youth was with that kingly monster, over whom Christ alone has triumphed. Boney Day belonged to the Second Regiment under Col. Hindman, and Capt. Goynn; was taken sick in Memphis, Tenn, and was most tenderly cared for by Mrs. Lloyd of the “Soldier’s Mother’s Association;” and his officers and fellows in arms! He died, aged 17 years and 4 months, beloved by all who knew him, and was borne to his last resting place, and the bosom of relatives and friends in Phillips Co. Ark. by Messrs. Slaughter and Thompson, his affectionate companions on the tented field.
But my…
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Theme of War
The theme, in part, will be, with war. There are many testimonies in the Bible which show that war, tyrant war, shall end; “When nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war no more.” When its cruelties shall be extinct; when those wild elements of pride and ambition, and restlessness, and jealousy which are ever and anon sending another, and another wave over the world’s politics or Caesar’s Gospel, shall at length be hushed into a placid and eternal calm.
The Bible carries us forward to those Millennial days, when the reign of peace shall be established, and the gospel of peace shall enclose the universe in its ample grasp of one harmonious and universal family. The 2d Isaiah is a sentence of condemnation of war, and stamps a criminality on its forehead.
We have been told that there is something noble in the art of war, and that there is something generous in the ardor of that fine chivalric spirit which kindles in the hour of alarm, and rushes with delight and enthusiasm among the thickest scenes of danger and enterprise; that man is never more proudly arrayed than when elevated by a contempt for death, he then puts on his intrepid front, and looks serene, while the missiles of death are showered around him; that expunge war, and you erase some of the most brilliant names in the catalogue of virtue, and demolish that theatre on which have been displayed some of the sublimest energies of the human character.
It is thus that war has been invested with a death-dealing splendor, and wicked men have offered to justify it as a blessing and an ornament of society!
But, so soon as the last finish of Christianity has passed on man, from that moment, all the hellish instruments of war will be thrown aside, its lessons will be forgotten—or when the reign of Heaven shall be established, war will take its departure from the world with all kindred evils and atrocities of the species.
But, at present, the war cloud in its dark grandeur, streaked with red, is lowering over us, and the muttering thunders of its wrath have filled the nation’s ear with consternation! War is spreading desolation in every part of our once Eden land, where its thunder-tones roll, and the fury of the combat is felt. All the rights of property, and the provisions of justice are yielding to its devouring demands! The courts of justice have too much yielded to the assumed power of self-established mobs, and a wild panic marks the bosom of the timid!
And, when the Lord’s day comes, it brings no joys with it; and for the sounds of the church-going bells, which want to spread their music over the lovely landscapes of nature, and call rustic devotees to the house of prayer—nothing is heard but the…
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Death-dealing notes of the battle, and the infuriated outcry of the warrior! And as the fruit of victory, an unprincipled licentiousness, which no code of order can restrain, is suffered to stalk among the people—and all that is pure, and holy, and reverend in the virtue of home, is cruelly trampled on, and held in the bitterest derision. One might ask, in the fury of war, seeing morality, honesty and virtue fleeing before it. What has civilization done for man?
It has thrown a few paltry embellishments over the surface of society, and for the order of society it has erected the defences of law around rights and property. But, let war, legalized as you may, be rushed into the field with all the parade of forms and manifestoes—let this war have its reign, and it will overleap these artificial defences, and you will soon see how much of the security of the country is due to positive restrictions, and how little of it is due to a natural sense of justice among men!
Note this and watch the times! The history of war tells me, that man, when left to himself, and turned loose on society unchecked by morals, law or honesty, to walk after the counsel of his own heart, and in the sight of his own eyes, will soon see how thin that veil is, which the boasted hand of civilization has thrown over him. Let the bugle notes of war proclaim to man the hour of his chances, and his character show itself in its true elements, and he will leap forward, as to a jubilee of delight, and prowl the land amid scenes of rapacity, cruelty, and violence, and wrongs!
And, yet, we fight for the correction of wrongs!! O temporal! O mortal! I cannot glance the eye over the record of High Heaven without perceiving the utter repugnance that exists between the spirit of the gospel, and the factious, turbulent, and ever-meddling spirit of political disaffection. I cannot, will not, compromise one jot or tittle of the Jerusalem code, which Jesus left for the government of his kingdom. And, sure I am, that he who reposes in this code, can maintain an elevated calm amid even the trials and fluctuations of war, and the world’s interests.
Kings make war, and subjects fight the battles! Our young departed friend was at peace with all men, until his youthful blood was fired by the bugle notes of war! Until the demagogue enveloped him in flames of revolution! The first obstacle to the extinction of war, is the manner in which the heart is carried off by the splendours of its deceitful accompaniments!
There is a feeling of the sublime in contemplating the shock of armies, as there is in contemplating the devouring energy of a tempest, and this so elevates and engrosses the whole man, that his eye is blind to sorrowing kindred and friends, and his ear is deaf to the piteous moans.
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of the dying, and cry of sorrow!
There is a gracefulness in the picture of a youthful warrior burning for distinction on the tented field, and lured by this aspiration to the deepest of the excited throng, wherein the fell work of death, the opposing sons of valour struggle for earthly renown, where thousands fight, and fall, and die for a fading crown!
They die, oft where no eye pities them! No mother, sister, brother there to condole with them! There no kind hand is found to staunch the wounds, which in the maddening fury of the combat, have been given and received by fraternal blood, by children of our common Father! There death spreads its pale ensigns over every countenance and when the dreary night comes, and pensive shades become the winding sheet, how many ill-fated soldiers will make the bloody field their untented bed, without a kind friend to bear the sorrowing tidings to distant homes! to far-off friends!
On all sides, I see causes at work, which spread a most delusive painting over war, and transfer its barbarities to the background of our contemplations! They are seen in the history which tells of the sublime appearance of the army, and the brilliancy of its successive charges. They are seen in the poetry which lends the magic of its numbers to the detail of blood, and transports many of its admirers, as by its images, and its figures, and its nodding plumes of chivalry. They throw their treacherous embellishments over a scene of legalized slaughter—murder in compromise with law!
They inspire the music which represents the progress of the battle; and where after being inspired by the trumpet-tones of preparation, the whole beauty and tenderness of the drawing-room are seen to lend over the sentimental entertainment; nor do we hear a single sigh to interrupt the death tones of the thickening contest, and the heart-rending moans of the wounded as they linger upon the ear, and sink into an eternal quiet! All, all prove what strange and half-sighted creatures we are! Were it not so, war could never have been seen in any other aspect than that of unmingled hatefulness!
But I must round a little nearer the port. And first, one word to the pure-hearted mother of our hero-boy. Remember that Cornelia, the mother of the Gracchi, daughter of Scipio Africanus the Elder, and wife of the Consul of Gracchus, was a noble-minded Roman matron, who lived 130 years before Christ. To her sons she gave an excellent education, and being in company with a Roman lady, who was displaying her jewels, and desired to see the jewels of Cornelia, presented her sons as her most precious jewels.
