#501 
 
 Iff 
 
ADDRESS TO CHlllSTIANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. 
 
 Ckri 
 
 In • our Hoi; anity vc address you in this 
 
 : to us, which we believe deeply 
 conce d to which we invoke your 
 
 ■ 
 
 ilitical inspiration, 
 
 • " truth in love," 
 . 
 
 he souls of all 
 tronal con- 
 iction, that for our 
 * r the sake of humanity 
 
 ke of our Redeemer's 
 
 oved land, 
 
 ■ our enemies, 
 
 solemnly 
 
 committing wl to that I 
 
 we tru j directed, and by whose authority and 
 
 h stand or fall. 
 If v dress by any fears of the final 
 
 now eng wry inclination to 
 
 desire to resume controversy in 
 >n of the 
 : : p , digni 
 
 . duty mo me this ■ 
 
 ing of God 
 
 . ■ '■ 
 
 , and to answer in 
 
 shall be 1 
 
 the causes of the war. They are mat- 
 
 n and read of all men. To discuss 
 
 usly involve much more than. - tian ministers, 
 
 ■ round of : 
 
 ! . in />;••/. ' in fact. 
 
 the case, it is \ble to 
 
 iiion. 
 
 • expel an invader, 
 
 nal inter- 
 of violence can rc- 
 ip, re-esfc 
 a people to brotherly kind- 
 . 
 
 if our etieini lor 
 
 not to recover seceded states, but to subjugate them, what promise do 
 
men find in the numbers, intelligence, courage, resources and moral 
 energies of the millions who inhabit the Confederate States, that such 
 a people can ever become profitable or happy, as subordinate to mere 
 military force ? If subjugation, therefore, were possible, is it desirable? 
 Would the United States gain anything ? Would christian civilization 
 gain anything ? Said a great British statesman in 1775, when arguing 
 in favor of adopting conciliatory measures in respect to the revolted 
 colonies of America — colonies, not seceding states — that were in actual 
 rebellion against their sovereign : "The use of force is but temporary. 
 It may subdue for a moment, but it does not remove the necessity for 
 subduing again ; and a nation is not governed which is perpetually .to be 
 conquered. My next objection is its" uncertainty. Terror is not always 
 the effect of force, and an armament is not a victory. * * * * A 
 farther objection to force is that you impair the object by your very en- 
 deavors to preserve it. The thing you fought for is not the thing you 
 recover." 
 
 Christian brethren, could the hand of violence win you to desire fel- 
 lowship with a people while it destroyed your peace, polluted your sanc- 
 tuaries, invaded the sacred precincts of your homes, robbed you of your 
 property, slaughtered your noble sons, clothed your daughters in grief, 
 filled your land with sorrow, and employed its utmost strength to reduce 
 your country to the degradation of a subjugated province? Would it 
 not rather animate you to prefer death — honorable death — the patriot'^ 
 alternative, the christian's martyrdom? 
 
 As an excuse for violence, our enemies charge that the Confederate 
 States have attempted to overthrow "the best government on earth ;" and 
 callus "traitors," "rebels." We deny the charge, and as to the epi- 
 thets, if they defined our position, under the circumstances, we could 
 glory in them, as do the people of God when persecuted for truth and 
 conscience sake. But we regard such terms as gratuitously assuming 
 the very point at issue. If employed sincerely, we will not complain; 
 but we are persuaded 'that many have uttered these expressions under 
 the influence of resentful feelings, who would not otherwise assert the 
 political doctrines they imply. We are not disposed to engage in an- 
 gry retort, and only mention these things to show that Ave appreciate 
 them. 
 
 It will appear singular when men reflect upon it, that so many intel- 
 ligent and christian people'should desire to withdraw from " the best gov- 
 ernment on earth!" And we need not discuss the kindness of those 
 who so generously propose to confer on us by force of arms u tlie best 
 government." 
 
