The regime occupying Washington, D. C., having launched its latest war of conquest, where may a Southerner look for consolation in a world gone insane? The Psalmist answers:
‘From whence shall my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth’ (Psalm 121:1, 2).
So has it often been in the South, that our people seek solace in Christ. This is exemplified in the life of one of our finest gospel music writers, Eugene Monroe Bartlett, Sr.
Mr Bartlett was born round about 1883 on Christmas Eve in little Waynesville, Missouri. He moved south into Arkansas with his parents and received schooling in Tennessee and Missouri to be a music teacher. Back in Arkansas, he would go on to become an employee for a major shape-note singing book publisher, Central Music Company, and would later establish his own publishing company, Hartford Music Company, in 1918, ‘one of Southern gospel’s first significant publishing companies.’ Not content with that accomplishment, he also established a shape-note school and a monthly music-themed magazine.
His work was not limited to publishing and teaching: He was also a prolific writer of gospel songs himself, which were popular amongst gospel singing groups, both black and white. But the enemy of mankind, the old devil, hates to see people rejoice in God, so he struck Mr Bartlett, causing him to have a stroke in 1939 that left him partially paralyzed. But this was used by the Blessed Trinity to bring about an even greater good from the life of Mr Bartlett, ‘his final and most beloved song, “Victory in Jesus,” an optimistic number that has been sung by millions in worship services and recorded by gospel’s biggest names.’
He would repose only two short years later in 1941, buried in Benton County, Arkansas, and inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1973.
In our distressing times we can, and should, draw comfort from the sources our Southern ancestors have always looked to, the deep wells of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the very ones that E. M. Bartlett helped us to focus the eyes of our hearts upon with his gospel songs. This is our victory in a world gone mad, to remain unbreakably united with our Lord. To that end, we will close this essay with some of the lyrics and a rendition of his most famous hymn as we go on about our lives in a harried world.
I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.
Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.
Audio of a rendition performed by the Sugar Creek Bluegrass band.
The views expressed at AbbevilleInstitute.org are not necessarily those of the Abbeville Institute.
“… WAR OF CONQUEST…
I feel certain I will displease many here but I am an apostate on this Iran matter. Mea culpa. I am a gadfly. a renegade from my normal libertarian beliefs. Even Thomas Jefferson did what Trump is doing in essence. It may be my ‘lower class’ upbringing but I was taught and learned that gentlemanly forbearance extends only so far, and then one must knock the block off of a clearly offending party/person. THAT principle is a requirement to have actual peace, a civilized society. That is what was ingrained in me by my family, and the culture when I grew up. In a perfect world not getting involved in foreign affairs is the correct policy. Of course we don’t live in a perfect world, and what Trump is doing in Iran, Venezuela, Cuba etc. is correcting – or attempting to correct at least – the genuine screw ups our politicians have made since the end of WWII. A pox on the Trumans, LBJ’s, Clintons, Bushes et al. Iran has been conducting “asymmetrical warfare” against the U.S. since 1979, and generally creating mayhem around the world as well. Iran is the Jihad-a-Cong essentially no different than the Viet Cong in VN. Iran is the genuine bad guy, as was Venezuela, and so too Cuba and the drug cartels. I am not such a purist that I can put my principles ahead of reality. Iran and the others noted NEED the smack downs they are getting so the rest of the world can live in a more stable, and likely more prosperous if it all works out – and it appears to all be working so far- peace. So, mea maxima culpa my fellow Rebs. Sorry to agitate you – assuming I did.
Regarding The Good Book: at times like these I always recall Ecclesiastes 3.
Iran has no missiles with a range of over 1500 miles (1/5 the distance from the US). Their airplanes are 50 years old; they have no bombers of any range. They had a navy 3% of the tonnage of the US, before it was destroyed. They have no nuclear bomb or any potential for one by Tulsi Gabbard’s on intelligence 2025 report, giving a lie to Netanyahu’s decades of lies to the contrary.
Iran is the victim and US the murdering villain. Trump lured their leaders out for negotiating peace and murdered them & their family, Pearl-Harbor-like. Incredibly dishonorable. Who would negotiate with anyone so dishonest and dishonorable as the US govt.?! The US has victimized them since overthrowing their elected leader in 1953 (the British abused them before that). The US allied with Saddam Hussein! To attack Iran in the 1980s. We’ve been at economic war with them ever since to keep them poor.