And when, you, dear
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Sister, was asked, in behalf of your distracted country, for your most precious jewel, you yielded up your son. In this, you acted more noble than many, who hastened the revolution, and when the storm-god began to howl most furious, these agitators, many of whom, acted much less noble and patriotic than have you, and many other mothers; who have devoted their dear sons to this bloody drama! But, your “Jewel” and our friend was just entering manhood’s prime, when called by death from the storm of war. He was as bold and defiant a spirit as was ever blazoned in legends, or recorded in history. But death is not charmed by prowess nor warded off by true merit. He loves to point his dart near the throne of Omnipotence, and to send the brave and virtuous to mingle with kindred spirits! This is his conquest. But the grave takes the sting from envy, and the venom from malice. She writes an epitaph for history without partiality or prejudice, and sends hope and mercy to accompany the departed shade through the dark valley that lies beyond the bounds of earth—suffering no one to draw the veil that divides time from eternity.
But, dear Boney is dead! Requiescat in pace!
J. A. BUTLER.
WHEN THE DUTY OF CHRISTIANS TO SHED BLOOD
Bro. Fanning: In the July No. of the Gospel Advocate, after giving your views upon the duties of Christians of the South in the present war, you express a willingness to “hear the arguments of any and all upon this subject,” we therefore feel inclined to make a few comments upon the article referred to.
We are very much opposed to war, and think the circumstances must be very strong to justify it, and so far as your remarks go towards repressing the fanatical spirit of revenge which seems to animate the masses engaged in it, we are most happy to approve them, but in other points of view, we fear that their influence may be very undesirable. The design of your whole argument seems to be to show that although the people of the South not professing Christianity, are justified in resisting to the last extremity, the Christian people should have nothing to do with it, nor indeed with the government at all, only so far as property extends.
That we may not seem to misstate your position, I…
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beg leave to make a few quotations.
You acknowledge on page 204, that “wars have been necessary,” and on page 211, you say, “if people were ever justified in resisting encroachments, we conscientiously believe the people of the Confederate States are.” Again on page 210, you say, “we have been asked again and again if we do not consider the people of the south fully justified in resisting the rule of the North”? You answer, “the right of revolution being admitted,” (we take this as an admission if you intend to answer the question at all) “we doubt not the civil right of citizens South, to resist to the last extremity, but as religionists we should know neither North nor South.” While you think it right for citizens to resist to the last extremity, religious people should in all their actions ever ignore the fact that war exists.
Again, on page 211, you say “war in all its aspects is irreligious,” &c. So that whether it is an offensive or a defensive war, waged in defense of our lives and those of our families, no religious man can raise his hand in it. If a community of Christians are not justifiable in taking up arms in defense of their lives and liberties, no Christian man is justifiable in defending his own life; so that you seem here to be fully committed to the doctrine of non-resistance. He who advocates this doctrine must also advocate the doing away with civil government, for the first main design of government is to resist evil persons and consequently we were prepared to expect from you an argument endeavoring to prove the worthlessness of human government and that it is only a barrier to the reign of Christ on earth.
On page 191 you say, “and so soon as men shall complete” (it we presume is a misprint for forsake), “their folly in originating and defending their frail institutions of earth, they will gladly admit the sovereignty of the Redeemer.” By “institutions of earth” you can only mean law and establishments pertaining to organized society, and therefore you think civil government is but the result of human folly, and should be forsaken.
Further, in support of your argument against civil government, you object to Paul’s instructions to the saints in the 13th chapter of Romans, being so construed, as to recognize the authority in civil rulers to enforce obedience to law by the sword, for if it is admitted that Paul recognized the necessity of civil government and the duty of his brethren to sustain it, then your position, releasing Christians from any obligations to defend and sustain the “frail institutions of earth,” becomes untenable; therefore in reply to a question as to who were the “Powers that be,” and the rulers to whom the saints were instructed to be subject, and pay tribute, and to be a.
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fraicl of, “for they bear not the sword in vain.” You said they were the deacons and elders of the church! Our greatest objection to popery has been that the heads of the church held the laity in subjection, and we confess our surprise, Bro. Fanning, in bearing you, whom we have always supported so much opposed to church castes, counseling us to be subject to, and hold in fear and terror the Elders and Deacons of our church, and we are sure that we have never seen any exercise of authority on your part, which that sober minded apostle could have thought to represent as a ruler, exacting tribute of his subjects, and bearing a revenging sword to execute wrath upon evil doers.
You have quoted many prophecies that the kingdom of Christ is to break down all the kingdoms of the world, and we all agree in our desire for that happy state of things, but you have failed to show that anarchy would bring about that desired end sooner than good government. On the contrary—Christ and his apostles never advised his followers against government, but recognized the necessity of law and rulers, “law is made for the lawless and disobedient,” said Paul. The very idea of law and government, supposes that its subjects must sustain it. It is idle to make laws, unless they are to be enforced even by the sword if necessary.
A mere paper government amounts to nothing, and the success of the government depends upon the willingness of its subjects to assist in enforcing its laws, and therefore, Paul instructs his Christian brethren as subjects of the government, to be subject to “the powers that be.” If the time had not then arrived when the Apostle thought the world could do without human institutions for the protection of society, upon what grounds can it be assumed that it has now! If the Prince of Peace is now ready to overthrow the governments of earth and assume a direct sovereignty over the world, with the consent of the church, was he not then, and if so, would not his Apostles have advised his followers to leave the institutions of earth to take care of themselves? On the contrary, they enjoined upon them the necessity of sustaining these institutions.
If government is necessary; is not good government better calculated to promote the spread of Christianity than bad, and are we not as Christians bound to “seek to control” it in such manner as to most prosper our Master’s cause? By this we would not be misunderstood nor advocating any civil interference to give shape or direction to church government, but a great deal may be done by removing the trammels, with which wicked governments impede the church of Christ, as well as by organizing society in such a way as to protect us in the enjoy…
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Excerpt on Religious Liberty
The rapid spread of Christianity in our own country is greatly due to the protection which it has given to our freedom of conscience. On the other hand, where in the history of the reign of anarchy has the cause of Christ been thereby prospered? We cannot regard man’s duties as a Christian as being disconnected from the world from which he lives.
Our first duty is devotion to God, and next the improvement of our race and the world around us. Where we have a government giving us protection in property and life and religious liberty, and giving free course to the spread of Christianity, we should endeavor to sustain it. When, because we refuse to assist in trampling under foot the principles upon which it is built, we are threatened with extermination by an invading foe, we should stand ready, as men and Christians, to “resist to the last extremity.”
Current Situation
How stands the case with us today? Our constitution has been broken, the clashing arms of a merciless invader are heard on our border. The handcuffs have been already forged for southern freemen, and you have well said that, “if people were ever justified in resisting encroachments, the people of the Southern Confederacy are,” and yet you say to religious men, “employ none but spiritual weapons.”
You doubt whether the righteous can shed the blood of their fellows with impunity. “Peace must be secured by moral means alone.” What sort of moral means must be employed? When our houses are on fire, must we stop to sing songs and pray, to the neglect of means which are at hand to extinguish it?
You say that “God strengthens the oppressed to resist the oppressor,” but while we pray to God to help us in this our time of need to resist the oppressor, shall we fold our arms and disregard the promptings of our avenging helper?
But when you reply that He “will put it into the hearts of the wicked to make this resistance,” we ask you, upon what authority you can assume that He makes such selections to accomplish His holy purposes? Our lives and liberties are at stake, and while we pray to God for His help and use all moral means in our power, we should remember that He will never help those who refuse to help themselves.
Every man should gird on his armor and assume that position which is most serviceable to his country in this trying hour. We have cringingly pleaded with the North for peace, and now we should put forth all our powers of defense and appeal to God to strengthen our arms.
