Year: 1861

sisted cruel tyrant or painted for liberty,
are upon the soil of Virginia, or ready to
move there, prepared to do battle, and to
die, if need be, in defence of our homes
and fresides These are our own brothers,
fathers and sons. They have freely ex'
changed the quiet and happy home, with
all of its comforts, for the privations of the
camp, with all of its battle-felds and its
blood. They arc exposed to temptations to
evil which are peculiarly strong. Scarcely
any school of vice can be found equal to
that incident to the camp.


The Baptist Colportage Board Of South
Caralina has determined to counteract these
evil influences, by putting into the hands
of each soldier "the Word of God" The
Bible, together with tracts and volumes Of
kindred influence, will, it is believed, be as
a wall round about to protect them In
pursuance of this plan, l have been direct
ed to appeal for aid to all such in South
Carolina as feel an interest in the spiritual
welfare of our soldiers. Companies have
been found in which three. .fourths are with.
out copy of the New Testament, while in
almost every company members are found
who have either neglected to carry with
them, or. have lost, this invaluable book
Much of their time the soldiers have moth.
ing to do. Time hangs heavily. How
easily may sinful habits be prevented by
suitable reading being given to them
They are calling on us for something to read.
In many instances they have begged for the
New Testament and tracts, but were unable
to obtain them, for the supply obtained from
the North is exhausted. We can no longer
buy them from that quarter. We must
print them ourselves. The New Testament
will very soon be issued in the South, and
numbers of tracts suited to the soldiers are
being printed, aud will continue to be.


We have pious aud devoted colporteurs
appointed. to this most inviting field, and
numbers of others anxious now to carry to
the soldier the Word of Life. Had we the
requisite funds, We could supply every SOL
dier from South Carolina with those means
which would teach him how to become a
soldier Of the Cross. Applications have
been made to the Board for New Testa
ments, tracts and good books, and they will
be given as early as it is possible to do So


The friends of the soldier will see hiw
greatly funds are needed, to prosecute this
work with the vigor which its importance
demands. It is work which may not be
delayed. Battles are being fought. Hun
dreds are being killed, and are dying con,
stantly. Churches may be built year
hence, but unless We give the soldier the
Word of Life mow, We shall never be able
to give it to him. Hemust have the Word
of God but to put it into his hands, and
to employ colporteurs to carry it to him, we
are dependent upon the free-will offerings
of those who care for the souls of those
men who have and will offer up their lives
upon the altar of their country. Our books
and tracts will, for the most part, be given
away, and will be such only as will be ap-
proved by all evangelical denominations.


How can we so we'll discharge the debt
of obligation to those who are fighting tor
US our battles, as by surrounding them with
the restraining and sauctifying influences Of
Christianity? Influenced by these consid,
erations, I earnestly invite the hearty and
prompt cooperation of all classes through.
out South Carolina in this inviting field of
Christian labor. Let oil who will aid in
this good work send their contributions al
once. Address Wc>D. RICE,


Gen. Supt. Baptist Colportage,


Sumter. S. G.