Some Baptists of the South are concerned that pulpits are being abandoned because of war-caused disorder. Today, Tennessee Baptist editor James R. Graves (widely known as J. R. Graves) publishes a letter from a Texas Baptist who asks, “Shall Preaching Be Abandoned?”
Bro. Graves:–Suffer a young Baptist, through your paper to address all who profess to be friends and followers of my blessed Jesus.
Brethren, with a heart filled with sorrow I see the kingdom of Satan triumphing over the kingdom of my blessed Saviour. Many who apparently stood firm in the cause of Christ in times of prosperity have forsaken their post in the trying hours of adversity and temptation! and gone back to the world and sin. Let us not give up the struggle in the cause of Jesus, for we learn that through many tribulations we are to enter the kingdom. The promise is: “In due time ye shall reap if ye faint not.” Many brethren are refusing to uphold the arm of the minister, and say, “Let our pastor remain at home, for preaching will do no good in these times in the Southern Confederacy. May our God give you many days yet to work for the South religiously and politically. We are all right in Texas now, plenty of beef, mutton, corn and wheat, and I have some more of those “$100 mutton” for you when you visit me again in Texas.
Yours, fraternally,
James W. Barnes.
Source: “Shall Preaching Be Abandoned?,” Tennessee Baptist, January 4, 1862 (link)