If we have misstated your position, we should be glad to be corrected. We should be glad to hear your voice in these perilous times, when the cause of humanity and morality are involved, and when you say, “no good man…”
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has a right to silence.” Justifying us not only as citizens, but as religious citizens, in defending our homes and firesides.
Respectfully, Yours,
WM. B. LILLARD
G. S. HARDING
W. RANSOME
REPLY TO BRETHREN LILLARD, HARDING AND RANSOME
DEAR BRETHREN: From the first indication of war in 1860 to this moment, we have been much troubled as to our duty to our country, to our brethren and to our Maker. Not that we have had any doubt as to the place of human institutions, the mission of the church or the teaching of the Bible in reference to either; but, as Christian teachers, we are to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves,” the future at every step has been so portentous of evil, that we have feared the capacity of our poor brain to determine the points involved in the great political and moral struggle of our beloved country, that should be discussed by us and to what extent it was, or is, our duty or privilege to examine them.
Owing still to the embarrassments that attend our pathway, we consider it proper, before noticing particularly the essay, to remind our readers of a few important points to which we have heretofore invited attention.
- We have not considered it the duty of Christians—men devoted to Christ—not policy professors—to construct or control worldly institutions: such as civil governments, pseudo-religious organizations, in the form of party churches, or professedly moral reform societies, such as Masonic, Temperance or Odd Fellows, whilst there is a spiritual association quite adequate to employ all of our means for the benefit of our race.
- We have not denied at any time, that civil institutions, ecclesiastical bodies originating in the wisdom of men, or moral reform societies, have not accomplished some valuable results; but we have been of the judgment that all the light that shines through these is borrowed from the great fountain of spiritual light—the church of God, and that whilst we as Christians are employing our energies to ameliorate the condition of the world by inferior machinery, we must neglect the superior to the discredit of the only organization and government.
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which have stood the test of the revolutions of eighteen centuries, and which we think, will endure to the end.
But as the war cloud began to rise, and the deep mutterings of Heaven’s thunder reached our ears, we observed that the professed people of God were so deeply involved in the political whirlwinds that threatened the country, that we ventured to utter words of caution to the saints. We dictated nothing, but only exhorted Christians to count well the cost in every step. For this, perhaps, by vicious and unthoughtful persons, we have been blamed. Our chief purpose has been to impress upon the brethren, the weight of personal responsibility that rests upon each, and that we all must account to God individually. The decision has been made by each north and south, and no discussion can now change the result; consequently, we have seen not the propriety of any lengthy discussion of matters which cannot be changed. The state of the case is about the following.
Civil war has really been inaugurated in our once prosperous and happy country; political parties, religious factions, and reform societies are in deadly hostility to each other. Brethren, in the dominant ecclesiastical bodies, now freely imbrue their hands in each other’s blood, but all in the name of their Gods, as it has been from the beginning. Shakers, Quakers, and perhaps, a few kindred sects stand aloof; but the four or five hundred thousand of the professed disciples of Christ in the States, are not entirely assured as to their duty. From all that we have been able to learn, a few of the writers and preachers north say, “Put down this great rebellion—peaceably, if you can, forcibly if you must.” Perhaps one fourth of northern professors are thirsting for the blood of their professed brethren south. Possibly, a shade larger proportion of the professed disciples south are earnestly engaged in the war. Their position is, that aggressive war is murder, but defensive, to protect homes and families, if not really Christian, is at least proper in the circumstances. Some, both north and south, are of the judgment, that while all Christians are bound by the law of Christ, to respect civil governments, pray “for kings and all in authority, that they may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty,” and in as much as they hold their property by virtue of their respective governments, all is subject to their maintenance; but that, there is no power in heaven or on earth adequate to force them to imbrue their hands in their fellows’ blood. Politically,
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They differ, toto cœlo, but differences of opinion are not to interfere with their Christian fellowship.
2d.
Touching what we have considered our own duty in the politico-religious strife of the country, we have a few words to say. We have not considered it our privilege to join any political faction, interfere in any of the election struggles, or even to attempt to control in the slightest degree, any human government of our time, and yet, when we have seen Christians, as we believed, ensnared in political meshes, and the cause of Christ suffering from political strifes, we have deemed it proper to utter a warning voice. This is mainly what we have intended by our essays on “the crisis”—the war, and kindred subjects. To be sure, we have not considered ourselves entirely ignorant of passing political events, and when we were satisfied morality was in danger, we have not hesitated to speak, and we take the present occasion not only to repeat the sum and substance of our political preaching for more than a dozen years, but to more plainly than heretofore, give publicity to convictions repeatedly expressed as to the causes of the civil revolution which has so seriously involved the church of Christ in our country.
We have taught that Christians are “a peculiar people,” the kingdom of which they are members, is above all human fabrics, and is destined to conquer them all. It has also been a studied effort to satisfy our brethren that they had no right to direct the governments of men, but were to submit and be satisfied while permitted to enjoy their Christian privileges.
Our grandfathers both fought through the revolution of ’76, to achieve what we have been proud to call our “American Independence” and from our earliest recollection to manhood, we were taught to idolize the American Union. We considered it of eternal duration, until we studied more carefully the nature and purpose of all human governments, when we became satisfied that in the very nature of things, all earthly governments must vary with the circumstances that gave them birth and the fluctuations of time, and thought we plainly saw frailty and death, written upon them all.
Thirty years ago, we were satisfied that at least one faction was attempting to seize the helm of our ship of state, and since, we have been on the qui vive for disruption. Eleven years since, we witnessed the great Webster and Clay legislating to give the letter of the constitution authority. It required not a prophet.
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then to see the instrument had had its day, had lost its force, and like the law of Moses, when it grew old, was ready to vanish away. The best system in the world was inaugurated to complete its overthrow. “The Higher law” of man’s inward promptings usurped the place of constitutional and legislative authority over most of the north, and a part of the south.
We had seen Christianity partially nullified in both sections under the influence of this demon. We had seen that the constitution of the country and the Word of God, did not, and could not weigh a feather with political and religious teachers who vehemently preached the higher authority of a “feeling sense” within which defined civil right and constituted an infallible religious test.
The doctrine, first approved in this country, amongst the New England clergy, but soon found its way into the halls of Congress and ran like wild-fire amongst the less enlightened. Soon after its appearance in the east an unlettered politician by flattering the lowest passions of humanity, crawled into the gubernatorial toga of Tennessee, and preached to the great wonderment of the multitude in his inaugural, the inherent ability of man to erect not only a perfect human government, but a kind of divine capacity to construct a spiritual temple, like Jacob’s ladder, to reach to Heaven.
Through the influence of this dreamy philosophy, borrowed from the old world, as reflected by Theodore Parker, Tennessee’s governor and others, we saw a bright meteor fall into the ditches and grog shops in our state metropolis. He talked with ghosts, and is still a wizard.
Then it was; be it remembered to our credit, that we published and preached everywhere that the doctrine subverted the very constitution, essence and spirit of Christ’s religion, and must sooner or later, subvert the constitution and laws of the United States.
More recently, our readers will recollect that we gave a broadside to the monster—direct spiritual and political light—as we thought we saw him looming up in Bethany College. This ghost seeking was the death of Russell, Carman, Young, Happy and others, and so distempered the heart and soul of Richardson, that we fear all Christian manliness has forsaken him.
