P.\l'.Ens OF ~[11: \1;1-:.\u Bc:oNAP,\TITE L .. nun 35 ceetl:,; from tl1e horricl error that the soul of a soldier is worthless, and that whilst all others are im·itecl to Heaven there is for him "no bri<Tht reversion in the sky_:, But that there may he a c:lear understanding of the point that we aim at, let us exhibit in a plain unvarnished manner the ·particular case that we ha\"e under consideration. During the last war the Indians were instigated by the Briti!,h to take up arms agaiust our State. They hatl already commenced hostilities by com- mitting various depradations on the frontier, and were preparing as speedily as possible for an indiscriminate massacre, when an army was placed uuder the command of Genl. Floyd to repel their aggressions and driYe them into terms of peace. 'l'he army was composed of the first citizens of the country, and embraced in the ranks many of the members of religious denominations, who cheerfully joined in a war unprovoked on the pa.rt of our people, and in defence of weomen and children. )Ir. )Iosely at this time was residing we belie\'e in Putnam county & was the regular :Minister at Flat-Rock Meeting House. Seeing that 110 regular Chaplain was likely to accompany the soldiers in the campaign, he embraced the opportunity of extending his sphere of usefulness by volunteering his ministerial labors to the army where his congregations would be greater in number and were more needy and descit ute of such service. His deportment throughout the cam- paign was that of an ardent christian and a brave patriot. He prayed with the soldiers in their tents; comforted them in the hour of distress and fought boldly with them in the field of Battle. No one thought of denounc·ing his conduct as inconsistent with his obligations to his Goel. So soon as the campaign was over he resumed his pastoral duties at home with the approbation of his church and the applause of his. fellow-citizens. We never heard of but one dissenting voice ancl that was William T. Brantly's. This gentleman met with l\fr. Mosely in • the month of April 1814, when a conversation ensued betwixt them concerning the propriety of Mr. 3fosel:v's conduct, in which Mr. Brantly aclmowleclges that he "told Mr. Mosely with the franlmess of a chri~- tian brother, that he considered it a desertion of the standard of his great Captain and ~[aster" and immediately after ,·irtunlly owns in reference to himself, that he would not have performed the service for "that however dear his country was to him the cau:;e of Christ was still dearer." Now we would earnestly press this enquiry upon our candid reaclers; whether they are prepared to decide with :i\Ir. Brantly that the sen-ices rendered by :Mr. Mosely in the two-fold cnpncity of a Yolunteer-chaplain & soldier was a desertion of the standard of Christ? If any really are serious in this belief we invite them to "come and let us reason together." We hold it true that the object of all preach- ing is to conYert man from his naturnl alienntion from God, to the love of him and obedience to his will. The 3linister tlwreforn who i~ faithful to his trust, and strong in the desire to save the souls of sin- ners, will be apt to bestow his labors (and be jnst.i fiecl in so lloing) in that quarter where reason and conscience tell him that: lw <:nn Hl'- eompli,,:h the most in his high ('ailing. .:\ncl where was there Her a greater opening in this State for the pious ancl benevolent exertions of a :Minister of the Gospel, than· in Floyd's army? A thousnwl of our fellow citizens were assembled together for the prot.c•dion of the country against the unrestrainl'cl cruelties of a snrn~c foe. On lea,·-
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