 No attempt has been made to overthrow the government of the United 
 States, unless by the fanatical party which now administers its affairs. 
 The South never entertained such an idea. If that government fall for 
 lack of Southern support, let men discriminate between the downfall of 
 an oppression when the oppressed have escaped, and a wanton effort to 
 break up good government. So Jmaroah fell, but not by the hand of 
 Israel. The dismemberment of the Union by secession was not a blow 
 at the government. It was for our own deliverance. It was an election 
 of the people, only hastened and rendered in some cases imperative, by 
 the violent movements of the executive of the United States. Virginia 
 
That state was not willing to 
 
 ; butthi I of President Lincoln that she furnish 
 
 led all hesitation. At once she took 
 
 i battle in defence of liberty 
 
 •r the invasion 
 
 the United States 'govern- 
 
 their 
 
 in the 
 
 effort 
 
 purpose to 
 
 to the 
 
 vor of 
 
 annexing or i cc of arms. Instead there- 
 
 , the Con- 
 
 . I peace. After a 
 
 conflict of opinions between tl l and the puth, in church and 
 
 . of more than tin ore bitter and painful daily, 
 
 ' :lvr from i tps to compel us 
 
 into i ! Our proposition v. >> saying, "we 
 
 actually divided, our nominal union is only a platform of "strife." 
 
 er is a call for sevei md troops to force submission 
 
 pvernment \ in the judgment of the South, had 
 
 : iiced to .- • i 1 he speech of Idr. Burke, already 
 
 red to, the follow;:. • be quoted as not >pridte 
 
 to our position in ] 
 
 '40POSITIOX is P peace through the medium of 
 
 ; not peace to be hunted through the labyrinth of intricate and 
 
 "endl ce to arise out of universal discord, fo- 
 
 iVom principle, in all part:; of the e. Dot] o Lepend 
 
 "on the judicial determini precise 
 
 towy bo; 
 "pie | light in the spirit of peace and la 
 
 • 
 
 ; 
 
 ■ unworthy 
 light pf ! 
 
 people 
 
 Polil line has boen dr: 
 
and South. It has been done distinctly, deliberate!/, filially, and in most 
 solemn form. The Confederacy claims to possess all the conditions and 
 essential characteristics of an independent government. Our institu- 
 tions, habits, tastes, pursuits and religion suggest no wish for reconduc- 
 tion of the Union. We regard the Confederacy, in the Wise providence 
 of the Almighty, as the result of causes which render its independent 
 existence .a moral and political necessity, and its final and future inde- 
 pendence of the United States not a matter that admits of the slightest 
 doubt. 
 
 Among all the indefensible acts, growing out of the inexcusable war 
 waged against us, we will refer to one especially, in regard to which, 
 for obvious reasons, we would speak, and as becometh us, plainly vakI 
 earnestly: the recent proclamation of the president of the United States, 
 seeking the emancipation of the slaves of the South is, in our judgment, 
 a suitable occasion for solemn protest on the part of w of God 
 
 throughout the world. 
 
 First, upon the hypothesis that the proclamation could be carried out 
 in its design, we have no language to describe the bloody tragedy that 
 would appal humanity. Christ- ibilities recoil from the vision of 
 
 a struggle that would inevitably leai slaughter of tens of thou- 
 
 sand of poor deluded insmTectioiiis ti their owners suffered ; 
 
 in the nature of things the slaves wc >r infinitely more. Make it 
 
 absolutely necessary for the public - at the slaves be slaughtered; 
 
 and he who should write the history of that event would record the 
 darkest chapter of human woe yet written. 
 
 But secondly, suppose the proclamation — as indeed we esteem it in 
 the South — a mere political document, devised to win favor among the 
 most fanatical of . the Northern people, uttering nothing that has not 
 already been attempted, practically but in vain, b ;ed States," 
 
 suppose it "to be worth no more then* the paper upon wKich.its bold ini- 
 quity is traced, nevertheless it is the avowal of a principle*, the declara- 
 tion of "a wish, the deliberate attempt of the chief magistrate of a nation 
 to do that which, as a measure of war, must be repugnant to civilization, 
 and which we calmly denounce as worthy of universal reprobation, and 
 against which .christians in the name of humanity and religion ought to 
 prol - 
 
