Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, December 26th. Please feel free to reply or forward. Your comments and efforts are always appreciated. It may also be used as an article in your camp or other newsletter.
It is my hope that you all had a very merry Christmas and look forward to a happy and prosperous new year.
May our Lord bless you in His service and in service to our most worthy Confederation.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
Sons of Confederate Veterans
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The Last Confederate Christmas.
Recently, I had the privilege to speak at a very elegant affair and banquet called, "Christmas in Dixie." It was co-sponsored by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, camp 124, the Order of Confederate Rose, chapter 31, and the Military Order of Stars and Bars, chapter 261. Plus, there were a number of ladies with the United Daughters of the Confederacy attending. The event was also historic, in that 77 years ago, in 1933, the last reunion of Confederate Veterans of the Tyler, Texas area was held in the same building. Period dress was requested and it was an impressive and festive occasion to say the least. My wife (Jan) and I enjoyed it immensely and are very pleased to have been invited.
In the process of preparing my presentation to these fine ladies and gentlemen of the South, I came across an article written in 1897. It was titled, Eggnog in Atlanta, and recounted the last Confederate Christmas in that great city. I did not use it in my message, because the banquet was intended to be a joyous and gala affair, and this article made me both sad and mad.
In December, 1863, the citizens of Atlanta were happy and prosperous. They were buying and selling and getting ready for a merry Christmas and a happy 1864. The article stated, "The outlook was growing brighter, and that the next Christmas would be a peaceful one under the flag of the triumphant Confederacy." Of course we know it was not to be. This was to be their last Confederate Christmas.
By December 1864, Atlanta, called "The Citadel of the Confederacy," was in ruins. The article read, "This shattered and blasted wreck of a city was then the most desolate spot on the continent." It went on to say, "There were no Christmas shoppers, no Christmas shops, and no Christmas." For the Union, it had become a war against civilians. To men like Sherman, every Southerner was an enemy, and every home and business a target to be destroyed.
As I read this article and several others which were similar in nature, I became more acutely aware of something I already knew, as I'm sure most of you know also. Winning the war and beating the South into submission to it's new idea of a centralized government, and justifying it's illegal invasion and criminal acts was not the end of the Union's ultimate strategy. They had to destroy who we were, and still are. They had to crush our Southern traditions, our Southern customs, and our Southern heritage. They have to be sure that 150 years ago was the last Confederate Christmas.
When I spoke at the "Christmas in Dixie" banquet, I said that the Christmas message can be summed up in two words: Love and Life. Notice John 3:16. I did not speak of Union atrocities or their ultimate desire to destroy our heritage. I told them that Jesus said, "I am come that they may have life." (Jn. 10:10) And also, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." (Jn. 14:6) Yes, the Christmas message is all about God's love and our life.
I'm very glad I was invited to take part in the "Christmas in Dixie" banquet in Tyler, Texas. It was a Confederate Christmas, so I can firmly state the Union strategy has failed. And since it is an annual event, I also know it won't be the last Confederate Christmas.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Army of Trans Mississippi, Sons of Confederate Veterans. Information for the Army on the Move !!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for December 19, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, December 19th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always appreciated. It may also be used in your camp or other newsletter.
May our Lord bless each of you with a very merry Christmas.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
Sons of Confederate Veterans
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It is the manner of this world to consider some people as being more important or of greater value than others, usually due to their wealth or position. However, the Christmas message tells us this is not so with God.
When Christ was born in Bethlehem, the Bible tells us that an angel was sent to announce His long awaited arrival. (Lk. 2: 10, 11) It is important for us to notice that when the angel came, he did not come to the priests serving in the great Temple of God in Jerusalem. Nor did he come to the Rabbis who taught people about the coming Messiah, or to the Scribes who knew so much about the prophecies concerning the Messiah. The angel did not come to the very religious Pharisees or Sadducees, or make his announcement to the Sanhedrin, the judges of Israel. And the angel did not appear to King Herod.
When the angel came to bring the "good tidings of great joy," he passed by all of the religious leaders, rulers, and men of influence and power, and made the long awaited announcement to simple shepherds "keeping watch over their flock by night." (Luke 2: 8-20) Of course, this is not to say there is anything inherently wrong with being a leader, or having knowledge and influence. But it does tell us that God is not impressed with our degrees, titles, rituals, or position in the church or community. God looks at our heart, not our stature or pocketbook.
There was an old Bible teacher at a very large seminary who was highly regarded for his scholarly work, knowledge of Scripture and spiritual wisdom. One day some of his Bible students came to him and asked, "Professor, after all your years of study and great accomplishments in the field of Theology, what is the most important thing you've learned?" Without hesitation he answered, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
The Apostle Paul writes, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2Cor. 11: 3) God's word is not, nor was it intended to be, complicated. True Christianity is having simple faith in the simple truth.
So, as we celebrate this Christmas, let us enjoy the old, old stories, and the well known Christmas songs. But, we should also be mindful of the true Christmas message. If a person asks Christ to come into his life in simple faith, He will come, and He will come as surely to a shepherd as He will a king.
Below is my message for Sunday, December 19th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always appreciated. It may also be used in your camp or other newsletter.
May our Lord bless each of you with a very merry Christmas.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
Sons of Confederate Veterans
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Christmas Message.
The story of Christmas has been told and retold. A mountain of books have been written and thousands of sermons have been preached about that first Christmas so long ago. We sing songs about peace on earth and joy to the world. And we love to hear of Mary, Joseph, and the birth of the Christ Child in Bethlehem. But, there is a Christmas message that is often overlooked.It is the manner of this world to consider some people as being more important or of greater value than others, usually due to their wealth or position. However, the Christmas message tells us this is not so with God.
When Christ was born in Bethlehem, the Bible tells us that an angel was sent to announce His long awaited arrival. (Lk. 2: 10, 11) It is important for us to notice that when the angel came, he did not come to the priests serving in the great Temple of God in Jerusalem. Nor did he come to the Rabbis who taught people about the coming Messiah, or to the Scribes who knew so much about the prophecies concerning the Messiah. The angel did not come to the very religious Pharisees or Sadducees, or make his announcement to the Sanhedrin, the judges of Israel. And the angel did not appear to King Herod.
When the angel came to bring the "good tidings of great joy," he passed by all of the religious leaders, rulers, and men of influence and power, and made the long awaited announcement to simple shepherds "keeping watch over their flock by night." (Luke 2: 8-20) Of course, this is not to say there is anything inherently wrong with being a leader, or having knowledge and influence. But it does tell us that God is not impressed with our degrees, titles, rituals, or position in the church or community. God looks at our heart, not our stature or pocketbook.
There was an old Bible teacher at a very large seminary who was highly regarded for his scholarly work, knowledge of Scripture and spiritual wisdom. One day some of his Bible students came to him and asked, "Professor, after all your years of study and great accomplishments in the field of Theology, what is the most important thing you've learned?" Without hesitation he answered, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
The Apostle Paul writes, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2Cor. 11: 3) God's word is not, nor was it intended to be, complicated. True Christianity is having simple faith in the simple truth.
So, as we celebrate this Christmas, let us enjoy the old, old stories, and the well known Christmas songs. But, we should also be mindful of the true Christmas message. If a person asks Christ to come into his life in simple faith, He will come, and He will come as surely to a shepherd as He will a king.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-MississippiSunday, December 12, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for December 12, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, December 12th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome. This, or any message may also be used as a Chaplain's Article in your camp or other newsletter.
May our Lord bless each of you in His service and in service to our most worthy Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
Sons of Confederate Veterans
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The enemies of Christ are hard at work to remove any and all Christian influence from our country, which was founded on Christian principles and a reliance on Jesus Christ.
School children are being taught that George Washington crossed the Delaware and chopped down a cherry tree, but not that he was a Christian. They are not being told what he had to say about God, Jesus Christ, or the Bible. This is not only true of George Washington, but of nearly all of the founders and early leaders of our country. Most were Christians who put their trust and faith in God. We know that, because they said so. However, this is not being taught to our children even though it's true. And, why? Because it isn't politically correct and some non-Christian might claim to be offended.
For generations we've been taught that Abraham Lincoln was a great man who saved the country and freed the slaves. Scores of people, misled by erroneous teaching, have visited his statue in Washington, D.C. to pay homage to his image as if he were some god in a Greek temple. Of course, we know him to have been a tyrant who's inflated ego, poor judgment, and illegal acts caused the death of over six hundred thousand American men and immeasurable suffering.
At the same time, honorable, Christian men like Robert E. Lee, T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson, and all of our Confederate generals, who fought to save the country and it's constitution, have been vilified and called traitors. Our brave and noble Confederate forefathers are being called a "racist army." Our proud Southern heritage is being mocked and our legacy shamed by those whose only interest is self promotion. They pick fights and find fault in what is true and right in order to increase the audience of their radio or television programs, or add to the readership of their newspaper columns or websites. They criticize and attack what is honorable and true, while they have no honor and care nothing for truth.
Southern states who asked their young men to leave their homes and families to go to war to defend it against a terrorist invasion, and now refuse to honor their sacrifice because it isn't politically correct are a disgrace. Southerners who have bought in to the Union lies and will not seek or accept the truth even when it's presented to them, because of what someone might think, are a shame and unworthy of their own heritage.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans has been given the "defense of the Confederate soldier's good name," and "the guardianship of his history." As such we may get mad and upset at these self-serving hypocritical bigots that attack our noble Southern heritage and brave Confederate forefathers, but I firmly believe God is for us, and the Bible tells us in Romans 8:31, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Below is my message for Sunday, December 12th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome. This, or any message may also be used as a Chaplain's Article in your camp or other newsletter.
May our Lord bless each of you in His service and in service to our most worthy Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
Sons of Confederate Veterans
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enemies!
School children are being taught that George Washington crossed the Delaware and chopped down a cherry tree, but not that he was a Christian. They are not being told what he had to say about God, Jesus Christ, or the Bible. This is not only true of George Washington, but of nearly all of the founders and early leaders of our country. Most were Christians who put their trust and faith in God. We know that, because they said so. However, this is not being taught to our children even though it's true. And, why? Because it isn't politically correct and some non-Christian might claim to be offended.
For generations we've been taught that Abraham Lincoln was a great man who saved the country and freed the slaves. Scores of people, misled by erroneous teaching, have visited his statue in Washington, D.C. to pay homage to his image as if he were some god in a Greek temple. Of course, we know him to have been a tyrant who's inflated ego, poor judgment, and illegal acts caused the death of over six hundred thousand American men and immeasurable suffering.
At the same time, honorable, Christian men like Robert E. Lee, T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson, and all of our Confederate generals, who fought to save the country and it's constitution, have been vilified and called traitors. Our brave and noble Confederate forefathers are being called a "racist army." Our proud Southern heritage is being mocked and our legacy shamed by those whose only interest is self promotion. They pick fights and find fault in what is true and right in order to increase the audience of their radio or television programs, or add to the readership of their newspaper columns or websites. They criticize and attack what is honorable and true, while they have no honor and care nothing for truth.
Southern states who asked their young men to leave their homes and families to go to war to defend it against a terrorist invasion, and now refuse to honor their sacrifice because it isn't politically correct are a disgrace. Southerners who have bought in to the Union lies and will not seek or accept the truth even when it's presented to them, because of what someone might think, are a shame and unworthy of their own heritage.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans has been given the "defense of the Confederate soldier's good name," and "the guardianship of his history." As such we may get mad and upset at these self-serving hypocritical bigots that attack our noble Southern heritage and brave Confederate forefathers, but I firmly believe God is for us, and the Bible tells us in Romans 8:31, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D.