These same Neocons who inflicted Vietnam on us, made us attack Iraq, made us bomb Kosovo, made attack Iraq again (~500,000 civilians killed as a result of that one), made us spend 7 trillion $s and 20 years attacking and converting Afghanistan from Taliban to Taliban, who demanded we fight a proxy war with Russia (instead of befriending them as allies against the actual danger of China), who made us bomb Libya to create a failed state there, who instigated the Civil War to oust Assad [protector of Syrian Christians]…these same people, after claiming they destroyed Iran’s nuclear potential last June…these same people now have started a hellacious war, which will hurt people all over the world. For nothing but Greater Israel.
Please consult Brion McClanahan https://www.brionmcclanahan.com/
for how mistaken you are about any similarity between Jefferson’s behavior re Algiers and Trump “the Peace candidate’s” perfidy. It hurts my heart to hear the 2 mentioned in the same sentence, by a Southerner no less.
WELL! as Jack Benny used to say. I guess you sure told ME. I follow Brion M. daily, love his writing and videos, but like any human I don’t ALWAYS agree with him. The same goes for my wife, whom I love dearly and respect more than anyone. I explained myself and even after your input I still dissent and do not accept your facts as completely accurate. Therefore, i am sticking to my point of view and that is no disrespect to Dr. Brion. If sticking with my point of view makes me a ‘Reconstructed’ Southerner, or an Israeli agent, or Neo-Con stooge or whatever I guess I can’t help it. My point of view is the Iranian regime are agents of Satan and are now reaping what they have sown – and it’s about time. Again – Ecclesiastes 3.
James, Ecclesiastes 3 soothes many situations. But when the corrupt cancerous organism that rules the Swamp takes my tax money to make war on a country in the opposite hemisphere from the one we live in with absolutely no capacity to threaten the US–and in the process pisses on the Constitution & its requirement of a vote of Congress to go to war–it really isn’t something that will just pass. Especially not for the thousands of entirely innocent people being killed in the Middle East. Killed by people we are funding. It’s just too evil. It sticks a stake into the heart of the notion that the US is meaningfully a republic. I apologize, James, for I don’t mean to point the bitterness I feel about this Trump knife-in-the-back at you. He was our last hope.
Understood ‘J’. Thank you for the apology. I genuinely hope you have a good week.
Traitors in both political parties shipped 50k factories to China, and now are surprised China doesn’t want to build our weapons systems for us to use against them or their allies. So we isolate China from Vz and Iranian oil…driving China closer to Russia, but giving Russia more leverage over China. Perhaps the US is hoping for a grudge match to the death between Russia and China. Fortunately for the US middle class, the traitors now realize they must bring manufacturing back to the US…and if they are to have decent workers, the damage to the family must be repaired. Funny how terrified megadonors can turn on a dime when NATO loses a war to Russia and the pets of the megadonors turn on the megadonors’ pet projects.
I am not inclined to be irritated at someone who has an understanding different from mine. I must disagree, however, with your analysis pertaining to Iran. Before I address the historical issues associated with Iran, I assert right off that the which President Trump has launched is immoral because it was a surprise attack cloaked in perfidy just like Germany against Poland and Japan against us at Pearl Harbor. The war is unconstitutional because it was not declared by the Congress of the United States. The war is illegal based on both federal law and international law, the latter being laws which we helped draft and which we ratified. The war is not in the interest of the American people. It is difficult to believe that a Southerner would embrace American Exceptionalism or America, the Indispensable Nation. The hubris to make others in our image springs from this poison well. We are the ones who overthrew the Iranian government, a democratically elected government in 1953 at the behest of the British and propped up the corrupt Shah. As the Shah fled, it was Cater and Brzeziński got the French to insert the Ayatollah into Iran because they feared a communist takeover. The Students took over the embassy because Carter would not return the Shah to stand trial for the crimes which he had committed against the Iranian people. We then used our proxy Saddam Hussain to fight an eight-year war against the Iranians, giving the Iraqis the precursors for mustard gas. Between 300,000 and 500,000 Iranians died in the war which we sponsored. In 1988, we shot down an Iranian airliner in international air space, killing 290 of them. Bush famously refused to apologize. It is quite likely that Reagan won the 1980 election by paying off the Iranians not to release the hostages before the 1980 election. Reagan again used the Iranians in the illegal Iran/Contra Affair. Finally, to shorten this, American soldiers in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon are there as invaders and occupiers. Under international law, invaders and occupiers may be resisted with lethal force. Killing soldiers illegally occupying or present in an alien country is not terrorism. Killing civilians for political ends is terrorism.