 What shall •jsouad Christianity 'si ire-idea ph >y which, 
 
 in the name of an im&gindi ■ usand 
 
 unquestionable evil 
 
 £>t such arg'unient, we snoul &r the issue of 
 
 a full discussion of this whole question G rv. The fear no investi- 
 
 gation, wo do-- te; but we would not, at an hour like this, 
 
 and in an add u is chiefly a protest, invoke the spirit of contro- 
 
 versy. "We content ourselves With wjjat we regard as inlinitely more 
 solemn ; we stand before the world, while war silences the voices of dis- 
 putants, and men in deadly contention wrestle on fields of blood, pro- 
 testing against the crimes that in the name of liberty and philanthropy 
 are attempted! Lot it ge forth from our lips while we live; let it be 
 recorded of us when we are dead, that we — ministers of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and members of his holy church, with our hands upon the bible, 
 #t once the sacred aharH v otir liberties, and the foundation of smr 
 
5 
 
 faith, call heaven and earth to record, that in the name of Him whose 
 we arc, and whom we serve, we protest! cription we can giva 
 
 of this measure of the executive of th ■ even though in- 
 
 dignation alone inspired us to utter it, \ we regard 
 
 n unholy infatual ion, . • 'fll 
 
 verity and bitl ed and reckless war. 
 
 When it of u a miUtary necessity" 
 
 was ado the concession of weak- 
 
 ctf, and content ourselves with calling ;• i to 
 
 the ' created by a ncedh- fvasion. 
 
 ''Milj -de nee — not for self-prescr- 
 
 ion — but \ the laws of civ re, and al ;a 
 
 barb: ity. [f "military necessity" be the inspiration to attempt i man- 
 11 men p • other nations 
 
 first to invade ai 
 Bubju dent st;; ' I then avow the 
 
 principle of k n excuse to add severity to the 
 
 wron upon which to pro i n- 
 
 ly, honor 
 
 uer upon any other 
 I roclaim I - and 
 
 children s I method common 
 
 and the common hopes of christian civilization. . - 
 
 nation, cry 0.1 st this wretched subterfuge. ne- 
 
 ■ ■• may righteously ado;. an inva- 
 
 :. or his malice su . : > prin- 
 
 ciples of ' ad equity shall nal 
 
 At one time the world 'is tol . : il be 
 
 crushed < y days ;" atano. ion men abound i wi[\ 
 
 . S. troop:- erers," and now I eria so 
 
 hopeless of hi . that it is a " that lie obtain 
 
 help of b • iy it not be pertinently 
 
 to this invasion, ought men to believe, and 
 . 
 11 signally fail, as uin 
 
 promise* • ■■ :, relentless, 
 
 •war! Because the : ; he con- 
 
 lemn him ; ti, his 
 
 rant to us than I ' : 
 
 I nn 
 .•ch 
 • onscientiousn 
 horn Southerners nt : 
 
 the i . 
 itly denounce hi pon 
 
 are riot 
 the st: we 
 
 caii- . ■ ■ of phii pretext of doing 
 
 eek the a nU- 
 
 -. 
 Let philanthro •, even according to its own terms, this 
 
6 
 
 measure is in no proper sense an act of mercy to the slave, but of malice 
 toward the master. It provides for freeing only the slaves of those ivho 
 fight against the United States. The effort is not to relieve that gov- 
 ernment of slavery, where the philanthropy has full opportunity for 
 displaying its generosity, and the power to exercise it in respect to 
 slavery, if it exist at all, can be indulged ; but the effort is simply to 
 invoice slavery as an agent against the South, reckless, of the consequen- 
 ces to the slaves themselves. Shall a pretext at once so weak and so 
 base mislead intelligent men, and make them imagine Abraham Lincoln 
 is a philanthropist ! His position ought to be offensive to every sincere 
 abolitionist, as well as disgusting to every sincere friend of the slave of 
 every shade of opinion on the question of slavery. How clges it affect 
 the cause of the Confederacy ? If to awaken a deeper resentment than 
 ever inflamed the people of the South before ; if to quench the last sen- 
 timent of respect that lingered in their breasts for the U. S. govern- 
 ment ; if to unite them more resolutely than ever, and to make it to 
 the individual interest of every person in the bounds of the confederacy 
 to sustain and strengthen it with every dollar and every arm, and every 
 prayer, and evei\y energy of manly virtue and christian encouragement, 
 bo to advance the invader's interest, and give him hope of success, then 
 has the proclamation furnished him opportunity of congratulating him- 
 self. 
 