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi Sunday, December 5, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for December 5, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, December 5th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome. This message may also be used in camp or other newsletters.
May our Lord bless you all in your Christian service and in service to our most honorable Confederation.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
Sons of Confederate Veterans
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Even a casual reading of the eleventh chapter of Hebrews would be sufficient to explain why it is called the "Faith Chapter." It speaks of the abiding faith of God's leaders and prophets in the Old Testament. It tells us in verses 35 and 36 that these Old Testament Saints were tortured, mocked, scourged, bound, and imprisoned. The following verse goes on to say, "They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented."
New Testament Christians have experienced the same treatment over the past two thousand years. They have been mocked, imprisoned, tortured, and killed, for no other reason than their faith, by those who are no better than ravening wolves or rattlesnakes.
It seems to be the rule rather than the exception. Men of lesser character will persecute and attempt to destroy (at least their reputation if not their life) those who take the moral high ground and proclaim the truth. Consider our own Confederation and Confederate Cause. There's a Black History month, a Hispanic Heritage month, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, Muslim holidays, and Chinese New Year. But if we attempt to set aside even a day to celebrate our Southern heritage, we are belittled, debased, and denied. Our Southern rights are opposed by those who are not only willfully ignorant, brainwashed, bigoted and filled with hate, but are determined to destroy our proud Southern heritage and all that it represents.
Consider Union President Lincoln. He stated plainly that Black people should not be considered equal to White people. On the other hand, Confederate President Davis adopted a Black boy to be his son. Consider Union General Grant. He (or his wife) owned slaves, and continued to own them until after the war. On the other hand, Confederate General Lee was morally opposed to slavery and did not own slaves. Consider Union General Sherman. He at least condoned, if not encouraged, brutality against civilians, including Black men and women. On the other hand, Confederate General Jackson started a school for black children so they could learn to read and write. So who are the bigots? Who are the racists? Who are those who willingly degrade the character and reputation of honorable men to further their own self serving agenda? Who are the ravening wolves and rattlesnakes?
Our Confederate forefathers, from generals to privates fought for truth. Our Southern heritage and traditions represent truth . The Sons of Confederate Veterans continue to carry the banner of truth. And, those who have put their trust and faith in Jesus Christ follow truth. And, although you can't debate a ravening wolf or reason with a rattlesnake, truth will prevail.
May God bless us in our service to Him and our just and most worthy cause, and help us in our struggle against the pernicious efforts of ravening wolves and rattlesnakes.
Below is my message for Sunday, December 5th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome. This message may also be used in camp or other newsletters.
May our Lord bless you all in your Christian service and in service to our most honorable Confederation.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
Sons of Confederate Veterans
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ravening Wolves and Rattlesnakes!
New Testament Christians have experienced the same treatment over the past two thousand years. They have been mocked, imprisoned, tortured, and killed, for no other reason than their faith, by those who are no better than ravening wolves or rattlesnakes.
It seems to be the rule rather than the exception. Men of lesser character will persecute and attempt to destroy (at least their reputation if not their life) those who take the moral high ground and proclaim the truth. Consider our own Confederation and Confederate Cause. There's a Black History month, a Hispanic Heritage month, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, Muslim holidays, and Chinese New Year. But if we attempt to set aside even a day to celebrate our Southern heritage, we are belittled, debased, and denied. Our Southern rights are opposed by those who are not only willfully ignorant, brainwashed, bigoted and filled with hate, but are determined to destroy our proud Southern heritage and all that it represents.
Consider Union President Lincoln. He stated plainly that Black people should not be considered equal to White people. On the other hand, Confederate President Davis adopted a Black boy to be his son. Consider Union General Grant. He (or his wife) owned slaves, and continued to own them until after the war. On the other hand, Confederate General Lee was morally opposed to slavery and did not own slaves. Consider Union General Sherman. He at least condoned, if not encouraged, brutality against civilians, including Black men and women. On the other hand, Confederate General Jackson started a school for black children so they could learn to read and write. So who are the bigots? Who are the racists? Who are those who willingly degrade the character and reputation of honorable men to further their own self serving agenda? Who are the ravening wolves and rattlesnakes?
Our Confederate forefathers, from generals to privates fought for truth. Our Southern heritage and traditions represent truth . The Sons of Confederate Veterans continue to carry the banner of truth. And, those who have put their trust and faith in Jesus Christ follow truth. And, although you can't debate a ravening wolf or reason with a rattlesnake, truth will prevail.
May God bless us in our service to Him and our just and most worthy cause, and help us in our struggle against the pernicious efforts of ravening wolves and rattlesnakes.
Brother Len Patterson, Th.D.
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi Sunday, November 28, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for November 28, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, November 28th. Please feel free to forward, reply, or use it in your camp or other newsletter. Your comments are always welcome.
May our Lord bless each of you in His service and in service to our just Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Chaplain, Central Texas Brigade
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
Sons of Confederate Veterans
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At one time or another we've all been behind an automobile with a bumper sticker which read, "Ask me about my Grandchildren." Now, I'm sure the driver of that car would be happy to show you an endless number of baby pictures and tell you who each one was, complete with an explanation of all the details concerning that particular photo. To this you would then nicely say, "You have beautiful grandchildren. You must be very proud." Or something to that effect. And they would respond with . . . "Thank you!"
Certainly it is proper that we love, care about, and be proud of our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but I have an idea. How about a bumper sticker that reads, "Ask me about my grandparents." Ask me about my great-grandparents, or my great-great-grandparents. Ask me about my ancestors. After all, if it weren't for them we wouldn't be here, and there'd be no grandchildren to ask about. So, to all of those who gave us life and therefore life to our children and grandchildren, let us say . . . "Thank you!"
Perhaps we should have a bumper sticker that read, "Ask me about my Southern heritage." We are proud of our Southern heritage and the brave men in Grey who so valiantly fought to defend it, and the women of the South who served and supported our just Confederate Cause. We'd love to tell anyone who asks all about it. We are proud of all those who with firm determination withstood the hardship and suffering of an illegal and unwarranted Union invasion. And, to all of them we say . . . "Thank you!"
Of course there are those who do honor their forefathers and mothers. So, to every member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, past and present; to every member of the Daughters of the Confederacy, past and present; to every member of the Order of the Confederate Rose, past and present; and to all others who have diligently and continuously guarded and defended the memory of our Southern heritage and ancestors . . . "Thank you!"
While we have much to be thankful for, and many to be thankful to, it is also important to realize who is most worthy of our thankfulness. In Ephesians 5:20, the Bible says, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Scripture tells us to thank God always for all things. Ultimately, God is the source of everything we have to be thankful for.
We can be most thankful that God loves us, and sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die in our stead that we might have eternal life. We can be thankful that He sends His Holy Spirit to strengthen, guide, and comfort us in our most difficult times. We can thank Him for preserving us, as we await our Lord's return. We can thank Him always for all things, and should began every prayer and supplication to God with . . . "Thank you!"
To all my friends, Brothers, and Compatriots, I hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving, and for all you do for Christ and our most worthy Southern Cause . . . "Thank you!"
Below is my message for Sunday, November 28th. Please feel free to forward, reply, or use it in your camp or other newsletter. Your comments are always welcome.
May our Lord bless each of you in His service and in service to our just Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Chaplain, Central Texas Brigade
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
Sons of Confederate Veterans
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At one time or another we've all been behind an automobile with a bumper sticker which read, "Ask me about my Grandchildren." Now, I'm sure the driver of that car would be happy to show you an endless number of baby pictures and tell you who each one was, complete with an explanation of all the details concerning that particular photo. To this you would then nicely say, "You have beautiful grandchildren. You must be very proud." Or something to that effect. And they would respond with . . . "Thank you!"
Certainly it is proper that we love, care about, and be proud of our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but I have an idea. How about a bumper sticker that reads, "Ask me about my grandparents." Ask me about my great-grandparents, or my great-great-grandparents. Ask me about my ancestors. After all, if it weren't for them we wouldn't be here, and there'd be no grandchildren to ask about. So, to all of those who gave us life and therefore life to our children and grandchildren, let us say . . . "Thank you!"
Perhaps we should have a bumper sticker that read, "Ask me about my Southern heritage." We are proud of our Southern heritage and the brave men in Grey who so valiantly fought to defend it, and the women of the South who served and supported our just Confederate Cause. We'd love to tell anyone who asks all about it. We are proud of all those who with firm determination withstood the hardship and suffering of an illegal and unwarranted Union invasion. And, to all of them we say . . . "Thank you!"
Of course there are those who do honor their forefathers and mothers. So, to every member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, past and present; to every member of the Daughters of the Confederacy, past and present; to every member of the Order of the Confederate Rose, past and present; and to all others who have diligently and continuously guarded and defended the memory of our Southern heritage and ancestors . . . "Thank you!"
While we have much to be thankful for, and many to be thankful to, it is also important to realize who is most worthy of our thankfulness. In Ephesians 5:20, the Bible says, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Scripture tells us to thank God always for all things. Ultimately, God is the source of everything we have to be thankful for.
We can be most thankful that God loves us, and sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die in our stead that we might have eternal life. We can be thankful that He sends His Holy Spirit to strengthen, guide, and comfort us in our most difficult times. We can thank Him for preserving us, as we await our Lord's return. We can thank Him always for all things, and should began every prayer and supplication to God with . . . "Thank you!"
To all my friends, Brothers, and Compatriots, I hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving, and for all you do for Christ and our most worthy Southern Cause . . . "Thank you!"
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi Thank You!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for November 14, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, November 14th. Please feel free to reply, forward, or use it as an article in your camp or other newsletter.
May God bless you in all you are doing for Him and our just Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jesus was never one to back down, especially when He wanted to make a point that His audience desperately needed to hear and understand. So, in the face of a lynch-mob mentality, Jesus laid out some of His most direct and challenging teaching. An example of this is John 5:19-47. In these verses He states firmly the extent of His authority. Of course, in verses 16-18 of that same chapter we see that the Jews "sought the more to kill Him."
I'm reminded of a man who stood on a busy street corner and asked every girl that passed by for a kiss, only to be slapped for his effort. After a short while he was approached by another man who said, "Sir, I couldn't help but notice you get slapped a lot." He responded by saying, "Yes I do, but I get kissed a lot too." The point being, if you want to be kissed, you can't be afraid of getting slapped.
Jesus did not fear the reaction of others to His message or works. Because of His commitment to the ministry God had given Him, Jesus attracted the love, loyalty, and devotion of many. However, many others rejected, despised, and sought to destroy Him and His influence. And, this is just as true today as it was two thousand years ago.
As Christians we have been given the responsibility of carrying out the Great Commission given to us by Christ in Matthew 28: 19, 20. Today, as it has always been, the most effective means of reaching a lost and sin-sick world with the love and saving power of Christ is the bold witness of faithful Christians. All the high powered Madison Avenue marketing techniques, dog-and-pony shows, concerts, social events, and other strategies used by many of today's "churches" cannot replace the fearless testimony of our Lord's Saints.
As members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, we also have the duty and honor of carrying out the Charge given to us by Stephen Dill Lee. Can we succeed? Yes! With God's help and guidance, as we fearlessly present our most worthy Southern Cause, I have no doubt we can and will be successful in fulfilling our responsibility to our brave and noble Confederate forefathers.
But to accomplish our purpose, we must let all those who oppose God's truth know we are proud of the cross. We are proud of Jesus Christ and proud to call Him Lord. We are proud to be Christians, and will proudly proclaim our faith to all who will listen.
We must also let all those who oppose our just Cause know we are proud of our Southern heritage. We are proud of our Confederate ancestors. We are proud of our Confederate flags and symbols. We are proud to be the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and will proudly proclaim to all who will listen: The South was right . . . and still is.
