A Special Message from SCV CiC Barrow Re: the Southern Baptist Convention's Heritage Violation

[The following is a statement from Charles Kelly Barrow, Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, regarding the Southern Baptist Convention's passing of a resolution to disavow the Confederate Flag. - SAA. McCleese]

The history of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has been inextricably tied to the Confederacy and her heirs for over a century and a half. Great pulpit expositors, as well as seminary professors that left their mark in the area of Biblical thought and world view offered service to the Confederacy, as chaplains and men of arms, as well. Therefore, it was a profound disappointment and excruciatingly disheartening to hear the anti-Confederate Battle Flag resolution that was approved by SBC messengers meeting in St. Louis on June 14.

The resolution offended on several levels -- first of all, simply put, it did not adequately deal with the Truth of the nature of the Flag, particularly disappointing as Christians should place a premium on the Truth. The 800,000 men that served the Confederacy held, and always will hold, full title to that banner -- it is a soldiers' flag and their political agenda was nothing more than defense of their home. Furthermore, as the Fifth Commandment compels us to "honor father and mother", those of us who enjoy Confederate ancestry are bound to tell the Truth of our ancestors fight and flag. Finally, the tone of the resolution has the effect of intimidating the consciences of Southern Baptists into holding a terribly negative opinion of Confederate symbols.

All that said, the SBC is not a hierarchy; local congregations are in no way bound to the resolution. They may continue on as they have done, in some cases, for many years, in helping their community to retain its history and honoring the men that rebuilt their community after a tragic war and devastating reconstruction. Today, we call upon the great SBC congregations throughout the South to do just that, ignore this distraction and get on with the priorities of Gospel proclamation, building up of the fellowship of Faith and pursuing a witness of goodwill in the community. Untold numbers of these SBC churches, over the years, have cultivated great relationships with SCV camps by opening their facilities for regular meetings and special occasions, not to mention the cemeteries owned by SBC churches where the remains of legions of Confederate heroes lie -- these are sites for numerous memorial services.

Of course, in addition to the historical ties of the Confederacy and SBC, thousands of SCV members are also members of SBC churches. In closing, we call on our camps to pursue"peace with all men" (Heb. 12:14) by cultivating good relationships with all organizations in their community, particularly houses of worship, be they SBC, other Christian denominations or Jewish Synagogues.

Deo Vindice!

Charles Kelly Barrow

Commander-in-Chief

Sons of Confederate Veterans

@scvcic

A SPECIAL MESSAGE: Report of the Deputy Chief of Heritage Promotions (May 2016)

It is with permission from SCV Commander-in-Chief Barrow that I republish this message from Byron E. Brady, Deputy Chief of Heritage Promotions for the SCV. Thanks CiC. Barrow!
============================================================

In these days of unjust and ungodly attacks upon our Confederate Heritage, it is imperative that we keep our flags flying. CIC Barrow and Chief of Heritage Operations Stevens have the same philosophy regarding the flying of our flags.
 
“When they take one of our flags down, we need to put two flags up.”
This should also be the same philosophy of every SCV member.
 
The Heritage Operations Committee has funds to help you get Confederate flags placed in prominent areas of the country. Please contact our headquarters at Elm Springs if your camp has a project that can accomplish this goal.
 
Let’s show this country just how proud we are of the Confederate flag.

Byron E. Brady
Deputy Chief of Heritage Promotions
Sons of Confederate Veterans

============================================================
DEO VINDICE! 
- Jonathan McCleese
Sergeant-at-Arms
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

FROM HQ - A Proclamation by SCV Commander-in-Chief Barrow

[Image Credit: Michigan Camps of the SCV]

 The following is an official proclamation by Charles Kelly Barrow, Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans:

WHEREAS: April is the month in which the Confederate States of America began and ended a four-year struggle for states’ rights, individual freedoms, local governmental control, and independence, which they knew to be right and just; and

WHEREAS: The Sons of Confederate Veterans, the direct heirs of the United Confederate Veterans, honor, observe, and celebrate the Confederate States of America, its history, those who served in its armed forces and government; and