 We submit farther > That the war against the Confederate States has 
 achieved no good- result, and we find nothing in the present state of the 
 struggle that gives promise of the United States accomplishing any good 
 by its continuance. Though hundreds of thousands of lives have been 
 lost, and many millions of treasure spent; though a vast amount of 
 valuable property has been destroyed, and numbers of once happy 
 homes made desolate ; though cities and towns have been temporarily 
 captured, and aged men and helpless women and children have suffered 
 such things as it were even a shame to speak of plainly ; though sanctua- 
 ries have been desecrated, and ministers of God been dragged from 
 sacred altars to loathsome prisons ; though slaves have been instigated 
 to insurrection, and every measure has been adopted that the ingenuity 
 of the enemy could devise, or his ample resources afford by sea and by 
 land ; yet we aver, without fear of contradiction, that the only posses- 
 sion which the United States hold in the Confederate States is the ground 
 on which U. S. troops pitch their tents ; and that whenever those troops 
 withdraw from a given locality in our territory, the people resident 
 therein testify a warmer devotion to the Confederate cause than even 
 before their soil was invaded. Nothing is therefore conquered— no part 
 of the country is subdued; the civil jurisdiction of the United States, 
 the real test of their success, .has not been established by any force of 
 arms. Where such civil jurisdiction exists at ail along the border, it 
 has existed all the while, w; opl obtained by force, and is not the fruit 
 of conquest. This fact is admitted by our enemies themselves. 
 
 It is worthy of special n/j .. the gigantic exer- 
 
 ■ i States, r return of a 
 
 single ;igh3 state that' has 
 
 seceded. No civil oixb ig up in the track of their armies. 
 
 All in front oi* them' is rose] are resistance, and behind them, when they 
 
J7 
 
 have entered our territory, is a deep, uncompromising opposition, over 
 which only military force can for a moment be trusted. Thus the civ- 
 world is culled upon to observe an inva lich has lasted for 
 ! nothing hut cruelty. Before it a people rear! 
 die, but neither ready to . . nor weak enough to he conquered ; and 
 
 . and 
 uhfeelii < them that by it have 
 
 sought In the name of the 
 
 < n, nothing to 
 i an awfi 
 drtv our fo ' that river of blood which di- 
 
 ■ 
 
 ■ people since the beginnin 
 tlie war, that : to the fii the 
 
 ■ From a o the forme* [Jni more 
 
 ! to the Corifedera 
 
 ble in any oth rce of 
 
 would merely exhibit which the p< 
 
 would stru perpetual revolutionary effort, while any Southron 
 
 I alive. ninatioh of the inhabitants could alone realise 
 
 ill. Subjugation is therefore clearly im 
 sible. Is exterminati d by chri 
 
 The moral m nteretU c wght to be appreci 
 
 by ( of all nd 
 
 The- realized c no benefit from the war. We 
 
 are aware that in ; ..1 aspects of the question of slavery, 
 
 we differ from those who conceive of emancipation as a measure of be- 
 
 unt we suffer reproach which we are 
 
 3tem of slavery 
 •us before eye witn 
 
 '. ord, havj things" on this sub- 
 
 ject of "which we speak, we may surely claim respect for our opinions 
 fcatements, . own up from childhood among the 
 
 1 to and tau ; rd of life; 
 