We will succeed because, like Jesus and those who served before us, we will not fear the response or attitude of others. "Fear hath torment." (1 John 4:18)
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Below is my message for Sunday, November 14th. Please feel free to reply, forward, or use it as an article in your camp or other newsletter.
May God bless you in all you are doing for Him and our just Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fear Hath Torment!
I'm reminded of a man who stood on a busy street corner and asked every girl that passed by for a kiss, only to be slapped for his effort. After a short while he was approached by another man who said, "Sir, I couldn't help but notice you get slapped a lot." He responded by saying, "Yes I do, but I get kissed a lot too." The point being, if you want to be kissed, you can't be afraid of getting slapped.
Jesus did not fear the reaction of others to His message or works. Because of His commitment to the ministry God had given Him, Jesus attracted the love, loyalty, and devotion of many. However, many others rejected, despised, and sought to destroy Him and His influence. And, this is just as true today as it was two thousand years ago.
As Christians we have been given the responsibility of carrying out the Great Commission given to us by Christ in Matthew 28: 19, 20. Today, as it has always been, the most effective means of reaching a lost and sin-sick world with the love and saving power of Christ is the bold witness of faithful Christians. All the high powered Madison Avenue marketing techniques, dog-and-pony shows, concerts, social events, and other strategies used by many of today's "churches" cannot replace the fearless testimony of our Lord's Saints.
As members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, we also have the duty and honor of carrying out the Charge given to us by Stephen Dill Lee. Can we succeed? Yes! With God's help and guidance, as we fearlessly present our most worthy Southern Cause, I have no doubt we can and will be successful in fulfilling our responsibility to our brave and noble Confederate forefathers.
But to accomplish our purpose, we must let all those who oppose God's truth know we are proud of the cross. We are proud of Jesus Christ and proud to call Him Lord. We are proud to be Christians, and will proudly proclaim our faith to all who will listen.
We must also let all those who oppose our just Cause know we are proud of our Southern heritage. We are proud of our Confederate ancestors. We are proud of our Confederate flags and symbols. We are proud to be the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and will proudly proclaim to all who will listen: The South was right . . . and still is.
We will succeed because, like Jesus and those who served before us, we will not fear the response or attitude of others. "Fear hath torment." (1 John 4:18)
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Sunday, November 7, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for November 7, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, November 7th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome. You may also use this, or any of my messages, as a chaplain's article in your camp or other newsletter.
May God bless each of you in His service and in service to our most worthy Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recently my wife used my truck to pick up a purchase that was too big for her car. The men who loaded the box noticed the SCV logo on the back window, and the sign below it that says, " I'm the proud descendant of a brave Confederate soldier." They thought it was "great." Especially as my wife explained that her husband was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
This has happened to her before, and to me all the time. The responses and reactions have all been positive. They may not display an image of the Battle Flag or other Confederate symbols, and they may never join the SCV, but they do have inner sympathy for the Confederacy. Often, they will proudly state that they too have Confederate ancestors. These "Sons of the South" may be thought of as "Missing in Action."
As a Christian, I have often been met with sarcasm and ridicule when I proudly state that I'm a saved Saint in Christ and love the Lord. Perhaps that is why so few Christians will speak for God outside the walls of the church. We might call them M.I.A. Christians. In writing to the Church at Rome, the Apostle Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:" (Rom. 1:16a) The result of Paul's boldness was the founding of numerous churches and the salvation of thousands of souls. He knew where he stood, and what he stood for. The Apostle Paul was always on duty. He was never "Missing in Action."
I must admit I spend more time talking to people about the Sons of Confederate Veterans than I do about Jesus Christ. The reason is a matter of opportunity. I never run in to anyone who has not heard of Jesus, but I am constantly meeting men who have never heard of the SCV.
I believe there are hundreds of thousands, and probably millions, of M.I.A. Confederates who would like to hear about the SCV. They'd like to know who we are, what we do, and what we stand for. They may join our ranks, but even if they don't, they will be glad to know that we are defending the Southern Cause and the honor of our (and their) Confederate forefathers. They also need to know that if they do decide to join our ranks and proclaim pride in their Southern heritage, they will not be alone.
For almost a hundred an fifteen years, the Sons of Confederate Veterans have known where they stand and what they stand for. We have upheld the honor of the South and boldly proclaimed pride in our heritage. We are not ashamed of our Confederate fathers. To the contrary, we are honored to be their descendants. Indeed, we are privileged to be the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Below is my message for Sunday, November 7th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome. You may also use this, or any of my messages, as a chaplain's article in your camp or other newsletter.
May God bless each of you in His service and in service to our most worthy Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Missing in Action!
This has happened to her before, and to me all the time. The responses and reactions have all been positive. They may not display an image of the Battle Flag or other Confederate symbols, and they may never join the SCV, but they do have inner sympathy for the Confederacy. Often, they will proudly state that they too have Confederate ancestors. These "Sons of the South" may be thought of as "Missing in Action."
As a Christian, I have often been met with sarcasm and ridicule when I proudly state that I'm a saved Saint in Christ and love the Lord. Perhaps that is why so few Christians will speak for God outside the walls of the church. We might call them M.I.A. Christians. In writing to the Church at Rome, the Apostle Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:" (Rom. 1:16a) The result of Paul's boldness was the founding of numerous churches and the salvation of thousands of souls. He knew where he stood, and what he stood for. The Apostle Paul was always on duty. He was never "Missing in Action."
I must admit I spend more time talking to people about the Sons of Confederate Veterans than I do about Jesus Christ. The reason is a matter of opportunity. I never run in to anyone who has not heard of Jesus, but I am constantly meeting men who have never heard of the SCV.
I believe there are hundreds of thousands, and probably millions, of M.I.A. Confederates who would like to hear about the SCV. They'd like to know who we are, what we do, and what we stand for. They may join our ranks, but even if they don't, they will be glad to know that we are defending the Southern Cause and the honor of our (and their) Confederate forefathers. They also need to know that if they do decide to join our ranks and proclaim pride in their Southern heritage, they will not be alone.
For almost a hundred an fifteen years, the Sons of Confederate Veterans have known where they stand and what they stand for. We have upheld the honor of the South and boldly proclaimed pride in our heritage. We are not ashamed of our Confederate fathers. To the contrary, we are honored to be their descendants. Indeed, we are privileged to be the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
It is my prayer that every Christian would boldly proclaim his love for Jesus Christ our Lord, who died that we might have life. It is also my prayer that every member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans would proudly stand up for his Southern heritage and honorable Confederate forefathers. We should always be "on duty," and never "Missing in Action."
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D.
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sunday, October 31, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for October 31,2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, October 31st. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome. You are also encouraged to use this or any of my messages in your camp or other newsletter.
May God bless you in His service and in service to our most worthy Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You've Got Mail!
I have, on a few occasions, received letters that blessed me so much or I thought to be so important, that I not only saved them, but put them in frames. Last week I received such a letter, and although it is addressed to me, it's content is intended for every member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. So, I'd like to take this time to share it with you and hope it blesses you as much as it did me.
A copy of the letter is attached and since it may be difficult to read, I typed the content below exactly as it appears in the letter. You may notice it took a while to reach me.
28 October
To Dr L E "Len" Patterson
Chaplain of members of
Trans-Mississippi and colleagues
It was delightful to receive your
sympathy card, combined with
Birthday Greetings. Thank you
very much indeed and my best
wishes to you all.
Thank you very much and
may God Bless you all.
Arthur John
(a s of cv)
What makes this letter such a blessing is the person who wrote it. Arthur John is a member of our SCV camp in Australia. He is a Real Son, and at 105 years old, he is the eldest living member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. It should also be noticed that he is a Godly man.
Consider for a moment the Scriptures. It was common, particularly in the Old Testament, for the eldest member of a family to bless the younger members. In Genesis 14: 19 we find that the elder Melchizedek, the oldest living man on earth at the time, blessed Abraham. This blessing is also mentioned in Hebrews 7:1.
Arthur John ended his letter with, "and may God bless you all." Brothers and fellow compatriots, we, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, have been blessed by our oldest living member. The elder has blessed the younger, and we are indeed blessed.
Brother Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Below is my message for Sunday, October 31st. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome. You are also encouraged to use this or any of my messages in your camp or other newsletter.
May God bless you in His service and in service to our most worthy Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain's Corps Committee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You've Got Mail!
I have, on a few occasions, received letters that blessed me so much or I thought to be so important, that I not only saved them, but put them in frames. Last week I received such a letter, and although it is addressed to me, it's content is intended for every member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. So, I'd like to take this time to share it with you and hope it blesses you as much as it did me.
A copy of the letter is attached and since it may be difficult to read, I typed the content below exactly as it appears in the letter. You may notice it took a while to reach me.
28 October
To Dr L E "Len" Patterson
Chaplain of members of
Trans-Mississippi and colleagues
It was delightful to receive your
sympathy card, combined with
Birthday Greetings. Thank you
very much indeed and my best
wishes to you all.
Thank you very much and
may God Bless you all.
Arthur John
(a s of cv)
What makes this letter such a blessing is the person who wrote it. Arthur John is a member of our SCV camp in Australia. He is a Real Son, and at 105 years old, he is the eldest living member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. It should also be noticed that he is a Godly man.
Consider for a moment the Scriptures. It was common, particularly in the Old Testament, for the eldest member of a family to bless the younger members. In Genesis 14: 19 we find that the elder Melchizedek, the oldest living man on earth at the time, blessed Abraham. This blessing is also mentioned in Hebrews 7:1.
Arthur John ended his letter with, "and may God bless you all." Brothers and fellow compatriots, we, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, have been blessed by our oldest living member. The elder has blessed the younger, and we are indeed blessed.
Brother Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
SCV Tells Truth About Black Confederates and PC Crowd Becomes Hysterical
Friday, October 22, 2010
Virginia 4th-grade textbook criticized over claims on black Confederate soldiers
By Kevin Sieff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
A textbook distributed to Virginia fourth-graders says that thousands of African Americans fought for the South during the Civil War -- a claim rejected by most historians but often made by groups seeking to play down slavery's role as a cause of the conflict.
The passage appears in "Our Virginia: Past and Present," which was distributed in the state's public elementary schools for the first time last month. The author, Joy Masoff, who is not a trained historian but has written several books, said she found the information about black Confederate soldiers primarily through Internet research, which turned up work by members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Scholars are nearly unanimous in calling these accounts of black Confederate soldiers a misrepresentation of history. Virginia education officials, after being told by The Washington Post of the issues related to the textbook, said that the vetting of the book was flawed and that they will contact school districts across the state to caution them against teaching the passage.
"Just because a book is approved doesn't mean the Department of Education endorses every sentence," said spokesman Charles Pyle. He also called the book's assertion about black Confederate soldiers "outside mainstream Civil War scholarship."
Masoff defended her work. "As controversial as it is, I stand by what I write," she said. "I am a fairly respected writer."
The issues first came to light after College of William & Mary historian Carol Sheriff opened her daughter's copy of "Our Virginia" and saw the reference to black Confederate soldiers.
"It's disconcerting that the next generation is being taught history based on an unfounded claim instead of accepted scholarship," Sheriff said. "It concerns me not just as a professional historian but as a parent."
Virginia, which is preparing to mark the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, has long struggled to appropriately commemorate its Confederate past. The debate was reinvigorated this spring, when Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) introduced "Confederate History Month" in Virginia without mentioning slavery's role in the Civil War. He later apologized.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans, a group of male descendants of Confederate soldiers based in Columbia, Tenn., has long maintained that substantial numbers of black soldiers fought for the South The group's historian-in-chief, Charles Kelly Barrow, has written the book "Black Confederates."