He confesses his error? No, never. The demon still walked about as a roaring lion, particularly north seeking whom he might devour, till he seized the dolt who is now president north, and inspired him and his coadjutors to swear that his party should rule or ruin the country. Then it was the ruling people should have said, “How can two walk together except they be agreed?”
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Finding no agreement, they should have claimed the right of release from oppression and to walk in their own ways. They waited too long, and failed to co-operate with all the states unable to bear the yoke. Eleven, however, have declared their independence, and others must soon do likewise. As a consequence, civil war, bloody and relentless with its thousands of evils exists in our country; and once for all, we wish to say that, in governments of earth depending mainly upon force for existence, it is the bounden duty of those who have a right to politically control, to defend their terms, by all means in their power and to the last extremity. One more thought and we shall close our prefatory remarks.
While we maintain that Christians are a peculiar people, and that the church of Christ is spiritual, needing no offensive or defensive weapons to support it, and that it will and must triumph peacefully over all the governments of the world, we rejoice to believe that the nations of the earth, as nations, are objects of the special care of the Almighty. They are his by creation, are in his hands and in the words of David, “The Lord is the governor among the nations.” (Ps. 22, 28.) He controls them in ways which we comprehend not, neither do we wish to interfere with him or even pray to him to take this side or that of any national controversy, as the heathen do. We can pray as a Christian, first for the preservation of the people of God, and then that right, justice and humanity may prevail everywhere. It is true, we sometimes fear our superstitious proclivities are greatly strengthening.
Really we have thought we have already seen the finger of God in the American struggle, just where it was not anticipated by the world. Jehovah has for the first time in an age, more than amply supplied the people of the south with all that earth could yield, and the armies of the south have been victorious where there were no more than two to one. Still we know not what God has in reserve. We should not be presumptuous, but fear.
We hope our correspondents have not grown impatient at our long travel in treating their very respectful communication. We will notice each point with the best ability we possess and fear no evil.
- In answer to their first suggestion that they “fear” there are points of view in which the “influence” of some of our teaching may prove “very undesirable,” we beg leave to say that the rule they adopt—”fear of influences”—is an unsafe one to determine the truth of…
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any question. Had we been governed by apparent influences, and supposed tendencies, we would have been abandoned the Christian religion long since. In spite of themselves, they have adopted policy, as their standard, and are preaching their own views of propriety, a kind of natural higher law of public opinion—outward pressure from the world, the flesh and the devil, which they think most control our religious teaching. A Christian should ask but one question in reference to all moral decisions, viz: What is truth? What does God say? What is the spiritual teaching? We hope our brethren’s “fear of influences” will no more disturb them.
We were born in Tennessee, and have preached in the state most of the time for more than thirty years, and have been told a thousand times that the influence of our teaching was, more than “undesirable”—perfectly ruinous to the country, and yet we have pursued the even tenor of our way, and still believe our religious influence has been for good. Our brethren will hear with our frankness.
- We have not taught that Christians should “ignore the existence of the war,” as our brethren intimate, but rather that they should consider it as Christians, and not run frantic as many partisan religionists have done. We are candid to admit that we are not sure Christians should have anything more to do with the institutions of the world than to submit to whatever government is placed over them, if under it, they can enjoy their Christian liberty, pay their taxes, pray for rulers, etc., that they may not be hindered in their labor in the Lord’s vineyard. We are also free to admit, that if according to our brethren’s teaching Christians are the proper persons to take charge of the world, like Mahomet and the Pope, they should employ the sword, to protect their government, and in the words of our correspondents, “Put forth all their powers of defense and appeal to God to strengthen their arms.” At present, we wish not to enter further into the argument of this question! but we ask our brethren to determine if this is not what Rome, England and all politico-ecclesiastical establishments have done? Is it connecting church and state? Bringing the church to support the state, and in turn, seeking the friendship of the state to give the success to the church?
We cannot be mistaken in the doctrine, and from the days of Constantine in the fourth century, this partnership between church and state has been the most deadly enemy to pure religion. Christianity needs no sword, bruised reed, or a quenching of the…
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Smoking flax, for its protection. It dictates no form of human government, may live in any, and asks not the protection of any, further than to be let alone.
We have opposed no “organized society,” or denied the necessity of human government, as our brethren charge, and we are sorry that they are inclined to make us say what we never believed or taught. Our view, and we believe the teaching of the Bible is, that “law is not made for a righteous man”—a man governed fully by the principles of Christianity needs nothing more—but it is requisite for “the lawless and disobedient, for the profane, for murderers, and for all who are not susceptible of sound teaching.” While men are rebellious and wicked, they will require governments of force; the sword will remain in requisition to keep them in bounds. We hope this will be satisfactory.
Regarding “the higher powers” mentioned by Paul, Rom. 13:1-7, we certainly differ. In our interview at Murfreesboro, our positions were distinctly stated, and I beg the liberty of stating them again. You assumed that the higher powers were not only the civil officers; but these were, or might have been Christians, and the idea of higher authority was intended to show that when religious and civil authority came into contact, the religious must yield to the civil. This was at least the position of the writer of the strictures on our teaching. Our view was that, if Paul meant civil officers, they were men of the world, and therefore, the necessity of employing the sword in the execution of law did not necessarily rest upon Christians. We did not say that these higher powers were deacons and elders, as you write, but intimated that they might have been the seniors, presbyters, or overseers, whom the Holy Spirit had designated as the only authorized shepherds of the flock.
We have long doubted whether these “ministers of God” attending continually upon their services, and to whom the brethren at Rome were to be “subject” and “to pay tribute,” or rather, in a fair translation, contributions, in the plural, are constables, sheriffs, hangmen, etc. We are told, “they bear the sword.” Jesus came to “send a sword” and yet it was not of steel, “Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword” by which His people conquered, and the word of God is the sword of the Spirit. We are disposed to conclude, the word sword is employed as emblematic of the authority of the rightful directors in the church. Our brethren’s remarks in reference to our supposed popish tendencies, we consider inappropriate. God has constituted…
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Titled certain persons in the church to execute his law on disobedient members, and it is no popery to maintain that, these are the seniors in each congregation.
- When we expressed the belief that the church of Christ was destined “to break in pieces and consume the kingdoms of the world, and the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heavens shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High,” we intimated not that “anarchy would bring about that desired end sooner than good government,” as our brethren charge upon us.
There is no evidence that any sort of human government will accomplish this end; and yet men in all ages have vainly flattered themselves that by their efforts in constructing governmental plans and systems, they could essentially aid the Almighty. This is the pith of our brethren’s doctrine. They had just as well hold up their feeble tapers as noon to help the sun shine. God will accomplish the end by the sword that proceeds out of the mouth of Him on the white horse, as plainly taught by John, Rev. 19, 21. But Mohammed on the red horse, the emblem of a bloody religion, or the pope upon the black horse of mysticism, or modern religionists with swords to establish governments and religions to suit their bloody taste, will have no part in the achievements of the Prince of Peace.
- While our brethren boast of “the rapid spread of Christianity in our own country, as being greatly due to the protection which it has given to our freedom of conscience, we think it might not be improper to ask, by what rule they have satisfied themselves of the rapid progress of pure religion.” If we are not mistaken, God is testing the genuineness of much of the religion of this country, and if we are not deceived, some of it will prove base metal. When you glorify the civil governments for our liberty of conscience, if you mean to say these governments take not cognizance of religion, we fully agree with you, but if you mean to maintain the divine right of every man worshipping God as seems accordant with the dictates of his own impulses, we would respectfully suggest that the All-wise has given no such license. He has dictated the forms of belief and worship in the Divine Oracles, and pronounced eternal condemnation on all who do not submit.
