]
Bible-classes, which meet every Sunday.
After the school is over, we have prayer-meeting, and then again at night.
We have also formed a Christian Association, which meets every Wednesday evening, at 7 o'clock. I cannot inform you of the condition of the regiment, on account of its being so scattered.
There are no two companies together.’
On Friday last, I preached for
Davis's Mississippi Brigade, now on picket at ‘Peyton's Ford,’ and in the afternoon led down into the ‘liquid grave’
twelve young men who had given me the most satisfactory evidence of ‘repentance toward God and faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ.’
The large congregation which lined the banks of the ‘
Rapidan’ was greatly moved, and I trust that the ordinance was blessed to the good of souls.
The stream was very rapid (owing to the recent rains) and the whole scene vividly reminded me of those occasions upon which the great ‘forerunner’ baptized soldiers in the rapid stream of
Jordan.
I was told by an old citizen, that about fifty years ago
Mrs. General Madison (sister-in-law to the
President) was bap tized in the same place in the presence of a large crowd, of which the
President was one.
What would have been the feelings of the great expounder of the
Constitution if he could have looked into the future and seen that at the same place, in fifty years, the ordinance of baptism would be administered to
Southern soldiers in sight of the hostile lines of their ‘Northern brethren?’
The good work which I reported in this brigade some time ago still goes graciously on, though they have been temporarily deprived of their chapel and the services of their efficient chaplain.
The private Christians are working and praying, and the Lord is abundantly blessing their efforts.
And all through the army there are revivals—the chaplains and missionaries (alas!
there are now but few of the latter) seem to appreciate the importance of getting as large a number as possible to accept the glad tidings ere the opening of the campaign.
It adds materially to the solemn responsibilities of our preaching to remember, that in every congregation we probably address those who will fall in the impending battle.
Everything portends an early move, if the protracted rains shall cease.
Exactly what the move will be, I, of course, have no means of knowing, and would not say if I did. But this much I may say—recent preparations