The Sons of Confederate Veterans also disputes the widely accepted conclusion that the struggle over slavery was the main cause of the Civil War. Instead, the group says, the war was fought "to preserve their homes and livelihood," according to John Sawyer, chief of staff of the Sons of Confederate Veterans' Army of Northern Virginia. He said the group was pleased that a state textbook accepted some of its views.
The state's curriculum requires textbook publishers and educators to explore the role African Americans played in the Confederacy, including their work on plantations and on the sidelines of battle. Those standards have evolved in recent years to make lessons on the Civil War more inclusive in a state that is growing increasingly diverse.
When Masoff began work on the textbook, she said she consulted a variety of sources -- history books, experts and the Internet. But when it came to one of the Civil War's most controversial themes -- the role of African Americans in the Confederacy -- she relied primarily on an Internet search.
For the rest of the story use the link below:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/19/AR2010101907974.html
By Kevin Sieff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
A textbook distributed to Virginia fourth-graders says that thousands of African Americans fought for the South during the Civil War -- a claim rejected by most historians but often made by groups seeking to play down slavery's role as a cause of the conflict.
The passage appears in "Our Virginia: Past and Present," which was distributed in the state's public elementary schools for the first time last month. The author, Joy Masoff, who is not a trained historian but has written several books, said she found the information about black Confederate soldiers primarily through Internet research, which turned up work by members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Scholars are nearly unanimous in calling these accounts of black Confederate soldiers a misrepresentation of history. Virginia education officials, after being told by The Washington Post of the issues related to the textbook, said that the vetting of the book was flawed and that they will contact school districts across the state to caution them against teaching the passage.
"Just because a book is approved doesn't mean the Department of Education endorses every sentence," said spokesman Charles Pyle. He also called the book's assertion about black Confederate soldiers "outside mainstream Civil War scholarship."
Masoff defended her work. "As controversial as it is, I stand by what I write," she said. "I am a fairly respected writer."
The issues first came to light after College of William & Mary historian Carol Sheriff opened her daughter's copy of "Our Virginia" and saw the reference to black Confederate soldiers.
"It's disconcerting that the next generation is being taught history based on an unfounded claim instead of accepted scholarship," Sheriff said. "It concerns me not just as a professional historian but as a parent."
Virginia, which is preparing to mark the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, has long struggled to appropriately commemorate its Confederate past. The debate was reinvigorated this spring, when Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) introduced "Confederate History Month" in Virginia without mentioning slavery's role in the Civil War. He later apologized.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans, a group of male descendants of Confederate soldiers based in Columbia, Tenn., has long maintained that substantial numbers of black soldiers fought for the South The group's historian-in-chief, Charles Kelly Barrow, has written the book "Black Confederates."
The Sons of Confederate Veterans also disputes the widely accepted conclusion that the struggle over slavery was the main cause of the Civil War. Instead, the group says, the war was fought "to preserve their homes and livelihood," according to John Sawyer, chief of staff of the Sons of Confederate Veterans' Army of Northern Virginia. He said the group was pleased that a state textbook accepted some of its views.
The state's curriculum requires textbook publishers and educators to explore the role African Americans played in the Confederacy, including their work on plantations and on the sidelines of battle. Those standards have evolved in recent years to make lessons on the Civil War more inclusive in a state that is growing increasingly diverse.
When Masoff began work on the textbook, she said she consulted a variety of sources -- history books, experts and the Internet. But when it came to one of the Civil War's most controversial themes -- the role of African Americans in the Confederacy -- she relied primarily on an Internet search.
For the rest of the story use the link below:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/19/AR2010101907974.html
Sunday, October 24, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for October 24, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, October 24th. Please feel free to forward, reply, or use it in your camp or other newsletter. It is always appreciated.
May God bless you all in His service and in service to our just Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplains' Corps Committee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After the Lord saved me, I gave my life to His ministry because of one compelling thought. A thought so impressive it could not be ignored. I became totally convinced, perhaps even obsessed, that the most important thing in this world was man's relationship with God. And today, forty years later, I'm just as certain of this as ever. And, all one need do is envision Jesus Christ dying in agony on a Roman cross to realize how important a relationship with us is to God.
Just imagine what this world would be like if everyone in it were a faithful, obedient Christian seeking a better relationship with God? Wars would cease; crime would stop; prisons would empty; abortions would no longer be an issue; we wouldn't need locks on our doors or guns for protection. Of course, as wonderful as this would be, I don't expect it to happen. Even Jesus said that most people will go in the wrong direction. (Matt. 7:13)
What about the Sons of Confederate Veterans and our worthy Cause? What if every member of the SCV were a faithful, obedient Christian seeking God's strength and guidance in our efforts to honor our Confederate forefathers and preserve our proud Southern heritage? What if God were leading our Confederation? What if ten thousand angels were running interference for us? What if the Spirit of God went before us touching the hearts and minds of those who oppose us, as well as politically correct politicians, and potential new members? What if all of our efforts were supported by the wisdom and unlimited power of God?
What if we all agreed (and I know many of you do) that, as individuals and as a Confederation, the most important thing in this world is our relationship with God? The Scripture says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Of course the relationship is free, but the rewards are much needed, eternal, and immense.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Below is my message for Sunday, October 24th. Please feel free to forward, reply, or use it in your camp or other newsletter. It is always appreciated.
May God bless you all in His service and in service to our just Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplains' Corps Committee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Greatest Need!
Just imagine what this world would be like if everyone in it were a faithful, obedient Christian seeking a better relationship with God? Wars would cease; crime would stop; prisons would empty; abortions would no longer be an issue; we wouldn't need locks on our doors or guns for protection. Of course, as wonderful as this would be, I don't expect it to happen. Even Jesus said that most people will go in the wrong direction. (Matt. 7:13)
What about the Sons of Confederate Veterans and our worthy Cause? What if every member of the SCV were a faithful, obedient Christian seeking God's strength and guidance in our efforts to honor our Confederate forefathers and preserve our proud Southern heritage? What if God were leading our Confederation? What if ten thousand angels were running interference for us? What if the Spirit of God went before us touching the hearts and minds of those who oppose us, as well as politically correct politicians, and potential new members? What if all of our efforts were supported by the wisdom and unlimited power of God?
What if we all agreed (and I know many of you do) that, as individuals and as a Confederation, the most important thing in this world is our relationship with God? The Scripture says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Of course the relationship is free, but the rewards are much needed, eternal, and immense.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sunday, October 17, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for October 17, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, October 17th. Please feel free to forward or reply. As always, your comments are much appreciated.
May our Lord bless you in all you do.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
My wife is a very good cook. This is true, and anyone who has eaten what she prepares knows that. Every once in a while, on rare occasions, she makes a dish called baked beans. She begins with a can or two of Pork 'n Beans, adds some other stuff, and places it in the oven for a while. Once, long ago, she asked me how I liked her it. I answered, with a smile and in a jovial manner to be sure, that she had gone to a lot of trouble to ruin a perfectly good can of Pork 'n Beans. Since then her baked bean dish has become known in our family as "ruined beans."
Some years ago, as the pastor of a local church, I was asked to assist in the ordination of a deacon by one or our sister churches. During the ceremony, the presiding minister stood to deliver the message called, "the charge to the deacon." He began by holding up a Bible and firmly stating that it was the Holy Inspired Word of God. He continued by saying that it was absolute truth with no admixture of error and did not need to be updated, amended, abridged, refined, or corrected. To this, there were many Amens.
Then, shortly into his sermon, he read the qualifications of a deacon found in First Timothy 3: 8-13. He began with verse eight, which says, "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine . . . " Here he stopped reading, looked up at the congregation, and forcefully proclaimed, "A deacon should not be given to ANY wine!" Again, there were many Amens.
Perhaps I was the only one paying attention, but that preacher contradicted himself. He updated and corrected the Holy Inspired Word of God, which he just said didn't need to be updated or corrected. I believe the Bible is God's Word. It says what it means and means what it says. It doesn't need to be updated or amended, and like Pork 'n Beans, cannot be improved. Any attempt at doing so ends up as . . . well, ruined beans.
You may not agree that Pork 'n Beans are fine just as the come from the can and don't need improvement. But, hopefully you do agree the Bible is perfect just as it is and doesn't need any additional ingredients. My wife's baked bean dish is OK, and I don't mind eating it once in a while, but when it comes to the Scriptures, I don't want ruined beans.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Below is my message for Sunday, October 17th. Please feel free to forward or reply. As always, your comments are much appreciated.
May our Lord bless you in all you do.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ruined Beans!
Ruined Beans!
Some years ago, as the pastor of a local church, I was asked to assist in the ordination of a deacon by one or our sister churches. During the ceremony, the presiding minister stood to deliver the message called, "the charge to the deacon." He began by holding up a Bible and firmly stating that it was the Holy Inspired Word of God. He continued by saying that it was absolute truth with no admixture of error and did not need to be updated, amended, abridged, refined, or corrected. To this, there were many Amens.
Then, shortly into his sermon, he read the qualifications of a deacon found in First Timothy 3: 8-13. He began with verse eight, which says, "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine . . . " Here he stopped reading, looked up at the congregation, and forcefully proclaimed, "A deacon should not be given to ANY wine!" Again, there were many Amens.
Perhaps I was the only one paying attention, but that preacher contradicted himself. He updated and corrected the Holy Inspired Word of God, which he just said didn't need to be updated or corrected. I believe the Bible is God's Word. It says what it means and means what it says. It doesn't need to be updated or amended, and like Pork 'n Beans, cannot be improved. Any attempt at doing so ends up as . . . well, ruined beans.
You may not agree that Pork 'n Beans are fine just as the come from the can and don't need improvement. But, hopefully you do agree the Bible is perfect just as it is and doesn't need any additional ingredients. My wife's baked bean dish is OK, and I don't mind eating it once in a while, but when it comes to the Scriptures, I don't want ruined beans.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sunday, October 10, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for October 10, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, October 10th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome. You may also use it as a Chaplain's Article in your camp or other newsletter.
May God bless you in His service and in service to our most worthy Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have all seen tests where a statement is made and we are then asked to decide if the statement is true or false. The answers are usually given at the bottom of the page (upside down) or on another page in the book or magazine. Sometimes we find that our answer is wrong and we must change what we thought about a particular subject. However, we know there are those who refuse to be influenced by what is actually true or false. They will continue to believe what they want to believe, what they have been told to believe, or what suits their interests to believe, without regard for the facts.
Webster's Dictionary defines a fact as, "Something known to be true." It seems to me that if something is known to be true, there would be no debate or disagreement about it's validity. And yet, there is. In John 8:46, Jesus asks, "And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?" One reason is pure ignorance. They simply don't know the truth and don't care to know the truth, but will still argue as if they know all about it. Another reason many ignore the truth is they would rather defend their opinion than change their mind, even if the facts prove them wrong. Why is that?
Jesus gave this answer in John 3:19, "Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." Think of the many so called "controversial issues" being debated today. There's gun control, abortion, homosexual activity along with same sex marriage, excessive taxes, bail outs, illegal immigration and more. The facts about each of these issues is obvious and the answers are simple. And most, if not all of us know what is true or false about these matters.
There are facts concerning our Confederate ancestors and Southern heritage. As members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, we have studied and know what is true or false. As the Scripture says, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables." (2 Pet. 1:16) That is, the fables concocted by the Unionists to justify their invasion of the sovereign Confederate States, and all the horrors inflicted on Southern men, women and children in a war that was as unnecessary as it was illegal.