 •rdinane a church: sin- 
 
 t died ; we go among themfreely 
 
 and know them in health and sickness, in labor and rest, from infancy to 
 
 _e. V» T c arc famili their physical and moral condition, and 
 
 alive "to all their intetes I Ave testify in the sight of God, that the 
 
 ver we may deplo 
 
 in this, as in Other relations of mankind, is not incompatible with our 
 
 holy ( fens in our land is an 
 
 iide on their behalf, I.' seeing that thereby 
 
 Divine Pr tight them where missionaries of the cross may 
 
 freely proclaim to them the word of salvation, and the work is not in- 
 
 fanaticism. The South has done more than any 
 
 peopL ii for the christianization of the African race. The con- 
 
 i of .-laves here is not wretched, as northern fictions would have 
 
 men believe, but prosp . and would have been yet more 
 
 so but for the : D zeal of abolitionists. Can emancipation obtain 
 
for them a better portion 9 The practicable plan for benefitting the African race must 
 be the providential plan — the scriptural plan. We adopt that plan in the South, and 
 while the state should %eek by Wholesome legislation to regard the interests of master 
 and slave, we as ministers would preach the word to both as we are commanded of 
 God. This war has not benefitted the slaves. Those that have beeh encouraged or com- 
 pelled by the ene-i ■ their masters have gone, and we aver can go, to no state 
 of society thai-oilers them any better things than they have at home, either in respect 
 to their temporal or eternal welfare. We regard abolitionism as an interference with 
 the plans of'Divine Providence. It has not the signs, of the Lord's blessing. It is a 
 fanaticism which puts fori h no good fruit ; instead of blessing, it has brought forth 
 cursing; instead of love, hatred; instead of life, death— bitterness and sorrow and 
 pain an'd infidelity and moral degeneracy follow its labors. We remember how the 
 apostle has taught the minister of Jesus upon this subject, saying : "Let as many ser- 
 vants as are under the yoke, count their own masters worthy of all honor that the name 
 of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masrers,let 
 them not despise them because they are brethren; but rather do them service because 
 they are faithful and beloved, part alters of the benefit. These things teach cmd exhort. 
 It' any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, 
 knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh 
 envy, strife, railing's, evil snrmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt mind, and 
 destitute of the truth, .supposing th.it gain is godliness : from such withdraw thyself." 
 
 This is what we teach* and obedient to the last verse of the text, from men that 
 "teach otherwise" — hoping for peace — we "withdraw" ourselves. 
 
 The christians of the South, we claim, are pious, intelligent and liberal. Their pas- 
 toral and missionary works have points of peculiar interest. There are hundreds of 
 thousands here, both white and colored, who are not strangers to the blood that bought 
 them. We rejoice that the great Head of the Church has not despised us. We desire 
 as much as in us lieth, to live peaceably with all men, and though reviled, to revile not 
 again. 
 
 Much harm has been done to the religions enterprises of the church by the war; we 
 -will not tire you by enumerating particulars. We thank 'God for- the patient faith and 
 fortitude of our people craring these days of trial. 
 
 Our soldiers were before the war our fellow-citizens, and many of them are of the, 
 household of faith, who have carried to the camp so much of the leaven of Christi- 
 anity, that amid all the demoralizing influences of army life, the good work of salva- 
 tion has gone forward there. 
 
 Our president, some of our most influential statesmen, our commanding general, and 
 an unusual proportion of the principal generals, as well as scores of other officers, are 
 prominent, and we believe consistent members of the church. Thousands of our sol- 
 diers are men of prayer. We regard our success in the war as due tJdivine mercy, and 
 ou'r government and people have recognized the hand of God in the formal and humble 
 celebration of His goodness. We have no fear in regard to the future. If the war con- 
 tinue for years, we believe God's grace sufficient for us. 
 
 In conclusion, we ask for ourselves, our churches, our country, the devout prayers of 
 nil God's people — "the will of the Lord be done." 
 
 Christian brethren, think On these things, and let your answer to our address be the 
 voice of an enlightened christian sentiment going forth from you, against war, against 
 persecution for conscience sake, against the ravaging of the church of God by fanati- 
 cal invasion. But if we speak to you in vain, nevertheless we have not spoken in vain 
 in the sight of God ; for Ave h^ve proclaimed the truth — we have testified in behalf of 
 christian civilization— we have invoked charity— we have filed our solemn protest 
 against a cruel and useless war. And our children shall read it and honor our spirit, 
 though in much feebleness we may have borne our testimony. 
 
 " Charity bearcth all things, bclieveth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all 
 things." We desire to "follow after charity;" and "as many as walk according to 
 this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." 
 

 SIGNATURES TO THE ADDRESS! 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 Ro. Ryland, D. D., Pros. Richmond College, Richmond, Va. 
 y, 1>. I)., Richmond, Va. 
 
 J. i). Jeter, D. D., Pres. Foreign Miss. Board, Richmond, Va. 
 
 James B. Taylor, D. D., Secretary Foreign Miss. I^oard, Richmond, 
 inia. 
 
