(“The Mighty Mac at Dusk” – Macinaw Island Bridge – photographer unknown)
The Immutable Kingdom – Part 72
By Scott A. Klaft
The Church In Time Of War …continued
(Setting the Stage for Struggle)
All but two of Lincoln’s newly appointed cabinet members recommended that Major Anderson abandon Fort Sumter, but Lincoln strongly disagreed. He had no intentions of recognizing or legitimizing the Confederate government. Evacuation of Federal property to southern seizure seemed very much like doing just that, let alone what doing so would do to northern morale. He notified the Confederates that he was sending provisions to the fort without additional troops or ammunition, and then he gave the order to send the supplies. His judgment proved to be wise as the move avoided a war-like stance and left the decision to the south. If the Confederates fired upon them now, they would be branded as the aggressors.
Upon receiving the information, the Confederates instantly demanded Major Anderson’s surrender, which was cordially refused. On April 12, 1861, with thundering southern artillery, followed by fire, smoke, devastation, and death, the first shots of war sounded the trumpet of woe that would be heard throughout the continent, and the world, for years to come. The North would pit its superior numbers, weaponry, and supplies against the South’s tenacity, guile, and passion for four years.
It is difficult to tell with any brevity how this would affect the churches of the Restoration Movement. The sources are scarce and the details concerning how the war affected them in a material way, or the extent to which they took part or suffered, and the issues or positions taken and by whom are all difficult to find.
From the election of November 1860, to the dramatic commencement of war-guns in 1861, there was political agitation throughout the land, the likes of which had not yet been seen. It was during this period that Tolbert Fanning was journeying through the southern states. On November 27, he left Nashville to travel to Corinth, Mississippi, and then south to Jackson, the State Capital. The state legislature was in session, and Fanning freely admits to have been taken aback by the political fervor. He confessed he had not seen such political excitement before. He went to the legislative halls to hear the political speeches, and it seemed that the only question before them was, “When, and how, shall Mississippi secede from the union?”
What, if any, difference did the war make to the church? In many ways, it made an astounding difference. The veteran preacher, T.W. Caskey was among those who drew up the papers of secession. Fourteen years prior, Fanning had preached for a crowd in Jackson that would have filled the chambers of the State House of Representatives. Now he preached for two days to very small numbers. From Jackson he traveled to Vicksburg, and then to New Orleans, finding, in all his searching, only two or three Christians worshiping after the New Testament manner.
He headed east to Mobile, Alabama, and visited brethren throughout the state. Arriving in Montgomery, the State Capital, he discovered the city in such turmoil that no one had time to hear about the Lord. Finding no brethren there, he moved on to the east again, toward Atlanta, Georgia, arriving on December 21, the day after South Carolina’s announcement of secession. He had hoped to visit a dear brother in Christ, Dr. A.G. Thomas. With solemn disappointment, Fanning wrote:
“Dr. A. G. Thomas is a brother of fine address, superior talents and learning, but we saw him with a feather in his hat and a glittering sword in his right hand, and doubted if he would be able to hold the sword of Georgia in one hand and the sword of the Spirit in the other.”[1]
Fanning was deeply regretful that so many of the brethren were getting so heatedly excited over political affairs while forgetting the Lord; he scolded them for doing so.
(Continued next week)
[1] Tolbert Fanning, “Tour Through Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia”, Gospel Advocate, Vol. VII, No. 2 (February, 1861) p. 39