It is also true that the Union of Confederate Veterans, followed by the Sons of Confederate Veterans were once highly respected organizations, especially in the South. Our membership included the most influential men of society, as well as officials in all levels of government. But the federalists have done their job well. I won't talk about where we are today. You know where we are as a Confederation as well, if not better, than I do.
The only answer for the Sons of Confederate Veterans is to put our faith and trust in Almighty God, and follow Him as He leads us to success in our just and most worthy Cause. If we are to accomplish our mission to save our Southern heritage and the respect due our brave and honorable Confederate forefathers, we must have the guidance and blessings of God. And, the correct answer to that statement is, True.
Below is my message for Sunday, October 10th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome. You may also use it as a Chaplain's Article in your camp or other newsletter.
May God bless you in His service and in service to our most worthy Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
True or False?
Webster's Dictionary defines a fact as, "Something known to be true." It seems to me that if something is known to be true, there would be no debate or disagreement about it's validity. And yet, there is. In John 8:46, Jesus asks, "And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?" One reason is pure ignorance. They simply don't know the truth and don't care to know the truth, but will still argue as if they know all about it. Another reason many ignore the truth is they would rather defend their opinion than change their mind, even if the facts prove them wrong. Why is that?
Jesus gave this answer in John 3:19, "Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." Think of the many so called "controversial issues" being debated today. There's gun control, abortion, homosexual activity along with same sex marriage, excessive taxes, bail outs, illegal immigration and more. The facts about each of these issues is obvious and the answers are simple. And most, if not all of us know what is true or false about these matters.
There are facts concerning our Confederate ancestors and Southern heritage. As members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, we have studied and know what is true or false. As the Scripture says, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables." (2 Pet. 1:16) That is, the fables concocted by the Unionists to justify their invasion of the sovereign Confederate States, and all the horrors inflicted on Southern men, women and children in a war that was as unnecessary as it was illegal.
It is also true that the Union of Confederate Veterans, followed by the Sons of Confederate Veterans were once highly respected organizations, especially in the South. Our membership included the most influential men of society, as well as officials in all levels of government. But the federalists have done their job well. I won't talk about where we are today. You know where we are as a Confederation as well, if not better, than I do.
The only answer for the Sons of Confederate Veterans is to put our faith and trust in Almighty God, and follow Him as He leads us to success in our just and most worthy Cause. If we are to accomplish our mission to save our Southern heritage and the respect due our brave and honorable Confederate forefathers, we must have the guidance and blessings of God. And, the correct answer to that statement is, True.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-MississippiSaturday, October 9, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
"The Night After the Battle"
MansfieldState Historic Site's
17th Annual
"Ghosts of the Civil War"
Halloween Program
WHERE: Mansfield State Historic Site, 3 miles south of
Mansfield, LA, on State Highway 175
WHEN: October 30, 2010 - 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Costumed performers will re-create the tragic and grisly aftermath of a Civil War battlefield. You will be led on a candlelight night tour of the actual battlefield, where almost 30,000 men made war on each other. Frightening and educational at the same time!
Is the battlefield HAUNTED?
COME SEE FOR YOURSELF!
· A Safe Halloween Environment
Park Rangers on Duty
· Static Scenes; No Grabbing or Chasing
Staff Assisted Parking
State of Louisiana - Office of State Parks
MansfieldState Historic Site, 15149 Hwy 175, Mansfield, LA
318-872-1474 (locally) Toll Free: 888-677-6267
Sunday, October 3, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for October 3, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, October 3rd. Please feel free to forward or reply. It may also be used as a chaplain's article for your camp or other newsletter if you wish.
May God continue to bless you all in our Lord's service, and in service to our just and most worthy Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Chaplain, Central Texas Brigade
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grand Ole Opry star, Little Jimmy Dickens sang, "Like a Banty (Bantam) rooster: I'm little short and puny, but I'm proud." I can't imagine anyone not being proud of what they are, and especially of what they choose to be. Or, to say it in another way, I can't imagine anyone not choosing to be what they can be proud of.
In Romans chapter one, verse sixteen, Paul writes, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." Paul was not a Jew when he was with the Jews, a Roman when he was with Romans, and a Christian when he was in church. Paul was a Christian at all times and believed everyone else should be a Christian also. And he didn't mind saying so. In speaking to King Agrippa in Acts 26: 29, Paul says, "I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am." The Apostle Paul was a Christian . . . and proud of it.
I can't imagine any member of the SCV not wanting to tell all who will listen, "I am a proud member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I am the proud descendant of a brave Confederate Soldier who deserves to be remembered with honor. I am proud of President Jeff Davis, and Generals Lee, Jackson, Forest, and all those who fought for our Confederate Cause. This is where I stand, this is what I am . . . and proud of it."
Paul also wrote, "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are in Rome also." (Rom. 1:15) Those who opposed Paul's message could ridicule him, and they did. They could beat him, and they did. They could imprison him, and they did. They could stone him, and they did. They could cut off his head, and they did. But Paul knew where he stood, and he wasn't going to compromise what he believed in. And, neither should we.
The more we compromise our message as the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the more we compromise the honor due our Confederate forefathers. The more we concede to those who oppose our Cause, the more we concede of our Southern heritage. The more respect we show to the enemies of truth, the more respect we lose. If we are to serve the Charge. If we are to recruit and retain. If we are to preserve our heritage. If we are to be successful in the mission handed down to us by our Confederate forefathers, we must draw a line in the sand, and like the Apostle Paul, proclaim who we are and where we stand.
Every Christian should be a missionary, reaching out to a lost and dying world with the life saving message of Jesus Christ. And every member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans should be a recruiter, reaching out to every son of the South with the truth of our Confederate Cause. Why? Because we are the Sons of Confederate soldiers who so honorably and bravely defended our beloved homeland . . . and proud of it!
Below is my message for Sunday, October 3rd. Please feel free to forward or reply. It may also be used as a chaplain's article for your camp or other newsletter if you wish.
May God continue to bless you all in our Lord's service, and in service to our just and most worthy Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Chaplain, Central Texas Brigade
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
. . . And Proud Of It!
In Romans chapter one, verse sixteen, Paul writes, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." Paul was not a Jew when he was with the Jews, a Roman when he was with Romans, and a Christian when he was in church. Paul was a Christian at all times and believed everyone else should be a Christian also. And he didn't mind saying so. In speaking to King Agrippa in Acts 26: 29, Paul says, "I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am." The Apostle Paul was a Christian . . . and proud of it.
I can't imagine any member of the SCV not wanting to tell all who will listen, "I am a proud member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I am the proud descendant of a brave Confederate Soldier who deserves to be remembered with honor. I am proud of President Jeff Davis, and Generals Lee, Jackson, Forest, and all those who fought for our Confederate Cause. This is where I stand, this is what I am . . . and proud of it."
Paul also wrote, "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are in Rome also." (Rom. 1:15) Those who opposed Paul's message could ridicule him, and they did. They could beat him, and they did. They could imprison him, and they did. They could stone him, and they did. They could cut off his head, and they did. But Paul knew where he stood, and he wasn't going to compromise what he believed in. And, neither should we.
The more we compromise our message as the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the more we compromise the honor due our Confederate forefathers. The more we concede to those who oppose our Cause, the more we concede of our Southern heritage. The more respect we show to the enemies of truth, the more respect we lose. If we are to serve the Charge. If we are to recruit and retain. If we are to preserve our heritage. If we are to be successful in the mission handed down to us by our Confederate forefathers, we must draw a line in the sand, and like the Apostle Paul, proclaim who we are and where we stand.
Every Christian should be a missionary, reaching out to a lost and dying world with the life saving message of Jesus Christ. And every member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans should be a recruiter, reaching out to every son of the South with the truth of our Confederate Cause. Why? Because we are the Sons of Confederate soldiers who so honorably and bravely defended our beloved homeland . . . and proud of it!
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sunday, September 26, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for September 26, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, September 26th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always appreciated.
May our Lord bless each of you in His service and in service to our just and most worthy Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sons of Confederate Veterans
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Great Door
In the first few centuries of the Church, being a Christian could be very dangerous, especially during periods of organized persecution. Thousands were either murdered or executed, just for being a Christian, including all but one of the Lord's Apostles. If a Christian came to a new town and sought for other Christians, he would go to a public place and draw an arc in the dirt, similar to the base of a rocking chair. This mark meant nothing to the enemies of Christ, but to another Christian it was a code of recognition. The other Christian would then draw a reverse arc above the other completing the sign of the Fish. They would then recognize each other as Brothers in Christ.
While it is not a crime to be a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, at least not yet, we are still being persecuted by the media, politicians and other groups and persons. They defile our heritage, dishonor our brave Confederate forefathers, and disgrace the just cause for which they fought. Even the states that asked them to serve in their defense, often refuse to remember their sacrifice. And of course, we are thought of as a bunch of ignorant malcontents still fighting the "Civil War." The Apostle Paul wrote in First Corinthians 16:9, "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries."
We too have "many adversaries." However, just as that small group of despised and persecuted early Christians, within less than three hundred years, captured the entire Roman world for Christ, the Sons of Confederate Veterans also has a great and effectual door of opportunity open to us. The key to open this door begins with faith and trust in God, and recognizing each other as SCV Brothers. The Scriptures tell us the church, from the very beginning, "were all with one accord." (Acts 2:1) If we, as the descendants of those who so faithfully served the Confederacy can do the same, then our Cause is not "lost." It as just begun.
A great and effectual door is now open to the Sons of Confederate Veterans. So, let us as one body raise high the banner of truth and boldly face those who oppose us. Let us serve with confidence and conviction the just Cause for which we stand. Let us with one voice say, "I am a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the proud descendant of a brave and honorable Confederate soldier." Let us together faithfully follow the guidance of the Lord our God in the spirit of our noble Confederate forefathers. Let us say with the Apostle Paul, "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me." Acts 27:25
It is my prayer that we, as members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, faithfully and in one accord serve God and our Southern Cause. I pray that we, with confidence, strength and unity of purpose, walk humbly before Him, and proudly before our adversaries. Amen
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Little known republic in Louisiana celebrates 200 years
Louisiana's 1st Secession
Little known republic in La. celebrates 200 years
AP - Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, hands foreground, and archivist Melanie Montaro look at the ...
Slideshow:Republic of West Fla. Documents
By MARY FOSTER, Associated Press Writer Mary Foster, Associated Press Writer - Wed Sep 22, 5:54 pm ET
BATON ROUGE, La. - While Texans are fiercely proud their state was once its own republic, and California celebrates the same former status on its flag, relatively few Louisianans know that a group of their forebears overthrew Spanish rule to carve out a tiny, independent nation 200 years ago. With the bicentennial coming up Thursday, historians and descendants of the rebels are hoping to change that.
"It is the most dramatic event in Louisiana history that has been so little recognized," said Sam Hyde, director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University. "We have been lost to all the Cajuns and the debauchery of New Orleans, but it is a unique event that had a lasting effect on this area and others."
In the early morning hours of Sept. 23, 1810, 75 armed rebels slipped into the Spanish fort at Baton Rouge, and in what was described as a "sharp and bloody firefight," subdued the garrison. They lowered the Spanish flag and raised the Bonnie Blue Flag - a single white star on a blue field - that had been adopted for the new nation they called West Florida.
Three days later the rebels signed a declaration of independence and set up a government for the new nation that historians say included about 4,000 people.
The republic was one of three nations that joined with the United States as it expanded west during the 19th century. The others were the republics of Texas and California.
West Florida achieved its goal - annexation by the United States - 74 days after independence, said archivist Betty Tucker of Zachary, La.
Historians generally agree the republic included 8 Louisiana parishes still known as the Florida Parishes, and those completed what became the state of Louisiana in 1812.