We exceedingly dislike the brethren’s continual insinuations as to our disposition to oppose good government. Without boasting, we…
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Do not we are as loyal as any one of them; and are as anxious that the best human form of government on earth may be established in the south as any man living. We know the political creeds of the country—have interfered with none—never expect to do so—but we tell these brethren plainly that the rule or ruin doctrines of certain schools north and south we have always dreaded, and should they ever get complete ascendancy in the respective sections, we shall not consider property, our religious liberty or our life very secure.
Brethren, do not present us in an odious light before the public, to gratify the ignorant spleen of such religious speculators as have had the impertinence to refer to us in your city, in a style well calculated to stir up strife. We can maintain all of our positions when permitted, but both human and Christian endurance have a limit.
Our brethren must consider us very patient, or they fail to fully appreciate the tenor of some of their remarks. In answer to our pleadings for “moral means” to secure peace in our distracted country, they ask us, “what sort of moral means must be employed when our houses are on fire? Must we stop to sing songs and pray to the neglect of means which are at hand to extinguish it?” Satisfy us that songs and prayers are the only agents to extinguish fire and we will employ no others, but all knowing that water is the proper agent, a maniac alone would sing psalms to the flames. What do our brethren mean? Do they intend to say that the sword is the proper and only peace agent of earth? More, infinitely more, has been accomplished for the peace, prosperity and happiness of the world, by the love of the Savior, the kindness, innocency and humility of his saints than by all the wars from the debauched Alexander the Great to the coarse and bloody Lincoln of the north.
We trust in God that he is trying the last experiment of the world to conquer peace, in a civilized and enlightened age, by the sword. The truth is, if Lincoln ever had sound sense, he has lost it, and we verily believe that God has demented and palled his advisers, enervated thought, or power in his generals, and turned his soldiers into blinded demons in order to satisfy the world of the folly of attempting to unite into a great brotherhood, honest and intelligent men, by freely shedding the blood of the innocent; and yet our brethren in our judgment, are preaching the same doctrine.
We must tell them in very great kindness that from the Alpha to the Omega of their remarks, their doctrine is…
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evil that good may come.” Time and a little more careful study of the Spirit’s Oracles, we earnestly believe, will very much modify their religious sentiments and feelings.
8. Our brethren ask us
“Upon what ground do we assume that the Lord puts it into the hearts of the wicked to resist the oppressor”? We presume it will be sufficient on our part, to prove the fact, without attempting to define very clearly the mode of God’s operating on the nations.
David prayed, “Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword.” Ps. 17, 13; Jehovah called the wicked “Assyrian, the rod of his anger” and declared that, “the staff in their hand, was his indignation.” Is. 10, 5. As a punishment of the people of God, he “gave them over to the sword” – the Babylonians (Ps. 18, 6). Fifteen hundred years before it came to pass, the Lord threatened, if his people rebelled, to “bring a nation against them from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle that flieth, a nation of fierce countenance and whose tongue they should not understand.” Deut. 28, 49. This was literally fulfilled by the Romans when Jerusalem was destroyed in the first century of the Christian era.
For nearly eighteen centuries the Jews have been dishonored, and at “the fulness of the Gentiles,” God has threatened to “put it into the hearts of the ten horns” – ten European divisions of the politico-religious divisions of the Roman mother of harlots and abominations of the earth, to do his will. Rev. 17, 16, 17. These ten powers are now the chief support of the mixed religions of Rome and Protestantism, but ere long, by an Alwise and over ruling Providence that strictly political element of the ten kingdoms will prevail over the false religions with which the nations are cursed, and “the horns shall hate the whore, shall make her desolate and naked, shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire.”
This will be by the sword, by violence. Then will the words be fulfilled, “Rejoice over her, thou heaven (the church of Christ) and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her.” Rev. 18, 20. Thus the Lord selects wicked agents to accomplish his purpose. To this end he “raised up Pharaoh.” When a people become too proud, arrogant and oppressive for endurance, God in his wisdom, often selects the weaker people and downtrodden, for the punishment of the stronger.
We wish not to be presumptuous, but it does seem to us, even in our country, as we previously said, we think we can see the finger of God everywhere, yet we wish not to be presumptuous. The future is dark.
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By a ruinous policy of government, a part of the people of these once United States, became like Greece and Rome, in the day of their wealth and pride, boastful, tyrannical, ungodly, and determined to rule. The President said, “we (a sectional, self-willed and arrogant faction) take charge of the government.” This monstrous declaration alone, was quite sufficient to put it into the hearts of the weaker people south, upon whom the regulation of governmental affairs devolved, “to fulfill the Lord’s will” in humbling the Usurer. It seems to us that Heaven has not only blinded the greater offenders, but said to the less offensive, unsheath the sword, kill and slay, till the transgressors are better prepared to appreciate the best form of human government ever entrusted to man. It may be God intends to punish all of us for our wickedness, but we should kiss the rod that smites us.
In connection with these, perhaps, speculative views, there is but one more point in the letter of our brethren to which we will call attention, viz: On whom devolves the necessity of shedding blood in defense of political right? We have answered the question in various forms, but we will repeat our very deliberate conclusion. If the responsibility of punishing laws for the disobedient, as well as their execution, rests peculiarly, as our brethren intimate, upon the saints, they are particularly called by God, to buckle on the armor and punish evil doers. They ought to be sure, in the first place, in consequence of their righteousness, to say to the world, “stand aside, we are better qualified to make laws for you than you are for yourselves, and by virtue of our superior qualification, we are Heaven’s chosen agents for the execution of our laws over you.”
This is precisely what the North has attempted to do. The rulers have said to the south, preachers and politicians, “you are too ignorant and wicked for self-government,” being guilty of too many sins damnable per se, and in the words of the great apostle Beecher, “you must be spanked into obedience.” This is a pretty fair statement of the dominant religious sentiment of the parties struggling for power.
Now, if the rulers north or our correspondents are correct in their conclusions, they are perfectly justifiable in cutting the throats of all who are not disposed to yield to their authority. Our brethren tell us that Paul teaches that Christian rulers bear not the sword in vain. We confess, however, that we have misgivings as to the truth of the doctrine pleaded by these brethren, and preachers generally north and south. If we are mistaken, we hope our countrymen will bear with…
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us till we can learn better. In conclusion we would respectfully submit some of the grounds of our doubts. We read in an ancient document called by some, The Book, that, “It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and many people shall go and say, come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths, for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations and rebuke many people, and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up the sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:3-4)
Luke refers to this prophecy when he said “It was written that repentance and remission of sins shall be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47) If then, the Savior and his Apostles preached such doctrine as applicable in their day, and as peculiar to this dispensation, if, when he could have called twelve legions of angels to his defense, he employed none of offensive or defensive weapons save the sword of the Spirit, and if all early Christians, “Look joyfully the spoiling of their goods,” and submitted not only to the sacrifice of their earthly inheritance, but yielded their lives willingly rather than lift the sword for protection, it seems to us, that professed Christians in the nineteenth century should examine the subject carefully, before they attempt with Islams, Romans and Protestants, to propagate morality by the sword.