WHEREAS: All those millions of its citizens of various races, ethnic groups and religions who contributed in sundry and myriad of ways to the Cause that they held so dear from its founding on February 4, 1861, in Montgomery, Alabama, until the CSS Shenandoah sailed into Liverpool, England and surrendered to Her Majesty’s Government on November 6, 1865; and

WHEREAS: It is important that the Sons of Confederate Veterans and those of Confederate descent reflect upon the Confederate States of America’s past to honor and respect the devotion of her Confederate leaders, soldiers, sailors, Marines and citizens; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Charles Kelly Barrow, Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, do hereby proclaim the month of April, as:

NATIONAL CONFEDERATE HISTORY and HERITAGE MONTH and encourage all Compatriots to celebrate their states' historically recognized and designated Confederate holidays; however, during the month of April, Compatriots are urged to participate in properly honoring the Confederate States armed forces, her elected and appointed officials, its citizens, and innovations by creating educational programs, ceremonies, and gatherings.

Deo Vindice!
- Charles Kelly Barrow
Commander-in-Chief
Sons of Confederate Veterans
@scvcic

FROM HQ: A Special Message from SCV Commander-in-Chief Barrow

Compatriots and friends,

One hundred fifty years ago the War Against Southern Independence ended with a devastated South. Since that time, the South has rebuilt and stands as a shining symbol of determination and dedication in the face of opposition and hostility. However in our day, there are those who seek to place upon the South another "reconstruction." Some have called this a time of "Southern Cleansing." Their goal is to remove all things Southern. One such attempt is current in the city of New Orleans. The city leaders have ordered the removal of Southern monuments that have stood in this Southern City for decades. Therefore

WHEREAS, on January 14, 2016, the New Orleans case is brought before the legal system for hearing, determination, and decision; and

WHEREAS, it is vital that Southern Heritage be protected via the preservation of the Southern Monuments in the city of New Orleans; and

WHEREAS, the Sons of Confederate Veterans is the premiere Southern Heritage organization in the United States.

NOW, THEREFORE, I Charles Kelly Barrow, Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate veterans, do hereby proclaim Thursday, January 14, 2016,as:

"A DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF SOUTHERN HERITAGE"

for all members and friends of the Sons of Confederate Veterans,

PROCLAIMED this 13th day of January, 2016.

Deo Vindice!

Charles Kelly Barrow
Commander-in-Chief
Sons of Confederate Veterans
@scvcic
www.scv.org

A Special Message from Cmdr. James D. Perkins (SCV Camp #2257)

A Time to Speak Up?! One Man’s Opinion:

As the year 2015 begins to wane and 2016 approaches, some thoughts come to mind. Last summer while attending the Van Raalte Farm reenactment in Holland, something did not seem quite right, yet so help me I could not put a finger on it at the time. The number of participants were good since these days fewer people seem to be involved in the living history hobby, and it seems that there were some twenty five soldiers on each side. My grandson Cody and I were the only camp members who attended, so I am not one hundred percent certain that I am correct in saying that there were no Southern Cross Confederate battle flags on the field on that Sunday. The scenario they were portraying that particular day was, I believe the 1865 battle of Saylor’s Creek, Virginia, so thus, there should have been a Southern Cross on the field at Holland. The point is I do not believe that there was, and of course the question is: Why not? Had I realized at the time, I certainly would have been asking questions.

We have not seen the last of the political correctness that has reared it’s ugly head, as well as the condemnation of all things Confederate. I have since wondered if Van Raalte requested that no Southern Cross be carried onto the field that day, and if so, was it due to pressure from the city council, or someone else?

As Dr. Boyd D. Cathey argues in the SCV’s To Live and Die in Dixie, we need to “become educators.” The uninformed and historically illiterate, or brainwashed need to be tuned in, and immediately before it’s too late. After all, the leftists among us have a well organized plan, and it’s not just the flags they are after. First the flags, then the monuments, and finally Southern culture is their ultimate goal. As Dr. Boyd wrote: “Our Confederate and Southern culture still lives, but our generation may be the last when the opportunity to turn the tide in its favor is truly possible. And victory will only be won through sacrificing our time, our talents, our finances, and perhaps even our friends and reputations. But the alternative is far worse.” Yes, compatriots, it’s time!

Respectfully,
- James D. Perkins
Commander, Major-General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne Camp #2257