"They were English speaking people, several were Tories, and they were sick of Spain," Tucker said of the rebels. "You had to be Catholic (under the Spanish), they had no rights, no vote. They were planning to join the United States from when they started their secret meetings in 1805," she said.
The rebels had also originally claimed all Spanish territory extending east through Mississippi to the Perdido River, which separates Alabama and Florida. But their ambitious attempt to seize Mobile, Ala., failed, and Hyde said people living in those areas outside of Louisiana never actively rebelled.
On Thursday, ceremonies marking the 200th anniversary of the revolt will be held at Old Fort San Carlos in Baton Rouge and a flag-raising is set at the St. Tammany Parish Courthouse in Covington. On Jan. 10, 2011, the bicentennial of the annexation of West Florida will be celebrated at State Capitol Park in Baton Rouge. Neither Mississippi nor Alabama are planning West Florida commemorations.
West Florida's residents were mostly farmers and tradesmen of Scottish and English descent. Its leaders dealt harshly with opponents to either independence or U.S. annexation.
"It was pretty violent," Hyde said. "In one case a man was burned alive."
Tucker said the revolution quickly faded from the state's memory.
"Most people think this was all part of the Louisiana Purchase," Hyde said.
Hyde recalled a confrontational phone call from former Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster during the anniversary of the purchase from France in 2003. Foster scolded him for pointing out that the annexation of West Florida was separate.
"He said, the coins are minted, the posters are printed, and from now on the entire state was part of the Louisiana Purchase!" Hyde said.
But the facts say otherwise. When the United States made the purchase in 1803, it was for French Louisiana and the Isle of Orleans. Areas north of Lake Pontchartrain and east of the Mississippi River - which include West Florida - had been Spanish.
Descendants of West Florida's founders are hoping the bicentennial will give the republic its proper place in history.
In 2002, Leila Roberts, great-granddaughter of Fulworth Skipwith, leader of the republic, donated the original copy of the West Florida Constitution to the Louisiana State Archives, said state archivist Ellen Brown. It's been on display at the Capitol this year.
David Norwood is a descendant of Bennett Hilliard Barrow, one of the rebellion leaders. He proudly displays in his home a small table marked by rings from wet glasses, which family lore holds were left by rebels who gathered to plot their rebellion. Next door is the family home, Highland Plantation, built in 1805, where the rebels gathered.
The year 1810 was a bad one for Spain. Not only did West Florida rebel, but the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars sparked revolt in Spanish possessions throughout the Western Hemisphere.
"This is unknown history that is important to the rest of the nation," said David Norwood's wife, Cammie. "It started a rash of rebellions against Spain that stretched from Texas to South America."
Online:
http://www.selu.edu/acad_research/programs/csls/west_florida/index.html
Little known republic in La. celebrates 200 years
AP - Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, hands foreground, and archivist Melanie Montaro look at the ...
Slideshow:Republic of West Fla. Documents
By MARY FOSTER, Associated Press Writer Mary Foster, Associated Press Writer - Wed Sep 22, 5:54 pm ET
BATON ROUGE, La. - While Texans are fiercely proud their state was once its own republic, and California celebrates the same former status on its flag, relatively few Louisianans know that a group of their forebears overthrew Spanish rule to carve out a tiny, independent nation 200 years ago. With the bicentennial coming up Thursday, historians and descendants of the rebels are hoping to change that.
"It is the most dramatic event in Louisiana history that has been so little recognized," said Sam Hyde, director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University. "We have been lost to all the Cajuns and the debauchery of New Orleans, but it is a unique event that had a lasting effect on this area and others."
In the early morning hours of Sept. 23, 1810, 75 armed rebels slipped into the Spanish fort at Baton Rouge, and in what was described as a "sharp and bloody firefight," subdued the garrison. They lowered the Spanish flag and raised the Bonnie Blue Flag - a single white star on a blue field - that had been adopted for the new nation they called West Florida.
Three days later the rebels signed a declaration of independence and set up a government for the new nation that historians say included about 4,000 people.
The republic was one of three nations that joined with the United States as it expanded west during the 19th century. The others were the republics of Texas and California.
West Florida achieved its goal - annexation by the United States - 74 days after independence, said archivist Betty Tucker of Zachary, La.
Historians generally agree the republic included 8 Louisiana parishes still known as the Florida Parishes, and those completed what became the state of Louisiana in 1812.
"They were English speaking people, several were Tories, and they were sick of Spain," Tucker said of the rebels. "You had to be Catholic (under the Spanish), they had no rights, no vote. They were planning to join the United States from when they started their secret meetings in 1805," she said.
The rebels had also originally claimed all Spanish territory extending east through Mississippi to the Perdido River, which separates Alabama and Florida. But their ambitious attempt to seize Mobile, Ala., failed, and Hyde said people living in those areas outside of Louisiana never actively rebelled.
On Thursday, ceremonies marking the 200th anniversary of the revolt will be held at Old Fort San Carlos in Baton Rouge and a flag-raising is set at the St. Tammany Parish Courthouse in Covington. On Jan. 10, 2011, the bicentennial of the annexation of West Florida will be celebrated at State Capitol Park in Baton Rouge. Neither Mississippi nor Alabama are planning West Florida commemorations.
West Florida's residents were mostly farmers and tradesmen of Scottish and English descent. Its leaders dealt harshly with opponents to either independence or U.S. annexation.
"It was pretty violent," Hyde said. "In one case a man was burned alive."
Tucker said the revolution quickly faded from the state's memory.
"Most people think this was all part of the Louisiana Purchase," Hyde said.
Hyde recalled a confrontational phone call from former Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster during the anniversary of the purchase from France in 2003. Foster scolded him for pointing out that the annexation of West Florida was separate.
"He said, the coins are minted, the posters are printed, and from now on the entire state was part of the Louisiana Purchase!" Hyde said.
But the facts say otherwise. When the United States made the purchase in 1803, it was for French Louisiana and the Isle of Orleans. Areas north of Lake Pontchartrain and east of the Mississippi River - which include West Florida - had been Spanish.
Descendants of West Florida's founders are hoping the bicentennial will give the republic its proper place in history.
In 2002, Leila Roberts, great-granddaughter of Fulworth Skipwith, leader of the republic, donated the original copy of the West Florida Constitution to the Louisiana State Archives, said state archivist Ellen Brown. It's been on display at the Capitol this year.
David Norwood is a descendant of Bennett Hilliard Barrow, one of the rebellion leaders. He proudly displays in his home a small table marked by rings from wet glasses, which family lore holds were left by rebels who gathered to plot their rebellion. Next door is the family home, Highland Plantation, built in 1805, where the rebels gathered.
The year 1810 was a bad one for Spain. Not only did West Florida rebel, but the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars sparked revolt in Spanish possessions throughout the Western Hemisphere.
"This is unknown history that is important to the rest of the nation," said David Norwood's wife, Cammie. "It started a rash of rebellions against Spain that stretched from Texas to South America."
Online:
http://www.selu.edu/acad_research/programs/csls/west_florida/index.html
Monday, September 20, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for September 19, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, September 19th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome.
May our Lord bless you in His service and in service to our most worthy Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many of us are committed to the mission of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, but this very commitment may be the reason for our feeling of futility. You see, we must first commit ourselves to God. God is the Lord of all, and He is completely able to assume His own responsibilities and accomplish His aims. Where we fail, He is able to succeed. God does not need us. We need God!
This nation was founded by Christian men to be a nation "under God," and God is perfectly capable of taking care of those who would usurp His authority. And, He will. Too often we organize, promote, work, and spend God out of our business, and then ask for His blessings.
If we are to achieve victory over those who oppose us and our just Cause we must follow our God. The challenge we hear so often today is "Do more! Give more! Be more!" But God says, "Be still and know that I am God." In other words, quit the panic; quit beating the air; quit jousting with windmills, and just let God be God. In Psalms 144:1, the Scripture says, "Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight."
Are we ready, as a Confederation, to come to the point where we realize that all we can produce, at our best, is ashes? Are we ready to come to the place where we can accept ourselves for what we are: Helpless without Him? Are we ready to commit ourselves to God and follow His guidance and direction? Are we ready to stand firmly on the field of battle knowing that our God is leading us to victory?
Are we ready to put God at the head of our lives, our homes, our businesses, and at the head of the Sons of Confederate Veterans? If so, then we are ready.
Below is my message for Sunday, September 19th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome.
May our Lord bless you in His service and in service to our most worthy Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are We Ready?
It is a natural impulse for men to be moved with compassion for their country and forefathers. There is nothing evil, there is nothing sinful or wrong in the thoughts that fill our hearts. It is only natural to feel resentment and anger toward a tyrannical government and the willfully ignorant whipping the memory of our brave Confederate ancestors and trying to destroy our proud Southern heritage. And, it is only natural that we feel the surge of righteous ambition against those who oppose the truth. However, we may also feel a dull sense of futility, as though we are beating the air or trying to joust with windmills.Many of us are committed to the mission of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, but this very commitment may be the reason for our feeling of futility. You see, we must first commit ourselves to God. God is the Lord of all, and He is completely able to assume His own responsibilities and accomplish His aims. Where we fail, He is able to succeed. God does not need us. We need God!
This nation was founded by Christian men to be a nation "under God," and God is perfectly capable of taking care of those who would usurp His authority. And, He will. Too often we organize, promote, work, and spend God out of our business, and then ask for His blessings.
If we are to achieve victory over those who oppose us and our just Cause we must follow our God. The challenge we hear so often today is "Do more! Give more! Be more!" But God says, "Be still and know that I am God." In other words, quit the panic; quit beating the air; quit jousting with windmills, and just let God be God. In Psalms 144:1, the Scripture says, "Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight."
Are we ready, as a Confederation, to come to the point where we realize that all we can produce, at our best, is ashes? Are we ready to come to the place where we can accept ourselves for what we are: Helpless without Him? Are we ready to commit ourselves to God and follow His guidance and direction? Are we ready to stand firmly on the field of battle knowing that our God is leading us to victory?
Are we ready to put God at the head of our lives, our homes, our businesses, and at the head of the Sons of Confederate Veterans? If so, then we are ready.
Brother Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sunday, September 12, 2010
ATM Sunday Message for September 12, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, September 12th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome.
May God bless each of you and may God bless our Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Believest Thou This?
What we do and how we act is often determined by what we believe. If a man is told that great wealth lies hidden beneath his front porch and he believes it, he will tear up his porch looking for it. However, if he is unwilling to damage his porch to reach the treasure under it, it's because he really doesn't believe the treasure is there. What we truly believe, and disbelieve, will usually determine our decisions and courses of action. Consider the following account in the eleventh chapter of the Gospel according to John.
By the time the messengers from Mary and Martha reached Jesus on the east side of the Jordan River, and Jesus made His way to their home in Bethany, Lazarus was dead. His decaying body had been anointed, wrapped, and sealed in a tomb behind a heavy stone for four days. To Mary, Martha and the many mourners there to offer comfort, Jesus had arrived too late.
As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was approaching, she ran from the house to meet Him. "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died," she cried as they met. Jesus responded by telling her, "Your brother will rise again." With eyes red and swollen from days of mourning and tears on her checks, she looked up at Jesus and sobbed, "I know he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Then gazing down into Martha's tear stained face, Jesus spoke the most astounding words ever uttered in all human history. "Martha, I am the resurrection."
"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." A Buddhist priest once scoffed at these words of Jesus by saying, "Anyone could say that." The Christian missionary whom he was addressing replied, "Yes, anyone could say it, but could they get anyone to believe it." Jesus went to the tomb, ordered the stone removed, and shouted, "Lazarus, come forth!" Then, the Scripture tells us, "He that was dead came forth." Jesus said it, then He proved it, and everyone there believed it.
