Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
Alabama Baptist State Convention--important resolutions-- Collections for army Colportage, &c., &c.
Marion, Ala., Nov. 11, 1861.
the following important preamble and resolutions were yesterday offered by
Rev. B. Manly, Sr., D. D., and after an interesting discussion unanimously adopted:
"the Baptist General Association of Virginia having organized a system of Colportage, by which Testaments and suitable books and tracts are being published and distributed among the soldiers of the
Confederate States, and having at its last annual meeting passed a series of resolutions soliciting the co-operation of the Baptists throughout the
South; Therefore.
- 1. Resolved, That we warmly sympathize with this enterprise, and will earnestly co-operate with our Virginia brethren.
- 2. Resolved That we affectionately recommend the Baptist churches throughout this State to make immediate and liberal collections for the further prosecution of this most important work.
- 3. Resolved That, believing it highly desirable that the Baptist family throughout the Confederate States should unite in this movement, and would earnestly commend the Virginia resolutions to the favorable consideration of the denomination in the several Confederate States.
- 4. Resolved, That in the judgment of this body, it is desirable to concentrate the entire work of the denomination in the Southern Confederacy with respect to publishing and circulating bibles, tracts, and other works under one general management and superintendence.
Dr. Manly advocated these resolutions in a speech of fervid and over powering eloquence.
He said that for years he had been watching the Colportage operations of the
Virginia brethren and had often been filled with amazement at the results The movement in that State has not only excited the admiration of the denomination throughout the
South, but has made an impression on the religious world.
Even in the
Sandwich Islands its effects have been felt.
For a published report of a Colporteur in the
Virginia mountains was read in a chapel in one of these islands to a congregation which had just been converted from heathenism and a collection was made for this cause.
Dr. Manly felt thankful that our brave men had, in the
Providence of God, been placed in the only State in which this work had proven a success, so that now we have some fifty trained Colporteurs in the various
Virginia encampments.
Had our soldiers been congregated in any other State there would be no trained Colporteurs to go among them, for so far as he knew, no evangelical denomination in the
Gulf States had been able to organize and sustain a system of Colportage.
Dr. Manly spoke in glowing terms of the success which had attended such labors among the soldiers.
Though for forty years he had been in the ministry, he had never witnessed such an eagerness to receive religious instruction.
In many of the encampments around
Montgomery revivals of religion had been enjoyed, and he believed that if the Christians of these
Confederate States would arouse themselves to this work there will be such displays of Divine power and goodness among our armies as to astonish even our enemies.
Rev. H. Talbird, D. D.,
President of Howard College, had for three months been in
Virginia as
Captain in the service.
While there he visited eighteen regiments, and, to his astonishment, he found them schools of morality and virtue.
He met with many young men who had been under his instruction in former years, and they assured him that this was true of their companies.
Dr. Talbird wanted
Alabama to share in the glory of caring for the souls of the brave men in service in
Virginia.
Rev. W. H. McIntosh has given his sons, and when they left him he felt more distressed in regard to the
spiritual dangers to which they would be exposed than the physical.
He thanked God that now the Colportage work was relieving his fears and surrounding his boys by the holy influences of the Gospel.
Rev. S. Henderson, editor of the
Southwestern Baptist, felt that to-day
Virginia is part and parcel of
Alabama, since the flower of this State is there.
Everything from the Old Dominion interests us here.
Religiously, as well as politically, we have a common cause, and, therefore, with all his heart, he approved of the resolutions.
Judge Watson,
President Davis, of the
Judson, and others, advocated this important work, after which a collection was taken up, amounting to $485, with $200 worth of books given by the
Selma Bible Society, and the funds sent up by several churches for this object makes a contribution of $800, which is doing very well, ‘"all things considered."’
An important report on the
State of the country was read on which the goodness of God is in the states is gratefully acknowledg edged and the determination expressed to maintain our position at all hazards.
Rev. Dr. Manly said that the strong and decided position which this Convention had taken a year ago in behalf of secession had carried the
State.
This had been declared by Congressmen from various districts of
Alabama, and Gov
Moore had frequently referred to the action of this body as having turned the tide and secured the triumph of the Secession party.--After
Dr. Manly's address the vote was taken, when every man, every woman, and every child stood up to testify their determination to sustain their own 'sunny South.'.
Reports on various important subjects were presented, and after several interesting addresses the
Convention adjourned to meet at
Tuscaloosa one year hence.
Yesterday the several churches of the town were occupied by ministers attending the
Convention.