Mr. Parsons,
I also think this attack on “the head of the terrorist snake” is long overdue, this odious issue having been horribly mismanaged by Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush’s I and II, Clinton, and aider/abettor Obama. I fear, however, that there is no will amongst the American people to finish the job, if indeed it could ever be completed. I say this going by the US’s previous examples of Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. But overall, we bring these disasters on ourselves by the filth and murderous corruption of our society, and have to expect the curses promised by Scripture for turning away from a Righteous and Holy God.
Mr. Persons, please excuse me for misspelling your name.
Absolutely no problem at all, Donald. Have a Dixie Day.
“…we…have to expect the curses promised by Scripture for turning away from a Righteous and Holy God.”
That’s not correct, Mr. Trussell. The “curses promised by Scripture for turning away from a Righteous and Holy God” was applicable in God’s program with ISRAEL under the Law.
God is not judging and making war today, though that is coming. Today, since the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, God is reigning and dispensing GRACE.
2 Corinthians 5:19 “…God was in Christ, RECONCILING THE WORLD UNTO HIMSELF, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Prayers for we professing Bible believer’s that we read and study that Book to understand what God is doing. Here’s at least one thing: the bible believer and reader must properly distinguish God’s program with Israel and His program today of grace. They’re different.
I’ll have to agree with James, here, with all due respect to Walt.
I was a very young soldier, stationed in Europe, when the Iranians overran the US embassy and took our citizens hostage in an unprecedented act of aggression. I remember the humiliation, heaped upon the previous humiliation of the communist takeover of South Vietnam.
Iran has been at war with us since 1979 and has been involved in and supporting the murder of Americans for close to half a century now.
I think that the eradication of this longstanding terrorist regime will be a good thing. Nevertheless, I do agree with Walt that we don’t need to travel down the road of imperialism. Get the job done and get out!
I enjoyed the wonderful Gospel music. It was sorely needed. Concerning Iran, Mr. Persons and Mr. Chatham make good points, but I am still thinking that the US should not be engaged in yet another war. I am still waiting for a clear explanation of the immediate threat posed by Iran. I hear a lot of talk, however, about liberating the Iranian people. As tragic as their situation is, it is not up to the US to come to their rescue. Mr. Trump has a lot of work to do at home: the Golden
Dome, the border wall, deporting more illegal immigrants. And we have heard very little about oil production in the US. Or about US coal and LNG.
“As tragic as their situation is, it is not up to the US to come to their rescue.”
I have to agree with this. What would “…to their rescue mean…”? God gave David accuracy with a mere sling when appropriate for His plan, but He took the sword away from Peter and admonished him that : “Those who live by the sword die by the sword.”
First, I am a Christian and have been since age 9 when I realized Jesus died for me; second, I’ve had an interest in military history since childhood; third, I have a Bible school education; and, fourth, I am a (decorated) combat veteran. If there’s anything to learn from Trump’s military adventurism, it’s Satan is alive and well on planet earth.
Victory in Jesus! Amen! Thank you so much for this article. It couldn’t have come at a better time. His grace is sufficient for every need. It is refreshing to hear others’ unashamed love and reverence for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Keep the oil in your lamps, my brothers and sisters! All hail King Jesus!! 🤗☝👑
To all my fellow Southerners: my conversation with J. Sobran got me thinking. J’s honest, heartfelt expression of his opinions and feelings evoked genuine sympathy in me. Not pity or anything condescending or cloying, just honest human understanding. In particular J’s thinking of Trump as our last hope. Regardless of where one comes down on the Iran matter let’s all remember that we are Southerners and are a a tough resilient people. Our ancestors not only survived the war but also survived Reconstruction. I was lucky to have grown up while the Era of Reconciliation was still ongoing. Many of you probably did not. I’ve been in places where J feels he is now. I have mega respect for J for being so honest with me. The reason I refer to Ecclesiastes 3 in particular at times like these is that I still don’t understand how it could be part of God’s plan that the South could lose the war. My faith informs me that I should not expect to understand and therefore I just have to deal with it. I know I sound rather preachy but don’t despair fellow Rebs, somehow we will get through this Iran deal, and Trump even with his quirks and failings and our criticisms of him, AND we will overcome this current era of calumny directed at us. Deo Vindice.