Very soon, Jesus would also be placed in a tomb. He would be arrested, falsely accused, spit on, humiliated, severely beaten, and nailed to a rough wooden cross to die as God's sacrificial lamb. He suffered an agonizing death to atone for the sins of man, and offer eternal salvation to someone as unworthy as me....and you. Then the greatest of all events occurred. Early the following Sunday morning, a day we call Easter, He arose from the dead leaving the tomb empty. Thank you Lord for the empty tomb. He's alive!
Speaking to Martha, Jesus said, "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Then He asked a question. A question that comes storming through the centuries. A question that must be answered by every man and woman who has ever lived or will live. A question that must be answered by you and me. "Believest thou this?" John 11:26
And Jesus said, "Because I live, ye shall live also." John 14: 19
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Below is my message for Sunday, September 12th. Please feel free to forward or reply. Your comments are always welcome.
May God bless each of you and may God bless our Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Believest Thou This?
What we do and how we act is often determined by what we believe. If a man is told that great wealth lies hidden beneath his front porch and he believes it, he will tear up his porch looking for it. However, if he is unwilling to damage his porch to reach the treasure under it, it's because he really doesn't believe the treasure is there. What we truly believe, and disbelieve, will usually determine our decisions and courses of action. Consider the following account in the eleventh chapter of the Gospel according to John.
By the time the messengers from Mary and Martha reached Jesus on the east side of the Jordan River, and Jesus made His way to their home in Bethany, Lazarus was dead. His decaying body had been anointed, wrapped, and sealed in a tomb behind a heavy stone for four days. To Mary, Martha and the many mourners there to offer comfort, Jesus had arrived too late.
As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was approaching, she ran from the house to meet Him. "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died," she cried as they met. Jesus responded by telling her, "Your brother will rise again." With eyes red and swollen from days of mourning and tears on her checks, she looked up at Jesus and sobbed, "I know he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Then gazing down into Martha's tear stained face, Jesus spoke the most astounding words ever uttered in all human history. "Martha, I am the resurrection."
"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." A Buddhist priest once scoffed at these words of Jesus by saying, "Anyone could say that." The Christian missionary whom he was addressing replied, "Yes, anyone could say it, but could they get anyone to believe it." Jesus went to the tomb, ordered the stone removed, and shouted, "Lazarus, come forth!" Then, the Scripture tells us, "He that was dead came forth." Jesus said it, then He proved it, and everyone there believed it.
Very soon, Jesus would also be placed in a tomb. He would be arrested, falsely accused, spit on, humiliated, severely beaten, and nailed to a rough wooden cross to die as God's sacrificial lamb. He suffered an agonizing death to atone for the sins of man, and offer eternal salvation to someone as unworthy as me....and you. Then the greatest of all events occurred. Early the following Sunday morning, a day we call Easter, He arose from the dead leaving the tomb empty. Thank you Lord for the empty tomb. He's alive!
Speaking to Martha, Jesus said, "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Then He asked a question. A question that comes storming through the centuries. A question that must be answered by every man and woman who has ever lived or will live. A question that must be answered by you and me. "Believest thou this?" John 11:26
And Jesus said, "Because I live, ye shall live also." John 14: 19
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sunday, September 5, 2010
An Interview with Todd Owens, a Civil War Medical Reeanactor
Sep 05, 2010 @ 08:32 am by r. pittman
Recently, I was fortunate that Todd Owens granted me an interview. Todd is Councilman for the Army of Trans Mississippi for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Every Halloween weekend, you can find him and others at the Battle of Mansfield State Park, http://www.mansfieldbattlefield.org/state.asp, where they will “reenact” field hospital procedures in the true spirit of Halloween and a haunted battlefield. In this interview, Todd shares a bit of information he has learned regarding Civil War medicine.
1. What misconceptions do people have about Civil War medicine and physicians? The main misconception is that the doctors were butchers, operating without any type of medicine to help relieve the pain.
2. What was the job of a nurse in the Civil War? The main job of a nurse was the same as it is today, the care and comfort of the wounded soldiers.
3. Tell me about your persona and the work of a Civil War Doctor. I do the persona of the War Between the States undertaker/dentist. The late 1850 was when the use of embalming came into it’s heyday. The first well known case of the use of an embalmer was when the son of Union President Abraham Lincoln died in the White House. President Lincoln would go to the tomb of his son, the workers would remove the lid of the vault and it is said that the President would sit there for hours just staring at the face of his dead son.
4. How did the Confederate medical system differ from that of the Yankees? There was not that much difference in the medical system between the North and the South. The only main difference was that the South had a Dentist Corps. The North did not see the advantage to having dentist in the ranks.
5. What are some comments regarding your presentation you’ve heard from people that are interesting? The most often made comment is that they did not realize that there were undertakers during the war. I have even, while doing living history events, made several of the students on the school days sick to their stomachs when doing my demonstrations. That is when you know that you are doing something so good that the people think it is real.
Recently, I was fortunate that Todd Owens granted me an interview. Todd is Councilman for the Army of Trans Mississippi for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Every Halloween weekend, you can find him and others at the Battle of Mansfield State Park, http://www.mansfieldbattlefield.org/state.asp, where they will “reenact” field hospital procedures in the true spirit of Halloween and a haunted battlefield. In this interview, Todd shares a bit of information he has learned regarding Civil War medicine.
1. What misconceptions do people have about Civil War medicine and physicians? The main misconception is that the doctors were butchers, operating without any type of medicine to help relieve the pain.
2. What was the job of a nurse in the Civil War? The main job of a nurse was the same as it is today, the care and comfort of the wounded soldiers.
3. Tell me about your persona and the work of a Civil War Doctor. I do the persona of the War Between the States undertaker/dentist. The late 1850 was when the use of embalming came into it’s heyday. The first well known case of the use of an embalmer was when the son of Union President Abraham Lincoln died in the White House. President Lincoln would go to the tomb of his son, the workers would remove the lid of the vault and it is said that the President would sit there for hours just staring at the face of his dead son.
4. How did the Confederate medical system differ from that of the Yankees? There was not that much difference in the medical system between the North and the South. The only main difference was that the South had a Dentist Corps. The North did not see the advantage to having dentist in the ranks.
5. What are some comments regarding your presentation you’ve heard from people that are interesting? The most often made comment is that they did not realize that there were undertakers during the war. I have even, while doing living history events, made several of the students on the school days sick to their stomachs when doing my demonstrations. That is when you know that you are doing something so good that the people think it is real.
ATM Sunday Message for September 05, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, September 5th. Please feel free to forward or reply. As always, your comments are always appreciated.
May God continue to bless you in all you do in His service and in service to our most worthy Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D.
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are those who seem to always follow the path of, "Out with the old and in with the new." An evangelist preaching in a church I was pastoring some years ago, stated, "If it's new, it can't be true." That statement may not apply to everything, and of course there are times when updating is important, but it does apply. Out with the old, and in with the new is not always a good idea, and in many circumstances, leads to destruction.
The Scripture says, "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set." (Prov: 22: 28) Obviously, the landmarks referred to in these writings (and gatherings) of Solomon about three thousand years ago, are not the same today. For example: The Bible, and especially the New Testament, written by our Christian Fathers under the inspiration of God, does not need to be changed, amended, updated, and certainly not removed. But it has been. The Bible has been removed from our schools, courts and public assemblies, and the result has lead to chaos, destruction, and even death. Prayer has also been removed along with the Cross, Nativity scenes and anything else that represents the "Faith of our fathers." What can we, as a people, expect when we remove these ancient landmarks which our fathers have set.
Not only has the faith of our fathers been removed, but so has their morality and sense of decency. We can say America is a "Nation under God, and sing "God bless America." However, God is not going to be moved or impressed by our slogans, pledges, and songs. How can America expect God's blessing when it is more socially acceptable to be a practicing homosexual or lesbian than it is to be a practicing Christian. Did God bless Sodom? The ancient landmark of morality and decency set by our fathers has been removed. Far removed. I doubt our fathers would have thought such a condition existing in this country even possible.
As members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, we also have ancient landmarks set by our fathers that must not be removed. Our Confederate forefathers set and example of courage and determination in the face of a destructive and unwarranted invasion, which we are to preserve, uphold and emulate. It is their name, their flag, their monuments, and their honor which is under attack today. This is the legacy, this is the responsibility, this is the honor they passed on to us, and it's up to us to insure that these ancient landmarks are preserved and never removed.
Nineveh repented under the preaching of Jonah, and God spared the city. Can the same thing happen in America? Can America be blessed? That, I can't say. However, the Sons of Confederate Veterans can be. But we must do as General S.D. Lee said, and that is to emulate the virtues of the Confederate soldier. That means we must be a Godly Confederation. We must be a "Army under God."
May God grant to the Sons of Confederate Veterans the strength, unity of purpose, spiritual guidance, and faith, to protect and preserve the ancient landmarks set by our fathers. Amen.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain Army of Trans-Mississippi
Below is my message for Sunday, September 5th. Please feel free to forward or reply. As always, your comments are always appreciated.
May God continue to bless you in all you do in His service and in service to our most worthy Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D.
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Markers
There are those who seem to always follow the path of, "Out with the old and in with the new." An evangelist preaching in a church I was pastoring some years ago, stated, "If it's new, it can't be true." That statement may not apply to everything, and of course there are times when updating is important, but it does apply. Out with the old, and in with the new is not always a good idea, and in many circumstances, leads to destruction.
The Scripture says, "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set." (Prov: 22: 28) Obviously, the landmarks referred to in these writings (and gatherings) of Solomon about three thousand years ago, are not the same today. For example: The Bible, and especially the New Testament, written by our Christian Fathers under the inspiration of God, does not need to be changed, amended, updated, and certainly not removed. But it has been. The Bible has been removed from our schools, courts and public assemblies, and the result has lead to chaos, destruction, and even death. Prayer has also been removed along with the Cross, Nativity scenes and anything else that represents the "Faith of our fathers." What can we, as a people, expect when we remove these ancient landmarks which our fathers have set.
Not only has the faith of our fathers been removed, but so has their morality and sense of decency. We can say America is a "Nation under God, and sing "God bless America." However, God is not going to be moved or impressed by our slogans, pledges, and songs. How can America expect God's blessing when it is more socially acceptable to be a practicing homosexual or lesbian than it is to be a practicing Christian. Did God bless Sodom? The ancient landmark of morality and decency set by our fathers has been removed. Far removed. I doubt our fathers would have thought such a condition existing in this country even possible.
As members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, we also have ancient landmarks set by our fathers that must not be removed. Our Confederate forefathers set and example of courage and determination in the face of a destructive and unwarranted invasion, which we are to preserve, uphold and emulate. It is their name, their flag, their monuments, and their honor which is under attack today. This is the legacy, this is the responsibility, this is the honor they passed on to us, and it's up to us to insure that these ancient landmarks are preserved and never removed.
Nineveh repented under the preaching of Jonah, and God spared the city. Can the same thing happen in America? Can America be blessed? That, I can't say. However, the Sons of Confederate Veterans can be. But we must do as General S.D. Lee said, and that is to emulate the virtues of the Confederate soldier. That means we must be a Godly Confederation. We must be a "Army under God."
May God grant to the Sons of Confederate Veterans the strength, unity of purpose, spiritual guidance, and faith, to protect and preserve the ancient landmarks set by our fathers. Amen.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sunday, August 29, 2010
No, Slavery Did Not Cause the Civil War !!!
