Today William S. Christian (1830-1910) of Virginia–physician, Baptist layman and veteran military officer–is promoted to Colonel in (and commander of) the 55th Virginia Infantry Regiment of the Confederates States Army. His promotion comes on the eve of the Battle of Gettysburg, a battle that changes Christian’s life and stamps the imprint of the war upon…
While Southern Baptist army missionary A. E. Dickinson argues that Confederate Army camp life offers an opportunity to complete the Christian evangelization of Southern states, an anonymous Southern Baptist professor, utilizing flowery language not uncommon of the day, disagrees: An appeal to the soldiers of the Confederate States, by an old instructor, many of whose…
The war years heighten a growing concern among many Baptists: alcohol. While most Baptist churches yet use wine (often homegrown) in communion, and few Baptists advocate total abstinence, more Baptist leaders voice disapproval of the widespread use of hard liquor, while local Baptist congregations wage a war upon drunkenness, expelling many male members for overconsumption.…