With the war over, Baptist churches of the South that survive the great conflict strive to return to some sense of normalcy. Many churches face a generational future of far fewer white male members than prior to the war. In addition, black members, if they have not already, are certain to leave within weeks, months…
With the war officially over, hundreds of Confederate soldiers are paroled daily, effectively forgiven for their involvement in the rebellion against the United States and permitted to go home. Among Baptist soldiers paroled this day are F. W. Eason of South Carolina and James Harris of Georgia. Eason, baptized in 1858 by the venerable Basil…
Founded on May 29, 1842, the First Baptist Church of Selma, Alabama is more fortunate than many Baptist congregations of the South. Having remained open during the war, the church now moves into the post-war era, one month following the Battle of Selma in which Union forces invaded and destroyed the town’s army arsenal and…