By RICHARD T. HINES
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
Published: August 29, 2010
ALEXANDRIA, VA The problem with Charles Bryan's Op/Ed column, "Yes, Slavery Caused the Civil War," is that nearly every point he raises to make his argument against the short-lived Southern republic could also be made directly against the United States, its Constitution, and the Founding Fathers. For example, the statement that "the Confederacy was a nation based on laws and constitutional authority protecting slavery and the right of its citizens to own other human beings." The implication is that the United States and its Constitution were not. But this is false.
It may be useful to point out a few uncomfortable realities:
•The United States Constitution clearly provided in the second section of Article IV for the return of fugitive slaves to their masters.
•The United States Constitution in the second section of Article I clearly provided that three-fifths of all other persons (meaning slaves) were to be counted for the purposes of representation in the U.S. House.
•The United States Constitution, in fact, extended the slave trade a full decade until 1808. This was a rejection of the proposal by George Mason, a slaveholder, and other Virginians, for an immediate end to this inhumane practice. The extension benefited New England -- the center of American slave trading.
The U.S. Constitution was designed chiefly to protect liberty and property, including slaves. The Framers knew that property rights were indispensable to liberty and that for the time being bonded labor was a unique species of property. Such statesmen as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Patrick Henry, George Mason, John Marshall, and a host of others, were slaveholders who also opposed slavery. Yet they had to deal with the day-to-day reality of an inherited institution, while striving to make it as humane as possible and looking forward to its final abolition by peaceful and orderly means. This is not a contradiction, but rather a paradox.
In 1831, Virginia attempted to enact a bill for gradual emancipation of the slaves -- it lost by one vote in the General Assembly. Virginia, all counted, made a total of 23 attempts to legislate the freeing of the slaves and the abolition of the slave trade prior to 1861.
The United States Congress, in a resolution unanimously approved by both houses on July 23, 1861, declared: "The war is waged by the Government of the United States, not in the spirit of conquest or subjugation, nor for the purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the rights or institutions of the states, but to defend and protect the Union." There is not a word about abolishing slavery.
President Abraham Lincoln said in his first Inaugural Address: "I have no purpose directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."
In 1861, Lincoln supported passage of the Corwin Amendment to the Constitution, which would have formally and explicitly enshrined slavery in the U.S. Constitution by prohibiting the government from ever interfering with Southern slavery. This amendment passed the Senate and the House just days before Lincoln was inaugurated (but the advent of war prevented its ratification by the states). In his first Inaugural Address he said he believed slavery was constitutional and then, alluding to the Corwin Amendment, said: "I have no objection to it [slavery protection] being made express irrevocable" in the Constitution. This was by far the strongest defense of slavery ever made by an American politician.
Not one single slave in any non-seceding Union slave state (Maryland, Delaware, Missouri, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia) was freed by Lincoln's famous 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. It had no effect on any Southern state, as it obviously could not be enforced there. Lincoln himself said (in a widely distributed communication, Aug. 22, 1862, to New York newspaper editor Horace Greeley): "If I could save the Union without freeing any slaves I would do it."
Arguments that slavery caused the war and that the South was the culprit are already bearing fruit in the City of Richmond. The city's commission on the sesquicentennial, The Future of Richmond's Past, is already showing a distorted emphasis on slavery versus the heroism, suffering, and sacrifice of the soldiers whose leaders' statues grace Monument Avenue. This approach seems more calculated to drive visitors away than to attract them to the capital city of the Confederacy.
Virginia's secession convention stood firmly pro-Union until the April 12, 1861, firing on Fort Sumter and Lincoln's call of troops from Virginia to help bring the seceding states back into the Union. Slavery played no role in Virginia's decision and Virginia left the Union only upon Lincoln's call up to invade the lower South.
Slavery began in Virginia in 1619, not 1861. It is an injustice to pile the sins of 250 years of the "peculiar institution" on the brave men who went forth against the invaders between 1861 and 1865. As we commemorate their heroism and sacrifice, we do not forget the peculiar institution, but at the same time we must not let political correctness corrupt our judgment and our historical understanding. As noted historian James McPherson wrote in What They Fought For, 1861-1865, the vast majority of Southern soldiers believed they were fighting to defend their state, their homes, and their families -- not slavery.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard T. Hines serves as commander of the Jefferson Davis Camp #305 Sons of Confederate Veterans, Virginia Division. Contact him at rth@rthconsulting.com.
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
Published: August 29, 2010
ALEXANDRIA, VA The problem with Charles Bryan's Op/Ed column, "Yes, Slavery Caused the Civil War," is that nearly every point he raises to make his argument against the short-lived Southern republic could also be made directly against the United States, its Constitution, and the Founding Fathers. For example, the statement that "the Confederacy was a nation based on laws and constitutional authority protecting slavery and the right of its citizens to own other human beings." The implication is that the United States and its Constitution were not. But this is false.
It may be useful to point out a few uncomfortable realities:
•The United States Constitution clearly provided in the second section of Article IV for the return of fugitive slaves to their masters.
•The United States Constitution in the second section of Article I clearly provided that three-fifths of all other persons (meaning slaves) were to be counted for the purposes of representation in the U.S. House.
•The United States Constitution, in fact, extended the slave trade a full decade until 1808. This was a rejection of the proposal by George Mason, a slaveholder, and other Virginians, for an immediate end to this inhumane practice. The extension benefited New England -- the center of American slave trading.
The U.S. Constitution was designed chiefly to protect liberty and property, including slaves. The Framers knew that property rights were indispensable to liberty and that for the time being bonded labor was a unique species of property. Such statesmen as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Patrick Henry, George Mason, John Marshall, and a host of others, were slaveholders who also opposed slavery. Yet they had to deal with the day-to-day reality of an inherited institution, while striving to make it as humane as possible and looking forward to its final abolition by peaceful and orderly means. This is not a contradiction, but rather a paradox.
In 1831, Virginia attempted to enact a bill for gradual emancipation of the slaves -- it lost by one vote in the General Assembly. Virginia, all counted, made a total of 23 attempts to legislate the freeing of the slaves and the abolition of the slave trade prior to 1861.
The United States Congress, in a resolution unanimously approved by both houses on July 23, 1861, declared: "The war is waged by the Government of the United States, not in the spirit of conquest or subjugation, nor for the purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the rights or institutions of the states, but to defend and protect the Union." There is not a word about abolishing slavery.
President Abraham Lincoln said in his first Inaugural Address: "I have no purpose directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."
In 1861, Lincoln supported passage of the Corwin Amendment to the Constitution, which would have formally and explicitly enshrined slavery in the U.S. Constitution by prohibiting the government from ever interfering with Southern slavery. This amendment passed the Senate and the House just days before Lincoln was inaugurated (but the advent of war prevented its ratification by the states). In his first Inaugural Address he said he believed slavery was constitutional and then, alluding to the Corwin Amendment, said: "I have no objection to it [slavery protection] being made express irrevocable" in the Constitution. This was by far the strongest defense of slavery ever made by an American politician.
Not one single slave in any non-seceding Union slave state (Maryland, Delaware, Missouri, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia) was freed by Lincoln's famous 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. It had no effect on any Southern state, as it obviously could not be enforced there. Lincoln himself said (in a widely distributed communication, Aug. 22, 1862, to New York newspaper editor Horace Greeley): "If I could save the Union without freeing any slaves I would do it."
Arguments that slavery caused the war and that the South was the culprit are already bearing fruit in the City of Richmond. The city's commission on the sesquicentennial, The Future of Richmond's Past, is already showing a distorted emphasis on slavery versus the heroism, suffering, and sacrifice of the soldiers whose leaders' statues grace Monument Avenue. This approach seems more calculated to drive visitors away than to attract them to the capital city of the Confederacy.
Virginia's secession convention stood firmly pro-Union until the April 12, 1861, firing on Fort Sumter and Lincoln's call of troops from Virginia to help bring the seceding states back into the Union. Slavery played no role in Virginia's decision and Virginia left the Union only upon Lincoln's call up to invade the lower South.
Slavery began in Virginia in 1619, not 1861. It is an injustice to pile the sins of 250 years of the "peculiar institution" on the brave men who went forth against the invaders between 1861 and 1865. As we commemorate their heroism and sacrifice, we do not forget the peculiar institution, but at the same time we must not let political correctness corrupt our judgment and our historical understanding. As noted historian James McPherson wrote in What They Fought For, 1861-1865, the vast majority of Southern soldiers believed they were fighting to defend their state, their homes, and their families -- not slavery.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard T. Hines serves as commander of the Jefferson Davis Camp #305 Sons of Confederate Veterans, Virginia Division. Contact him at rth@rthconsulting.com.
ATM Sunday Message for August 29, 2010
Confederate Christians and fellow Compatriots:
Below is my message for Sunday, August 29th. Please feel free to reply or forward, As always, you comments are always welcome.
May our Lord continue to bless you all for all you are doing.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sons of Confederate Veterans
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to the membership of one our local camps. During my presentation, I asked them to consider some numbers. If each member of our Confederation would recruit just one new member in the coming year, next year we would have about 60,000 members. Then, if each of these would recruit one new member in the following year, our membership would increase to 120,000.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Below is my message for Sunday, August 29th. Please feel free to reply or forward, As always, you comments are always welcome.
May our Lord continue to bless you all for all you are doing.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sons of Confederate Veterans
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Numbers
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to the membership of one our local camps. During my presentation, I asked them to consider some numbers. If each member of our Confederation would recruit just one new member in the coming year, next year we would have about 60,000 members. Then, if each of these would recruit one new member in the following year, our membership would increase to 120,000.
If each member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans were to continue recruiting one new member a year, within just ten years, ten percent of the population of the United States would be members of the SCV; which means about twenty percent of the men in this country would be honoring our noble Confederate forefathers. Yes, in ten years we would have about thirty million members.
Think about the effect we could exert on our failing society. Anyone wanting to be president or seeking any political office would need our support. They would beg to speak at our reunions. If we threatened to boycott General Motors if they didn't put a Confederate Battle Flay on the back of every Silverado Pick up, they would do it or go bankrupt. We could demand that the Lincoln Memorial be leveled and replaced with a monument to someone more worthy of the honor. Someone like Jefferson Davis.
Well, as my daddy used to say, "Dream on sweet prince." I know that thirty million members in ten years in not a very reasonable expectation, but then, if you'll allow me to say so, neither is thirty thousand members after almost a hundred and fifteen years. The Sons of Confederate Veterans need to grow and increase. In doing so, we will gain strength and influence, and be more successful in carrying out the mission to which we are so justly dedicated. We're talking about numbers.
So, how do we accomplish this growth and increase? Consider the early church. Within less than three hundred years what began with a few people in an obscure part of the world, became the most powerful force in the Roman Empire. They did it without elegant buildings, Madison Avenue sales tactics, dog-and-pony shows, ads in newspapers, or any of the things many churches do today to attract new members. So, what did they do?
The Scripture says in Acts 11: 23, "That with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord." They put their faith and trust in the Lord and sought His guidance and strength. We also must realize that we cannot succeed without God's blessing and leadership. But, they did something else. Something we must also do if we are to grow and increase.
They obeyed the Lord's command to, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." (Mk. 16: 15. See also Matt. 28: 18-20 for the Great Commission) Everyone they knew; everyone they met; they felt should hear the Gospel and have the opportunity to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and accept Him as their Lord. We call it "witnessing."
We must do the same. We must feel that every son of the South should know about the Sons of Confederate Veterans and what we do and stand for, and have the opportunity to join our just Cause. We call it "recruiting."
Whether it's the Cause of Christ or our Southern Cause, one person talking to one person is what worked two thousand years ago, and that's what works today. That is how we get numbers.
May God bless each of you in your service to Christ and in serving the worthy Cause of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sons of Confederate Veterans
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