18 May 1864 AD: GEN Joe Johnston, CSA, Baptized by LTGEN Leonidas Polk, CSA & Episcopal Churchman

18 May 1864 A.D.  General Joe Johnston, Confederate States of America, confesses his faith in Christ Jesus.   GEN Johnston was baptized by LTGEN Leonidas Polk, an Episcopalian minister with an old Anglican Book of Common Prayer—the 1789 BCP.

Dr. Rusten helps to tell the story.

Rusten, E. Michael and Rusten, Sharon. The One Year Christian History. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003.  Available at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Year-Christian-History-Books/dp/0842355073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393302630&sr=8-1&keywords=rusten+church+history

Gospel and Bible preaching went on during the Civil War on both sides; it surely makes sense; death was on every hand.  Death, war and conflict wonderfully concentrates the senses.  So, we bring a story of Generals, Episcopal Churchmen, the confession of faith and baptisms as signs and seals of the gracious covenant.

LTGEN Leondias Polk, an influential General for the South, influenced many.

He himself was influenced by E.M Bounds, famous for his works on prayer, and an influential layman, Frank Lyon.

General Polk was well-known as a man of God amongst his troops, but also amongst the Generals.

On one occasion, Generals Polk and John Bell Hood were riding alongside one another.  General Hood had lost a leg earlier at the battle of Chicamauga and had to be tied into the saddle. Things turned to theology. Theologians and true ministers do what they always do: talk about the LORD, His Law, His Gospel, His Word and His many mercies.  John Bell Hood was converted by the hearing of the Word. 

General John Bell Hood confessed his faith and was baptized using the form of the 1789 Book of Common Prayer.  This was done in the presence of troops and officers.

Here’s what this looked like (imagine a field baptism in front of amassed troops with this form of good order, decency, decorum and Biblicality):

THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS, AND ABLE TO ANSWER FOR THEMSELVES.  ¶ When any such Persons as are of riper years are to be baptized, timely notice shall be given to the Minister that so due care may be taken for their examination, whether they be sufficiently instructed in the Principles of the Christian Religion, and that they may be exhorted to prepare themselves, with Prayers and Fasting, for the receiving of this holy Sacrament. ¶ And if they shall be found fit, then the Godfathers and Godmothers (the People being assembled upon the Sunday, Holy Day, or Prayer Day appointed) shall be ready to present them at the Font, immediately after the second Lesson, either at Morning or Evening Prayer as the Minister, in his discretion, shall think fit. ¶ And standing there, the Minister shall ask, whether any of the Persons here presented be baptized, or no: If they shall answer, No, then shall the Minister say thus: DEARLY beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, (and that which is born of the flesh is flesh,) so they who are in the flesh cannot please God but live in sin, committing many actual transgressions; and our Saviour Christ saith, None can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerate and born anew of Water and of the Holy Ghost; I beseech: you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous goodness he will grant to these Persons that which by nature they cannot have; that they may be baptized with Water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ’s holy Church, and be made lively members of the same. ¶ Then shall the Minister say, Let us pray ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy great mercy didst save Noah and his family m the ark from perishing by water; and also didst safely lead the children of Israel thy people through the Red Sea, figuring thereby thy holy Baptism; and by the Baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ, in the river Jordan, didst sanctify the element of Water to the mystical washing away of sin; We beseech thee, for thine infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon these thy Servants; wash them and sanctify them with the Holy Ghost; that they, being delivered from thy wrath, may be received into the ark of Christ’s Church; and being steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world that finally they may come to the land of everlasting life, there to reign with thee, world without end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
	A page from the Baptism service, as printed in 1865.
¶ Or this. ALMIGHTY and immortal God, the aid of all who need, the helper of all who flee to thee for succour, the life of those who believe, and the resurrection of the dead; We call upon thee for these Persons, that they, coming to thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of their sins, by spiritual regeneration. Receive them, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy well-beloved Son, saying, Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. So give now unto us who ask; let us who seek, find; open the gate unto us who knock; that these Persons may enjoy the everlasting benediction of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ Then the Minister shall say, Hear the words of the Gospel, written by Saint John, in the third Chapter, beginning at the first Verse. THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof; but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. ¶ After which he shall say the exhortation following. BELOVED, ye hear in this Gospel the express words of our Saviour Christ, that except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Whereby ye may perceive the great necessity of this Sacrament, where it may be had. Likewise, immediately before his ascension into heaven, (as we read in the last Chapter of Saint Mark’s Gospel,) he gave command to his disciples, saying, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Which also showeth unto us the great benefit we reap thereby. For which cause Saint Peter the Apostle, when upon his first preaching of the Gospel many were pricked at the heart, and said to him and the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? replied and said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is to you and your children, and to all that are afar off; even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words exhorted he them, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. For (as the same Apostle testifieth in another place) even Baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will favourably receive these present Persons, truly repenting, and coming unto him by faith; that he will grant them remission of their sins, and bestow upon them the Holy Ghost; that he will give them the blessing of eternal life, and make them partakers of his everlasting kingdom.      Wherefore we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father toward these Persons, declared by his Son Jesus Christ; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks to him, and say, ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks, for that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace, and faith in thee: Increase this knowledge, and confirm this faith in us evermore. Give thy Holy Spirit to these Persons, that they may be born again, and be made heirs of everlasting salvation; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.	"Amen" appears in Roman type in some versions
¶ Then the Minister shall speak to the Persons to be baptized in this wise: WELL-BELOVED, who are come hither desiring to receive holy Baptism, ye have heard how the congregation hath prayed, that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive you and bless you, to release you of your sins, to give you the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. Ye have heard also, that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his holy Word to grant all those things that we have prayed for; which promise he, for his part, will most surely keep and perform. Wherefore, after this promise made by Christ, ye must also faithfully, for your part, in the presence of these your Witnesses, and this whole congregation, promise and answer to the following Questions. ¶ The Minister shall then demand of the Persons to be baptized as follows; the questions being considered as addressed to them severally, and the answers to be made accordingly. Question. DOST thou renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the sinful desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them?      Answer. I renounce them all; and, by God’s help, will endeavour not to follow, nor be led by them.      Question. Dost thou believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith, as contained in the Apostles’ Creed?      Answer. I do.      Question. Wilt thou be baptized in this Faith?      Answer. That is my desire.      Question. Wilt thou then obediently keep God’s holy will and commandments and walk in the same all the days of thy life?      Answer. I will by God’s help. ¶ Then shall the Minister say,  O MERCIFUL God grant that the old Adam in these Persons may be so buried that the new man may be raised up in them. Amen.      Grant that all sinful affections may die in them, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in them.  Amen.      Grant that they may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph, against the devil, the world, and the flesh. Amen.      Grant that they, being here dedicated to thee by our office and ministry, may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly rewarded, through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, who dost live, and govern all things, world without end. Amen. ALMIGHTY, everliving God, whose most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both water and blood; and gave commandment to his disciples, that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of thy congregation; sanctify this Water to the mystical washing away of sin and grant that the Persons now to be baptized therein may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ Then shall the Minister take each Person to be baptized by the right hand; and placing him conveniently by the Font according to his discretion, shall ask the Godfathers and Godmothers the Name; and then shall dip him in the water, or pour water upon him, saying, N. I baptize thee In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen
¶ Then shall the Minister say,  WE receive this Person into the congregation of Christ’s flock; and do* sign him with the sign of the Cross, in token that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner, against sin, the world, and the devil; and to continue Christ’s faithful soldier and servant unto his life’s end. Amen. ¶ The same rule, as to the omission of the sign of the Cross, is to be observed here as in the Baptism of Infants.  Then shall the Minister say, SEEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that these Persons are regenerate, and grafted into the body of Christ’s Church, let us give thanks unto Almighty God for these benefits; and with one accord make our prayers unto him, that they may lead the rest of their life according to this beginning. ¶ Then shall be said the Lord’s Prayer, all kneeling. OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. WE yield thee humble thanks, O heavenly Father, that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace, and faith in thee: Increase this knowledge, and confirm this faith in us evermore. Give thy Holy Spirit to these Persons; that, being now born again, and made heirs of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, they may continue thy Servants, and attain thy promises; through the same Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, everlastingly. Amen. ¶ Then, all standing up, the Minister shall use this Exhortation following; speaking to the Godfathers and Godmothers first. FORASMUCH as these Persons have promised, in your presence, to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to serve him; ye must remember, that it is your part and duty to put them in mind, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession, they have now made before this congregation, and especially before you their chosen witnesses. And ye are also to call upon them to use all diligence to be rightly instructed in God’s holy Word; that so they may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and live godly, righteously, and soberly, in this present world. ¶ And then, speaking to the baptized Persons, he shall proceed and say, AND as for you, who have now by Baptism put on Christ, it is your part and duty also, being made the children of God and of the light, by faith in Jesus Christ, to walk answerably in your Christian calling, and as becometh the children of light; remembering always that Baptism representeth unto us our profession, which is, to follow the example of our Saviour Christ, and to be made like unto him, that as he died, and rose again for us, so should we, who are baptized, die from sin, and rise again unto righteousness, continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living. ¶ It is expedient that every Person, thus baptized, should be confirmed by the Bishop, as soon after the Baptism as conveniently may be; that so he may he admitted in the Holy Communion. ¶ Whereas necessity may require the baptizing of Adults in private houses in consideration of extreme sickness; the same is hereby allowed in that case. And a convenient number of persons shall he assembled in the house where the Sacrament is to be performed. And in the exhortation, well-beloved, &c., instead of these words, come hither desiring, shall be inserted this word, desirous. ¶ If there is occasion for the Office of Infant Baptism and that of Adults at the same time, the Minister shall use the exhortation and one of the prayers next following in the Office for Adults, only, in the exhortation and prayer, after the words, these Persons, and these thy servants, adding, and these Infants. Then the Minister shall proceed to the questions to be demanded in the cases respectively. After the immersion, or the pouring of water, the prayer shall be as in this service; only, after the words, these Persons shall he added, and these Infants. After which the remaining part of each service shall he used; first that for Adults, and lastly that for Infants. ¶ If any persons not baptized in their infancy shall he brought to be baptized before they come to years of discretion to answer for themselves, it may suffice to use the Office for Public Baptism of Infants; or, in case of extreme danger, the Office for Private Baptism only changing the word Infant, for Child, or Person, as occasion requireth. Appropriate for Flag Officers: dignified, Biblical, careful, direct, honest, and Sober.   General John Bell Hood confessed his faith and was thus baptized. Generals do  what Generals do: confess their faith openly, directly and soberly.   The wife of GEN Joe Johnston heard of GEN Hood’s public confession of faith and wrote LTGEN Polk of his concerns for her husband, Joe.   She wrote this LTGEN-Episcopal clergyman, Leonidas Polk:   “You are never too much occupied. I well know, to pause to perform a good deed, and will, I am sure, even while leading your troops on to victory lead my soldier nearer to God. General Johnston has never been baptized, and it is the dearest wish of my heart that he would be and that you should perform the ceremony.  It would be a great gratification to me.  I have written to him on the subject and am sure he only waits your leisure. I rejoice that you are near him in these trying times. May God crown all your efforts with success and stay your life for your country and your friends.   LTGEN Polk talked with GEN Joe Johnston about eternal affairs.   On 18 May 1864, GEN Joe Johnston confessed his faith and was baptized.   A few weeks later, Generals Polk and Johnston’s line stretched too thinly just north of Marietta, GA.  On 14 June 1864, GEN Sherman, USA, was tossing artillery in the Confederate direction. Shrapnel hit and killed LTGEN Polk.   Inside the jacket of the Episcopal GEN were three inscribed tracts, entitled Balm for the Weary and Wounded.  The three tracts were designed for three Confederate Generals: Johnston, Hood, and Harston.  Each had LTGEN Polk’s inscription, to wit: “With compliments of Lt. Gen. Leonides Polk, June 12, 1864.”   LTGEN Polk died.   GEN Joe Johnston got the blood-soaked tract.    General Johnston tearfully said, “The autograph, and the noble blood that almost effaces it, makes it a souvenir truly precious, one which I shall cherish while the Almighty leaves me on earth.”

Questions:

1. Even in war, a General thought of theological matters and carried out his duties of ministry.  Do circumstances circumscribe one’s speech and witness?
2. What poor and broken soul, in your own midst, needs the Gospel ministrations?  Like LTGEN Polk with Generals Johnston, Hood, and Harston?
3. Given that we are Calvinists, does one function with the sure confidence that God and God alone will harvest whom He will?  Like a large magnet drawing this elect?  Why fear?  The elect will hear; the non-elect won’t.  Press on.

Sources

King, D.D. E.M. Bounds. Minneapolis: Bethany, 1998.