 A. M. Poindexter, D. D., Secretary Foreign Miss. Board. Richmond, 
 Virginia. 
 
 William F. Broaddus, D. D., Charlottesville, A 
 
 H. W. Dodge, Lynchburg, Va. 
 
 Cornelius Tyree, Powhatan Courthouse, Va. 
 
 A. D. Shaver, Edr. Religious Herald, Richmond,, \ 
 
 C. George, Culpepcr Courthouse, Va. 
 
 R. H. Bagby, Bruington Church, Va. 
 
 Tho. E. Skinner, Raleigh, North Carolina. 
 
 James P. Boyce, D. D., Pres. Theol. Sem., Greenville, South Carolina, 
 
 John A. Broadus, D. D., Professor Theol. Sem., Greenville, South 
 Carolina. 
 
 Basil Manly, jr., D. D., Professor Theol. Sem., Greenville South 
 Carolina. 
 
 William Williams, D. D., Professor Theol. Sem., Greenville, South 
 Carolina. 
 
 J. M. C. Breaker, Edr. Confederate Baptist, Columbia, South. 
 Carolina. 
 
 J. L. Reynolds, D. D., Columbia, South Carolina. 
 
 M. Crawford, D. D., Pres. Mercer University, Georgia. 
 
 Joseph S. Baker, Quitman, Georgia. 
 
 H. C. Hornady, Atlanta, Geo: 
 
 .son, Edr. S. West Baptist,. Tu Uabania. 
 
 Thos. S. Savage. Livingston. ippi. 
 
 DISCIPLES. 
 
 W. J. Pettigrew, Richmond, Va. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOi . 
 
 I 
 Church South. 
 
10 
 
 Jphn Early, D< D., Virginia, Bishop of Methodist Episcopal Church 
 South. 
 
 G. F. Pierce, D. D., Georgia, Bishop of Methodist Episcopal Church 
 South. 
 
 A. M. Shipp, D. D., Pres. Wofford College, South Carolina. 
 
 Whiteforcl Smith, D. D., Soutli Carolina. 
 
 J. T. Wightman, Charleston, South Carolina. 
 
 W. A. G.imewcll, Marion, South Carolina. 
 
 Wm. A. Smith, D. D., Pres. Randolph Macon College, Virginia. 
 
 Leroy M. Lee, D. D., Virginia. 
 
 D. S. Doggett, Richmond, Virginia. 
 J. E. Edwards, Richmond, Virginia. 
 
 James A. Duncan, D. D., Edr. Richmond Christian Advocate, Va» 
 Braxton Craven, D. D., Pres. Trinity College, North Carolina. 
 Joseph Cross, D. D., Tennessee. 
 
 C. W. Chalton* Edr. Holston Journal, Knoxville, Tennessee. 
 S. D. Huston, D. D., Edr. Home Circle, Tennessee. 
 
 E. H. Myers, D. D. Edr. Southern Christian Advocate. 
 
 METHODIST PROTESTANT. 
 
 W. A. Crocker, Pres. Virginia District. 
 
 R. B. Thompson, Pres. Lynchburg, College, Virginia. 
 
 F. L. B. Shaver, Pres. Alabama District. 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL. 
 
 Joshua Peterkin, D. D., Richmond, Virginia. 
 James A. Latane, Staunton, Virginia. 
 James Moore, Louisburg, North Carolina. 
 Wm. N. Hawks, Columbus, Georgia. 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN. 
 
 Union Theological Seminary, Virginia. 
 
 Robert L. Dabney, D. D., Prof. Systematic Theology, &c. °) 
 
 Benjamin M. Smith, I). D., Prof. Oriental and Biblical Criticism. > 
 
 Thomas E. Peck, Prof. Church Hist, and Gov't. J 
 
 John M. P. Atkinson, Pres. Hampden Sidney College, Virginia. 
 
 William S. White, D. D. Lexington, Virginia. 
 
 Francis McFarland, 1). D., near Staunton, Virginia. 
 
 T. V. Moore, D. D., Richmond, Virginia. 
 
 William P» own, D. D., Edr. Central Presbyterian, Richmond, Virginia. 
 
 TheodorL' Pryor, D. D., Petersburg, Virginia. 
 
 A. W. Miller, Petersburg, Virginia. 
 
 Drury Lacy, D. D., North Carolina. 
 
