Confederate Soldiers
Many Southern Baptist men are now soldiering for the Confederacy. Army life is far from easy: danger, hunger, illness, exposure to the elements, and death are all constant worries, although secondary–in the minds of preachers–to the ever-present specter of sin. Most Baptist churches in the South never refer, in their church records, to their soldiers who are fighting for the South. Baptist newspapers, however, remind congregations and the general public of their duties to Confederate soldiers, as summarized in this short piece published this week.
Some churches keep a correspondence with their soldiers who are members. I hope all will follow this good example. Testaments and tracts should be industriously circulated among them. Their wives ought to be cared for by every county and every friend of his country. They should have what they need on cheap terms. Sick soldiers should have what they need on very moderate terms. They should not be kept out of doors if there is room for them under a shelter. When they are on their journey, people ought either to charge nothing or a very small price.
Source: “Soldiers,” Biblical Recorder, May 21, 1862 (link); image (link)