Still, we say, as we have said from the beginning, this is a day of trial. The professors of religion who feel responsible for the creation and execution of worldly governments, are inexcusable and cowardly if they hesitate to employ force to carry out their creed. Though let every member of the church judge, determine and act for himself. We promise nothing, and cannot tell what circumstances may force us to do. Our reliance so far has been upon God, and our constant prayer to Heaven is, may the right prevail, may the wicked be humbled, the lowly and righteous be exalted, and may God be honored in his institutions, and in his dealings with nations.
T. F.
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PRESIDENT’S AND GOVERNOR’S “FAST-DAYS,” AND “UNION MEETINGS,” TO PRAY FOR THE SUCCESS OF NORTHERN OR SOUTHERN ARMS. WHENCE ARE THEY?
Whilst few, if any, would object to their fellow-creatures fasting and praying, it well becomes Christians to carefully examine the oracles of God as to the propriety of keeping such days with aliens to the government of Heaven, as to the weight of authority of Governors, Presidents, and officers in general requiring of the people of God such indiscriminate exercises as are constantly witnessed.
It will be remembered that in the Constitution of the United States, not even the existence or authority of God is acknowledged, and while it is admitted in the Constitution of the Confederate States, it is in so indefinite a manner that any people might do the same, and yet reject the authority of the Almighty. The Jews, Greeks, Romans, and Deists, in all time, admitted the existence and authority of a supreme divinity, but the authority of heaven and earth for more than eighteen centuries has been vested in the Son of God, and not only have the nations rejected formally and practically his high authority, but it is quite singular that there is not now, and never has been, a single nation on earth that acknowledged the right of the Messiah to reign; and consequently, to this day, there is not a Christian nation to be found.
Multitudes, to be sure, in the various civilized nations have vowed allegiance to the King of kings, and Lord of lords, but they are “a peculiar,” called out people, and after their conversion to Christ are divinely authorized to do nothing which will in the least detract from his honor or authority.
The early Christians dared not engage in foreign or even Jewish religious exercises, and were firmly prohibited from taking part in any worship but that of God through Christ. Whatever they did, in word or deed, was to be performed in the name, or by the sole authority of Christ, and the slightest countenance of other service was deemed idolatrous and treasonable before the court of the Almighty.
If we are correct in judging that the “church of Christ is not of this world,” (Jno. xviii. 36,) but really and truly, a spiritual body; composed exclusively of persons called out from the world—separated from it—”not of the world,” but heirs of God through Christ,—have believed on the Lord with all the heart, renounced sin, and upon an humble confession of their faith have been immersed into Christ, while…
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They continue to walk in him, they are not “subject to the ordinances” of men, nor to “touch not, taste not, handle not,” which all are to perish with their using, after the commandments and doctrines of men. Which things, adds the Apostle, “have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting (or rather) austereity of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.” (Col. ii. 20-23).
Whilst Christians should not necessarily give the least offence to Jew or Greek, or the world in any shape, they should be most scrupulous not to give just cause of offence to the church of Christ, or do anything to compromise his authority. Whilst they should pay the utmost regard for all earthly rulers, when they, through ignorance, or from other cause, require us to do that which robs God of his honor, in destroying all differences between the church and the world, we should act cautiously.
If the State has not sovereignty over the church, its officers have no right to recommend or dictate acts of worship for the saints. But the subject appears in a much worse point of view when we take into consideration the startling fact that most of these governors and presidents who are intermeddling in spiritual matters, are not even righteous men, and few politicians or even statesmen trust in the appointed King of Heaven.
We have been more solemnly impressed with the magnitude of the subject of Church and State cooperations, by the fact that some of the churches—particularly where leading members were so deeply imbued with political influences as to impress them that the care of the State rested upon their shoulders—have been freely mingling their sacrifices with the men of the world. In some instances, brethren who have never been able to conduct the worship of the Lord’s day, have been eloquent leaders of political ecclesiastical assemblies. We hear that many of our preachers are zealous in these exercises.
Worse still, we notice in the papers that “union prayer meetings” have been got up, perhaps by a worldly institution called “The Young Men’s Christian Association,” or by the agreement of the respective sects, to offer special prayers by the day, week, and month for certain purposes, which may be all well enough for the proper persons to pray for such ends, and in some of these “Unions” we observe that there are professed disciples of Christ taking an active part. If we are not mistaken, we can name churches of Jesus Christ, taking the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice, which have refused for years.
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ing even into consultation with other churches of Christ, or to cooperate with their brethren in any good work, that have recently formed cooperative alliances with the denominations around us, for the performance of work unknown amongst the ancient Christians, and in reference to which, the Bible is profoundly silent.
Now the simple question is, where is the divine authority for such proceedings? We not only consider that there is none, but in our judgment, the cause of our Master is much degraded by such conduct. It strikes us that worldly policy must have control where Christians seek religious alliances with the world or parties not recognized in the Divine oracles.
Whilst we believe that Church and State are or should be separate and independent of each other, we cannot conceive upon what authority the Governors or Presidents of the country can call upon spiritual people to carry out their worldly schemes. As previously stated, there is no truly Christian nation, not one acknowledging the authority of Christ as the only competent and authorized law giver, and the Presidents, Governors and people generally who, in distress, engage to keep these fast days, and days of humiliation and prayer, are not under the authority of the Saviour, and therefore, have no right to call upon Christ’s subjects for such purposes as they do, and when Christians perform acts of devotion, not by the authority of Christ but by the authority of men, or fraternize as brethren with men in “union prayer meetings” or otherwise, not members of Christ’s kingdom, they dishonor, in our candid judgment, God, and trample the law of the spiritual body under their feet. No one can do so, but in obedience to a “worldly wisdom” which never fails, when exercised, to overcome all Christian authority.
In our view of the matter, we consider the church of Christ as an authoritative and spiritual body that can form no harmonious alliances with the denominations of men, and that if we are really the followers of Christ, members of his kingdom, it is not proper to acknowledge by any religious act of ours that men not in the kingdom have equal rights with the saints to sacrifice in a manner they have never acknowledged. Neither are the Lord’s people divinely authorized to do anything by authority of officers which in the least detracts from the authority of Christ.
Christians are required to respect magistrates, pay their customs.
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Tributes, taxes, etc., and to pray for kings and all that is in authority, that they may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness, and honesty, but upon no pretext whatever are they allowed to perform religious acts but upon the authority of their Lawgiver, and any except church associations, or associations with the servants of God for devotional purposes, we consider as highly unbecoming.
We make these remarks, we trust, in the spirit of our Master, to mortify or offend the pride of none, but with the sincere hope that the disciples of the Savior will examine the subject. Our columns are open, and those brethren engaged in prayer meetings with associations of doubtful character, and for doubtful purposes, are very respectfully invited to show the authority upon which they proceed.
Before dismissing the subject, we state that it is certainly becoming for Christians to lift their solemn prayers to God for his mercies upon their friends in the army or out of it, and it is certainly becoming for all the saints to pray that the proud and arrogant of earth may be humbled, the oppressed and distressed may be relieved, that the wicked counsels of rulers may be brought into confusion, and especially, that God, in his own good way and his own good time, may restore peace to our unhappy country.
