Washington telegraph., 1849-10-03
Rev. p. p. Neely in his own Defence.

y ~.
erend Rascality. we feel called upon to
nature of one of the gentlemen implicated,
published in the Nashville Christian Ads
vocate:-ED. BANNER.
TO my Friends and Enemies: l de-
sire to say few words in relation to the
unfortunate difficulty in which / have
lately become involved,
You have no doubt heard many reports.
The s'card" put forth by the committee,
exempts US from tire charge of "gross i'm
morality" and says that "no testimony
was abduced to demonstrate" any inten-
ton in our conduct of a criminal, or licen-
tious character. ! have been much COM
forted by assurances from the committee,
that in view of all the evidence in the
case, they were not convinced that there
was any such evil purpose on our part
Without this, my cup would indeed be
full.
Our object was simply to stroll along
the part of the city where the degraded
and lewd live, and by observation and
of depravity, as seen III that chapter of
the book of human nature, so that we
might the more truthfully and effectually
exhibit it in our efforts to do good, as
ministers of Christ. To avoid recognition,
in the event of which we knew the cause
of God would suffer much injury, we put
on our usual travelling dress, and no.
thing more. We went into no house
during the whole evening. The neares.
10; in,
where we had retreated for security on
the occurrence of a fight in the street, as
we passed along, and which we left In
FIVE minutes after entering it we went
to the most abandoned sinks, and to
great many, showing that our object was
to learn, and not to do evil. We were
arrested solely on the ground that we re-
fused to give our names during the walk,
which induced some to suppose that our
intention was to break open houses, &c
a robbery of that kind having been COM
mitted the night before, of which we were
entirely ignorant, by persons OF whom we
were supposed to be accomplices-on
which snpposition we were reported to
the police as miScl1e0ous persons. We
were taken to the city Hall, (uot to the
calaboose as has been reported and re-
leased Immediately on the arrival of our
landlord.
These are the facts, and they concur
with the testimony. I will nor enlarge
on them here. Upon these facts the
committee suspended US. They did right.
We had done what | am now convinced
Christians and ministers ought not TO do,'
and therefore our conduct was "pnchris-
tian and unministerial, as set forth in the
bill of charges We had inflicted-not
designedly, still it was done-a wound
upon the church; and it was right that
the church maintain her purity by clear
ly expressed disapproval OF our conduct
This the committee have done by sus-
pending us until conference. They could
do nothing else, unless it was to acquit
us of the charge, which would have been
wrong in view of the injury the church
had received by opr conduct. Had they
possessed the power of graduating the
punishment, (Which they did not,) then
they could have determined upon the kind
and amount due us; but not having pu-
nitiye power, they acted properly, l think,
in suspending US pntil the tribunals to
which we are amenable meet, and finally
determine the whole matter | dwell on
this, because of a misapprehension, by
some, of the real character of suspen-
sion by committee.
TO this church action | bow submis-
sively. I did wrong in going where l
did, and shall bear meekly the great evil
resulting from it. Many of my dear friends
will be deeply wounded, that l should
have acted so indIscreetly. If regrets
could undoe what has been done, would
eface it, yet these are unayailing. l
cannot recall it now. No, no; would TO
God 1 could! Oh! that the immense evil
which has resulted, had passed before me
then, in the proba BILE sense in which now
view it! You who have not suffered by
hazards take warning by this example,
and always occupied the safe ground
In all I did, intended no harm. 1t
is to me now precious remembrance, l
intended no harm. Do You believe me?
Hyou do, shield me in my absence; it you
do not, God does; and when | meet you
at his tribunal, you a0aU too. have suf-
fered and must suffer still-how much
God only knows; yet will murmur not.
I have brought it on myself-innocently
it is true, nevertheless I did it; and sus-
tanned by Divine grace. will endure
without the voice of complaint.
".-I drink the bitter cup!
drink; for lie whom angels did sustain
In the dread hour when mortal anguish met him,
When friends forgot, and deadly foes beset him.
Stands 10 soothe my PAIN
have no doubt but my brethren OF the
Alabama Conference will do justly IN
their decision; and I shall calmly and and
trustfully await it.
One word To those for whose salvation