 Robert H. Morrison,- D. D., North Carolina, 
 
 Daniel A. Penick, North Carolina, 
 
 John L. Kirkpatrick. D. D., Pres. Davidson College, North Carolina. 
 
11 
 
 Theological Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina, 
 
 • 
 
 A. W. Leland, D. D., Professor Pastoral Thed 
 Greorg . D., Prof. Bib. Literature. 
 
 John ;er, D. D., Prof. Eccles. Hist., 
 
 3 Woodrow, Perkins Prof. Nat. Science, &c. 
 P. M. Palmer, D. D., Pastor 1st Pit rch, New Orle 
 
 Thom he, D. D. . 
 
 W. 0. Dana, i !h u 
 
 gamuel K. T D. I).. Prcs. Oglethorpe I 
 
 John S. Wilsons I). D., Atlanta, Georgia. 
 • ■ 
 
 D. D., T 
 
 ge H. W. .Via lama. 
 
 Joseph Brown, Florida. 
 Archibald Madison, Fie 
 
 United Synod. 
 
 Charles H. Rend*, D. D., Richmond, Virginia. 
 
 A. Converse, D. D., Eilr. Ghristion Observer, Richmond, Vii 
 
 Tho. W. Hooper, Richmond, \ 
 
 P. B. Price, nia. 
 
 Jacob D. Mitchell, D. D., Lynchburg, Virgi 
 
 Tho. D. Bell, Harrisonburg, Virgil 
 
 J. H. C. Leach, D. D.. ille, Virgin i 
 
 I, Tennessee. 
 Jos< ' Eartin, Knoxville, Tennessee. 
 
 Fred. A. Ross, D. D., Huntsville, Alabama. 
 L McLean, Mobile* Alabai 
 
 C. M. Atkinson, Canton, Mississippi. 
 
 Associate Reformed. 
 
 J. C. Presslv, D* D., South Carolina. 
 
 R. C. Griei-: D. D., South Carolina. 
 
 E. L. Patton, Pres. Er.^kine College, South Carolina. 
 
 J. J. Bonner, Ear. Dae West Telescope, South Care. 
 
 Cumberland Presbyterian. 
 N. A. Davis, Texas. 
 
 LUTHERAN. 
 
 D. F. Bittle, D. D. Pres, Roanoke College, Virginia* 
 
 GERMAN REFORMED. 
 J. C. Hensell, Mt. Crawford, Virginia. 
 
10 
 
 
 iii publishing the forego ii .. ss it is proper to declare expli- 
 
 citly, that its origin was from no political- source Whatever^ but from a 
 conference of ministers of the gospel in the city of Richmond. 
 
 The signatures are confined to this class because it was believed that, 
 on the points presented, the testimony of men holding this office might 
 be received with Jess prejudice tr :in that of any other. These signa- 
 might have been indefinitely increased. Only a limited number 
 of names — much less than at first intended — was solicited; and as they 
 are still coming in, some will probably be received too late for insertion. 
 Those appended represent more or less fully every accessible section of 
 the Confederacy, and nearly every denomination of christians. They 
 are ample for the chief objects intended, namely, to bear witness to the 
 christian world that the representations here made concerning the public 
 sentiment of the South- are true, and to carry a solemn protest against 
 the continuance of this fruitless and unrighteous war. 
 
 2. From the best sources of information it is ascertained that the 
 whole number of communicants in the christian churches in the Confed- 
 erate States is about two millions and fifty thousand. 
 
 Of these the number of white communicants is about one million five 
 hundred and fifty thousand. Supposing the total white population to 
 be eight millions, and one-half that number to be over eighteen years of 
 age, a little more than one-third of the adult population are members 
 of the Church of Christ. 
 
 The number of colored communicants is about five hundred thousand. 
 Assuming the colored population to be four millions, there would be, 
 upon the same method of computation, one-fourth of the adult popula- 
 tion in communion with the Church of Christ. Thus has God blessed 
 us in gathering into His Church from the children of Africa, more than 
 twice as many as are reported from all the converts in the Protestant 
 Missions throughout the heathen world. 
 
 ERRATUM. 
 
 Page 7, third line, instead of " v nearly two 
 
Hollinger Corp. 
 P H 8.5