But all these supplications should be offered with the view that God may be honored in whatever may occur, that he knows what is best for us, and will bring it to pass in due time. We, however, would suggest, that in our present state of blindness as to the designs of Jehovah, we should not even seem to dictate to him, interfere with his plans, or fancy that certain things must occur in order to his glory.
Let us say, brethren, that we are ignorant and pray Heaven that we may be enabled to submit, not only to the reverses of earth, but especially that if it is his purpose to punish us and our countrymen for national or individual sins, that we may be enabled to submit; and even kiss the rod that smites us.
T. F.
CO-OPERATION MEETING
The Cooperation meeting of the Disciples of Christ in Middle Tennessee will be held with the congregation at Leiper’s Fork, Williamson county, commencing on Tuesday the 1st of October. The brethren feel much interest in this meeting, and it is earnestly hoped that there will be a large attendance.
Ample preparations will be made for the comfort of all who may attend.
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SUITABLE LABOR FOR CHRISTIANS IN THESE PERILOUS TIMES
It is scarcely possible to realize the difficulties under which the people of God are laboring. When troubles are at a distance it is quite easy for us to speculate—to decide as to the right of parties—and we are almost sure to say that “if we were such and such persons we would not do so and so,” not reflecting that we cannot appreciate all the causes which influence others, and we know not how we would act in different circumstances.
But now we are in unanticipated troubles that must, in their very nature, overwhelm many, and whilst we are blaming the North, and not yet justifying all that is done in the South, we remind our friends that it is a delicate matter to find fault when we have no remedy to offer—no sovereign balm to heal the wound. National, and certainly religious bloodiness has seized upon many of our people. When we see a people that have lived in peace and prosperity together for eighty years, break into a thousand fragments, and what we have supposed, the best human government of the world trampled in the dust, we may well ponder as to the meaning; but when we see former friends lift the sword against each other, we should not be surprised at the stout-hearted fearing and trembling. Worse still, when we witness men of one parentage, one blood, nursed by the same mother, greedily seeking each other’s blood, we may well ask, has an incurable madness possessed their hearts? But when we find denominations of religious that have long rejoiced together as brethren in the spirit, traveling in the same pathway to a world of bliss, rise in vengeance to take away each other’s lives, we may well ask ourselves the solemn question, are these the servants of God? or does Satan rule their hearts and lives? Yet there is, if possible, a darker part of the picture to be unveiled.
When we find a people who have long rejoiced together as brethren on a platform not their own, but from above, who have maintained that the word of God alone is not only a sufficient rule of life for all good men, but amply competent to bind the whole race of man in one universal brotherhood, almost in a moment, in the twinkling of the eye, unsheath the sword against each other, and cry loudly, “revenge or death,” and yet they know not about what; grave men and seniors may well begin to enquire, has God forsaken the earth, and given over even the wise and prudent to work out their own destruction in their…
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own way? Do we intimate too much in reference to Christians?
Whilst the denominations are as one man crying for each other’s blood, the people known as the disciples of Christ are not all in the conflict. As we stated in a previous number of our paper, perhaps one-fourth of the professed Christians North cry for blood; some who have not taken up arms—preachers amongst them—say, “This great rebellion must be put down, peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must.” Possibly one-third of the brethren in the South are fully harnessed for the conflict. They cry, however, for no vengeance, want nothing from the North, but maintain, as they suppose, a divine right to protect their country, their homes—the property that has cost them a life’s labor—their families, and above all, to defend the right of self-government.
We have said, and repeat that if Christians in any circumstances are authorized by Heaven to bear the sword, it occurs to us that this is the time to unsheath it and throw the scabbard away. But most of the brotherhood are staggered, shrink back, and ask what does God mean? All they want is to know his will, and they will perform it with alacrity.
So far, they have acted under the conviction that strife is mainly of the world; and as they have vowed allegiance to the Prince of peace, and are members of a kingdom “not of this world,” and not to be promoted by violence, they content themselves to give all due respect to the rulers of the world, pay their taxes like all other good and loyal citizens, and they prefer waiting a little longer for developments before engaging in the strife. We repeat, that from the best information we can command, from two-thirds to three-fourths of the professed four or five hundred thousand disciples North and South occupy this ground, and look alone to God for guidance.
No one says to his brother do this or do that, go to war or abstain from blood, but let each act upon his own conviction of duty to God and his country, and let no one interfere. Each must account to Heaven for himself.
But there is another view of the matter to which we desire very respectfully to call the attention of the brethren. We are not to be idle spectators, fold our arms, stand aloof and do nothing. If there is a sin more heinous than all others, it is the sin of idleness. Are we told that if Christians are not disposed to shed blood, there is no work for them to do? Must they go into the caves and dens of the earth to conceal themselves from responsibility? Far from it. Some ask…
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“What can we do?”
We will attempt a bird’s eye view of the field of Christian labor.
When our Saviour found the world in wickedness, he said to his disciples, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth into his vineyard laborers.” If Christians find themselves surrounded with the wicked, their labor is imperiously demanded. If the hundreds of thousands who hesitate to take up arms to conquer, or otherwise gain peace, tell us that war is wrong, and the inaugurators and conductors of the present war are mad and sinners above all others, it is no argument for their idleness or want of interest.
Admit that wars exist only in the absence of Christian influence, we ask what amount of Christian influence has been brought to bear by professed Christians in the past four months, in order to put an end to it? Are those who anticipate a cassation of arms by Christian peace measures making any formidable efforts to accomplish so desirable an end? It will not answer for us to conclude that those engaged in the war are not in a condition to receive the truth, and yet we do nothing to change their belligerent relations. We would solemnly impress upon the brethren that certainly we have some important part to perform in the present war. If God has not called us to use the sword of man, he evidently has to employ the sword of the spirit. We imagine there has never been in our country so favorable an opportunity to unfurl the banner of the cross, and cry aloud to armies, “fear God,” and “give him glory and honor.”
Christianity was not always intended to put down evils by direct attacks, but by so engaging men otherwise that they could not practice sin. Hence, if the world could be stimulated to a pure life, to practice godliness, there would be no time nor disposition with men to cut each other’s throats. But we repeat, if Christians are not called of Heaven to take an important part in the present struggle, we are greatly mistaken.
At present, however, we wish not to discuss any doubtful question, but would respectfully call the attention of the brotherhood to matters in reference to which we consider our duty plainly revealed.
- Under the authority to preach the Gospel in all the world, it is the duty of Christians to go everywhere, into the army, into presidents’ houses, into cabinets, and amongst the vilest of enemies, and urge the claims of Jesus of Nazareth. Thousands and tens of thousands…
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ands of men who enlisted in the army merely in frolic, or with the idea that it was a small matter, have been perfectly revolutionized by camp life. Many, after staring death fully in the face, are disposed to turn their thoughts up to God, and evince a willingness to learn wisdom that is divine; surely good and humble men could preach profitably to the multiplied thousands in camp, and yet not merely become movers of men to shed blood.
2nd
We learn that but few in the army are supplied with Bibles—the very word of life—and there are but few who would not delight at times to read. Men necessarily become tired of bloody thoughts and deeds, and in such times many would likely rejoice to look at the sacred oracles. Should not then Christians labor, by all means in their power, to furnish their kindred and countrymen in the tented field, Bibles and books that might direct their hearts to God and Heaven?