“…I still don’t understand how it could be part of God’s plan that the South could lose the war.”
I think “The South Was Right,” and yes, I think “…Jefferson Davis Was Right?” Thank you, Kennedy twins.
However, Mr. Persons, this is absolutely critical for the Bible believer to understand: you know 1 Timothy 2:4: “Who will have all men to be saved AND to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
God had, and has, no plans, per se, for the South, or for Canada, or for England or for Cambodia, etc. etc.
What has God been doing since Acts chapter 9, and what is He doing? That’s the question. He is forming the church the body of Christ. Why? Because it is going to govern the heavens. You know that in that time believer’s call “the tribulation” the devil and his angels are going to be cast out of the heavens. Well, the body of Christ is going fill those vacancies, those positions of authority.
What about the earth, one might ask. After the Lord saves and delivers Israel, THEY are going to be the ruling authority on this planet. The South may or may not be a part of that future kingdom of nations. A nation’s acceptance in that future time will be based on whether or not they helped the Jew, the “little flock,” in their terrible time of “trouble.”
That’s what is going on, sir, in regards to your wondering about what God’s plans are.
Genesis 2:1: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.”
God and the devil have been battling for control of these realms.
“My faith informs me that I should not expect to understand and therefore I just have to deal with it.”
No, Mr. Persons. The Bible believing faith, the Bible, tells the Bible believer not be ignorant:
Romans 1:13 “Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren…”
Six times your apostle Paul tells the bible believer not to be ignorant about what’s going on, what God is doing.
2 Corinthians 2:11 “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
Romans 15:14 “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.”
We can know what God is doing and why, Mr. Persons. It’s in the Bible.
Thank you, James, for those words directed towards a more salubrious attitude, which I need. And you are so right to remember the extremely difficult times our Southern ancestors weathered, putting today in some perspective.
“…the enemy of mankind, the old devil…”
True.
“…hates to see people rejoice in God…”
True. And I’ll add he especially hates to see Bible believer’s “rightly dividing the word of truth,” 2 Tim 2:15. It’s NOT a coincidence that those important words in that verse have been replaced in EVERY modern English version with the exception of the NOT recommended NKJV.
“…he (devil) struck Mr Bartlett, causing him to have a stroke in 1939 that left him partially paralyzed.”
Not true. Romans 8:22-23 “…we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also…even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
“Victory in Jesus,” is a GREAT hymn. However, one line is not good, and some ministries have modified it. The line which says: “…I repented of my sins.” That is NOT a requirement of the Lord before He will save a person. God simply wants a person to believe that His Son died for their sins, was buried and rose from the dead. God wants folks to believe in that and trust His Son exclusively. Most people know, intuitively, they cannot turn from their sins, at least some of them. They should, but its probably going to take time. For example, if one is a two pack a day cigarette smoker, God wants to save them now, even if they can’t quit immediately on the spot. Turning from sins occurs AFTER one is saved. The motivation is different. They have a new identity.
how did this article get on Iran?
The first words of Mr. Garlington’s article:
“The regime occupying Washington, D. C., having launched its latest war of conquest…”
When first initiated (cabinet offices) the office of “War” was called such, I believe, to use that definition as a description of something harsh and deadly as to remind the people of something not to be taken lightly. Over a 150 years later it was renamed “Defense” as to remind the people that such harshness was to be used only as a last resort.
Today it has been renamed as to tell the world that we are the most powerful “nation” on earth and we can do what we please, even if most of us “don’t please.”
Sherman said: “War is hell.” Today his heirs in Washington say: “War is heaven.”