The Prayer Offered at the State Convention when Mississippi Joined the Confederacy
The proceedings opening with a prayer for God's protection of the peculiar institution.
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Whenever someone levels the false claim that the Civil War was not fought over slavery but for “states’ rights,” I typically cite the Mississippi Articles of Secession.
This document lays out the reasons why white legislators in Mississippi decided to break from the Union and join the Confederacy. It states at the outset…
“Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery—the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth.”
An honest assessment of words from historical actors themselves leaves no doubt about the primary cause of the division leading to the Civil War.
There is more to the story than simply saying that the Civil War was about slavery. It was also about which conception of Christianity—proslavery or abolitionist—would prevail.
The Prayer
The proceedings of the Mississippi State Convention at which the articles of secession were adopted opens with a prayer delivered by Methodist minister, Reverend C. K. Marshall.
Marshall begins with a sober acknowledgement of the portent of the moment. “Almighty and Everlasting God, we come into Thy presence on this solemn occasion, so freighted with the interests of all we hold dear as a people.”
If there was any question about what Marshall and his confederates “hold dear,” he soon gives an answer.
The preservation of slavery formed part of the dearly held interests of white Christians in the South.
The part of Marshall’s prayer most directly pertaining to slavery is as follows…
Thou, oh, God, has seen...how [our sister States] they have pursued the purpose of depriving us of our just rights, and destroying in our midst the institution which Thy Providence has solemnly bound us to uphold, defend and protect…
The “institution” to which Marshall refers is the “peculiar institution” of race-based chattel slavery. The minister alludes to the practice of treating people as property and exploiting their labor for life as part of the southern white man’s “just rights.”
He goes on to call chattel slavery a matter of God’s providence—a plan that God intended from before the creation of the earth.
This is not a reference merely to God’s foreknowledge of all that would come to pass—both good and evil. This Christian minister saw slavery as a positive good. It was a charge that white Christians were “solemnly bound” to “uphold, defend, and protect.”
The minister concludes his prayer by asking all of his requests explicitly and specifically in the name of Jesus Christ.
These favors and blessings we humbly implore in the name, and through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Rev. Marshall’s prayer reveals how the protection and perpetuation of race-based chattel slavery was viewed by white Confederate Christians as a part of what it meant to live faithfully as followers of Christ.
On God’s Side?
The prayer at the beginning of a meeting in which white leaders in the state of Mississippi officially declare their allegiance to the Confederacy and the preservation of slavery indicates how some deployed Christianity in service of white supremacy.
Many Confederates who proclaimed Christianity genuinely thought God was on their side.
Perhaps they failed to learn from the misguided question of Joshua in the Bible.
When Joshua saw a man standing before him with a sword he inquired, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” (Joshua 5:13, NIV).
But this was the wrong question. The man, who was really an angel, responded, “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” (Joshua 5:14).
The commander of the Lord’s army was not on the side of Joshua or his army nor was he on the side of their enemies. He was on God’s side.
The question that all must ask is not whether God is on their side, but whether they are on God’s side.
Christians should devote themselves to figuring out whether they stand with God, which is always the side of justice for the oppressed.
Confederate Christians did not understand this. Perhaps the current generation will learn from their error.
Read Rev. C.K. Marshall’s entire prayer HERE.
The Prayer Offered at the State Convention when Mississippi Joined the Confederacy
My go to document is the "Cornerstone Speech". It seems there's always someone, even if you point out the secession documents that specifically name slavery (I think 7 of the 13?), will be like, "Yeah, but what about the other 6?" I think the Cornerstone Speech leaves no doubt.
God began to answer His prayer, it was His assumptions that led Him astray. May God continue to answer this part of His prayer.
"Thy servants may consummate such measures as shall result in the establishment of the principles of justice, equality and brotherly concord,--that national strifes, railing controversies, bitter recriminations and animosities may be banished from the land, while the vital doctrines of equality, self-government and constitutional freedom, shall be maintained and inviolable, and handed down to posterity as a Heaven-ordained legacy."
problem was he assumed that God did not consider black people his equal.