Saulsbury Baptist Church was founded July 14, 1866. The “Preacher General,” Mark Perrin Lowrey helped organize the church along with about a dozen believers who presented letters from churches in the area. According to his biography, Lowrey was a Southern Baptist preacher otherwise known as the Preacher General. “He is known for being a Confederate brigadier general during the Civil War, for his works in the Mississippi Southern Baptist Convention, and for founding Blue Mountain College.”
According to the record in the history of Hardeman County Tennessee the organizational meeting for the church lasted 12 days and concluded with “13 hopeful conversions with 9 baptized. So began the Saulsbury Baptist church….” Saulsbury Baptist Church has a rich history of ministry over the past 160 years.
Commemorating the 160th year of the Saulsbury Baptist Church this past weekend was a fitting complement to celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. We’ve been reminded of those patriots who rallied together to form our nation, and we have marveled at the discussions and documents that became our foundation as a free nation.
My mother and her family were members of the church in Saulsbury. Born January 13, 1921, she grew up surrounded by family and friends who were well anchored in that part of the South. The church was a mere 55 years old when she was born. Our nation was 145 years old when the church was founded in Saulsbury on the heels of the Civil War.
Those born in the South are not surprised to learn about Civil War times when Yankees, or to be polite Union forces, descended from the north intending to destroy farms and communities wherever they roamed. The war did not touch those who lived above the Mason-Dixon line the same way.
Of course, churches, particularly Baptist churches and ministries played major roles in people’s lives during those dark days. Imagine your own nation’s military destroying what you and your ancestors had labored for decades to build from the ground up. In the deep South, the so-called Bible Belt of our nation, churches were foundational for daily living.
According to family stories, we posed no threat to those who invaded our lives and destroyed our livelihoods. If not for church congregations and ministers who faithfully preached the gospel and prayed diligently for peace, those who had settled farms and businesses would not have survived the indiscriminate crimes against humanity.
Nevertheless, I was surprised to hear about Confederate Brigadier General Mark Perrin Lowrey’s life of Christian service combined with his service in the CSA repelling northern invaders in numerous campaigns including Battle of Shiloh, Battle of Perryville, Battle of Chickamauga, and Battle of Murfreesboro to name a few.
After the war Lowrey returned to Mississippi where he had founded First Baptist Church of Corinth and served as the first pastor. Before the war he had also served as pastor of Farmington Baptist Church and a church in Kossuth.
Newcomers to the South don’t understand our legacy of faith and fighting. Baptists certainly understand! It’s a strength God has given us to make it through this old world. Thank God for blessing us all not for our works but from His abundant love and grace.
Daniel L. Gardner is a columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com.
6 comments:
DL, the war didn't start with a Yankee invasion. We fired on Ft. Sumter first and that signaled the other Confederate batteries to fire. We left the Union, they didn't leave us.
Divisive constructs seem to me the tool of those who seek fame and fortune for themselves then and now, not those who seek a peaceful and prosperous society! And certainly, NOT the long line of ministers of the faith I come from who came here in 1690...the first were Lutherans who wanted freedom to worship as they chose. Later some changed their minds and became Methodists after Wesley rode into town...no one forced that upon them or berated them or insulted or pressured them ...they were inspired to be honorable men who improved the place they found themselves. They ministered to the flock and "preached" the words of Jesus and his disciples as instructions on how to live as peaceful men and to sacrifice for the good of man if necessary. My ancestor was wounded at Cold Harbor and has his own monument honoring him in his hometown. On the other side of the family, my grandmother hid her 11yr. old 6th son in the well when Confederate soldiers came for him at the end (the other 5 died fighting for the Lost Cause).
That you seem to think only Baptists fought heroically is mighty " puffed up". Even some Quakers were drawn in to offer aid to their Southern neighbors who were injured.
Biased history to favor a political party or start a fight seems very ungodly to all of them! Jesus didn't get recruit an army with weapons or armor. HE had a staff not a sword! HE urged us to be better, kinder, and more giving of ourselves to others...even strangers!
Captain John Carter, a former Confederate officer and prospector who mysteriously finds himself transported to Mars, known to its inhabitants as Barsoom. Because of the planet's lower gravity, Carter discovers that he possesses extraordinary strength and agility, allowing him to leap great distances and overcome powerful enemies. He soon encounters the Tharks, a fierce, green-skinned, four-armed warrior race.
Carter is initially captured by the Tharks and gradually earns their respect through his courage, intelligence, and fighting abilities. Among them, he meets Tars Tarkas, a powerful Thark leader who becomes his friend. Carter also encounters Dejah Thoris, a beautiful Martian princess of the red-skinned people of Helium. Dejah is depicted as wearing very little clothing, and at times she is nude, reflecting the novel's exotic portrayal of Martian customs and its early twentieth-century adventure-fiction sensibilities.
John Carter becomes deeply attracted to Dejah Thoris and is determined to protect her from danger. Although Dejah is a princess, she is also intelligent, courageous, and strong-willed. Their relationship develops as Carter helps her escape captivity and navigates the dangerous political rivalries between the various Martian civilizations. Their growing affection becomes one of the central emotional elements of the story.
As the adventure progresses, Carter becomes involved in the conflicts between the city-states of Mars, particularly Helium and Zodanga. Using his remarkable strength, military experience, and strategic intelligence, he helps the people of Helium fight against their enemies. With the assistance of Tars Tarkas and other allies, Carter leads daring battles and rescues Dejah from those who seek to control her through political marriage.
Ultimately, John Carter's courage and loyalty help bring victory to Helium, and he wins the love of Dejah Thoris. However, just as he is about to enjoy his happiness on Mars, a mysterious atmospheric catastrophe threatens the planet's survival. Carter makes a desperate effort to save the Martians, but he suddenly finds himself transported back to Earth.
All of this too long. Can someone please shorten it for me
Your version of Christianity will get all Christians erased from history.
Agree, the original post and the diatribe responses.
Heard about a comic book where the confederates were discovered to be extra terrestial klingons landed from the planet Uranus. Turned out really bad for them in the end. Can anyone remember what was the title?
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