3rd
If it is a pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father to take care of the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keep ourselves unspotted from the world, we may find a wide field of labor in protecting orphans and widows left destitute by husbands who fell in battle and by disease in the army. We may be told, if war is unchristian, we would become participants in crime by even supporting the destitute widow whose husband fell in the battlefield. It would be quite as good logic to say that the poor and destitute who have been degraded by the dissipation of husbands and fathers are, on this account, to go unprotected by Christians. When we find human beings sinful, degraded, and miserable, we are not to inquire which of their ancestors sinned, but at once employ our powers to relieve them. Hence, we doubt not, it is the duty of Christians to watch the sufferings of their countrymen in camp, to supply them with all comforts at their command, bind up their wounds, and above all, to point them to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. The care of destitute widows whose husbands, though slain by the sword, the sustenance and education of their children, are the peculiar walk of Christians.
4th
We would be delighted to learn that the disciples of Jesus Christ, North and South, who consider not themselves parties to this fratricidal war, were opening and conducting hospitals for the wounded and sick soldiers. What a vast amount of suffering might be relieved by united Christian benevolence. Many noble youths are now crying.
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To us for help, and Christians should not harden their hearts—it is legitimately our labor to be foremost in every good work. How would it answer to convert the school and college edifices, which must remain destitute of students to the end of the struggle, into asylums for the poor and afflicted, and especially for suffering soldiers?
Whilst we are sincere in our conclusions, we flatter ourselves that we have not transcended our authority, and yet we have found ample employment for Christians in the army without requiring them to slay a single fellow being. We believe there is a better field of labor than that of deadly strife, and we should cheerfully occupy it.
In conclusion, we suggest to the brethren that if we are disposed to labor in any of the departments we have mentioned in connection with the war, the work would not only be legitimately Christian in all its bearings, but we might exert an influence for good incalculable in its consequences, not only on the distressed widows and orphans, the careworn, heart-broken and suffering soldier, but a still more beneficial influence might be exerted over the bloody men who are urging on this most horrid war. Florence Nightingale won bright laurels by her devotion to the sick and dying in the Crimea, and Augusta J. Evans, author of Beulah, a still brighter star, is destined to win a richer reward in the Virginia hospitals than the bravest general on the tented field.
Our appeal is to truly Christian men and women not to let this favorable opportunity to do good pass without improving it. Who will enlist as soldiers to point the erring to God, and relieve the distressed?
Whilst Christians are so doubtful as to the effect of passing events, it will be well for us to turn our thoughts more to the future. There is nothing of earth enduring, and hence, in addition to any labor we may perform in connection with the present revolution and disastrous war, we may confidently anticipate a growing interest in the world with reference to the religion of the Bible. Our position is most advantageous. We have no political or religious creed to defend, but it is our high mission to call the attention of our despondent countrymen to a cause that is not only divine, but promises eternal rest.
Possibly we lack cooperative effort and greater energy. More earnestness, zeal, and humility in the advocation of the claims of Messiah would well become us. While sectarianism has run mad, would it not be expedient to call the attention of even the heads of departments publicly?
THE SOCIETY ADVOCATE
CO-OPERATION MEETING IN SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
Dear Brethren:
Our Co-operation will commence on Friday before the Lord’s day, in October, on Spring Creek, Phillips Co. Ark. Ample provisions will be made for all orderly persons, who may attend. We hope to meet many of the preaching brethren—who will above the din of Caesar’s war-notes, be heard in defense of the cross. That kind of clerical prudery which was fashionable a few years since, is mouthing into the more social relations of life. There are a few yet who entrench behind grave and solemn ignorance, and watchful cautious imbecility, and their ignorant flocks take this as proof of a deep toned piety! Pure dignity is supported by purity of principle, swiftness of genius, and strength of mind. The reign of grave and revered ignorance has passed, and the imposition of the gravity of long faces—the solemn dignity of the wig, and of conventional tones have nearly hushed into eternal quiet! Peace to their ashes!
The ecclesiastical waters are slightly troubled in this section, and a few young ladies of the lame and halt, and blind, are seeking the healing lotion! The meeting is conducted by some young Methodist divines. I have not learned their programme. Sure am I, that it is not the one sketched on the day of Pentecost by Peter (Acts 2). This I am told they label Calvinism, and pass it to the account of heresy! Wonder if these modern called and sent ones, of a party divinity, ever read carefully the first chapter to Galatians? These anti-Bible conversions are short-lived, and leave the recipient where they find him.
Corsairs are pirates, who cruise after and capture merchant vessels. These sail Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli, and the Ports of Morocco. Those ships in time of war are licensed by European or American Governments to seize upon hostile ships. They are called Privateers. We have many Privateers, on the high seas of life—and they will eat bread for which they never worked!
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
287
Let me notify these stupid children, who suffer themselves so tempest-tost, as those tornadic meetings, that they carry in their sack, thoughts, emotions, volitions and feelings, and their feeling is the theatre upon which these young orators act out their proselyting part, always leaving the judgment uncultivated! Deny it, who may. But, I am not writing even a protasis!
JAS. A. BUTLER.
It will be our effort to attend the co-operation in Arkansas the 34 Lord’s day in October.
T. F.
SCHOOLS FOR THE SOUTH
We have heard of no college or high-school in all the South that promises to accomplish anything worthy of the name of an institution of learning. City free-schools, and neighborhood schools for young pupils are doing pretty well, but youths who read the newspapers have no heart to study. Yet we see no good reason why institutions for young ladies might not prosper. Suppose the brethren make an effort in this direction.
T. F.
REPORT FROM MISSISSIPPI
Brother N. B. Gibbons, of Highland, Miss., says some excellent things in a recent letter, and reports progress in his section. He says:
“I have been endeavoring to call the attention of the brethren to things far above the affairs of earth, but owing to our national strifes I find it difficult to reach a large portion of the people. We have been too idle, and failed to teach things which the people are not now prepared to hear. The brethren, many of them, are too much excited about the war, but I still pray the Lord to over-rule all for the good of man. I am much embarrassed as to the prayers offered in reference to rulers. I pray for the innocent, and that all rulers, especially our…”
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
own, may be sufficiently wise and humane to permit the people of the Lord to lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.
Brother Robt. Ussery was with us in July, and labored with great zeal and ability. Two young men made the good confession and put on Christ in Baptism. Many more were almost persuaded to be Christians.
OBITUARY
Charles Dabney Terrell, son of Bro. Dr. H. Terrell, of Maury Co., but formerly of Williamson Co., Tennessee, died of inflammation of the brain at Grenada, Miss., on the 13th of August, 1861, aged twenty-one years and near three months.
Charles aspired to greatness in that which is beautiful to the human family—the agricultural pursuits. But in many things else he seemed to excel many of his age. His mind was active on whatever was brought before it for investigation; hence, in school he excelled, and, as a reward of his untiring energy, received honors of the first distinction. He venerated his father and mother and was loyal to their parental rule; on his death-bed he remarked that he never knowingly disregarded their law. He was devoted to his little brothers and sisters. In conversation he was affable, in manners complacent, in his dealings equitable.
We sympathize with the parents in the loss of a son of such amiable dispositions, and with the little brothers and sisters in the loss of an excellent and worthy brother. Charles is in the hands of him who will do right. May the parents yield resignedly to their irreparable loss, and the brothers and sisters, as they grow up, obey the God of heaven in the gospel of his Son is the wish of their and friend.
May the good Lord save us.
J. K. SPEER.
Franklin Review please copy.
Many valuable reports omitted for the want of room.