Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-11-16
For the Standard.
A Plain Statement of Facts.

law relative to my dismissal from the North. Car
Dina and Virginia Christian Conference, readers it
necessary that should come before the public with
statement of facts. This shall endeavor to do |
in temperate and charitable spirit rudely to
wound the feelings of no one bat simply to vindi
cate my character as Christian minister and as
citizen against the assaults that have been made up
On it.
The Conference met with the Church at Antioch,
in Chatham County, Wednesday before the second
Sabbath in October. Business progressed harmo
niuusly until the second morning of the session,
when was called on to open the session of that
dsy with prayer; waich did with acceptance to
The brethren, so far as | could observe. The com
nittee on the character Of ministers then reported
that they found all in good standing, except Elders
B. n Hopkins, W. H. Dority, and myself The
two former were charged with immoral conduct,
and their names dropped. was charged with De
ing member of a secret political, reasonable or
ganization. I deaied thecharge, and demanded the
proof; and the only evidence adduced was what
had appeared in Ger tain political papers, and even
these papers, thus relied on evidence, We're not
produced The evidence uas all hearsay. Ii was sta.
ted by that he had seen anil SO in newspaper,
or by that G had told him certain things affect
ing nv character. l denied all this hearsay evl.
dence, and asked for fair trial. Iproduced news
paper containing my Card published few months
SINCE, w SuVW VCAVi!Sou W SeCrcL UT treas
enable party. But this had no effect TO add to
this unjust and ungenerous treatment and to forti
fy themselves as far possible the course they
seemed determined to pursue, my prosecutors char
ged me with having been unfaithlul 10 the Church
es under my charge But this was answered prompt
Iy and conclusivey in my favor by the letters from
the Churches referred to, that were read IN open
Conference, and by the delegates from those Church
es in attendance, who declared that had been faith
full, and had attended to their spiritual wants as
we'll as could have been expected under the circum
stances Some ofNhe brethren in the Conference
who are friends of justice and fair dealing made
earnest appeals in my BEHALF and at length as this
mockery of trial was drawing to a close, rose
and said in substance to the Conference that while
felt had not been guilty of any improper conduct
as minister, and while trusted had conscience
void of offence touching the thugs whereof was
charged, yet if it was thought that had said or
done any thing calculated to :njure the Churches,
or the Conference, or the cause OF Christ or the
for it, and by the help of God | would do SO
more. But this had no effect. I was summarily
dismissed or rather prescribed Rom the Conference
on account of my political opinions.
The writer in the newspaper referred to, over the
signature of " n"-probsbly one Of the commit
tee or Clerks of the Conference-says: 1--WE should
and would perhaps have sympathized with Mr.
Bragg, had he been charged with any other INSIDE
meanor; but we could not in this case, for We are
and have ever been opposed to minister of the
Gospel meddling IN politics of loyal, much less Of
a disloyal character" "Any other misdemeanor."
If had been guilty Of violating any or all Of the
Ten Commandments, my prosecutors would per-
hsps have sympathized with me but certain
shade or order Of politics they could not tolerate
and so they ''medded in politics themselves in
order to punish me. They could tolerate bad mo-
rails, says this writer, and "sympsthze " with an
immoral minister much sooner than with one suss
guilty of treason the duty Of the civil law to
take hold of me- l was no: responsible to the Con
ference for my political opinions. The members of
that body are not judges in political but in spirit.
ual matters and when they step beyond their
sphere, as they have done in my case they not only
intlict wrong on individuals, but they wound the
Church by causing alterations and political strles
among its members 1t were better TO Dear even
with a trsitor-which solemnly declare before God
l .m aot-until the civil law can take hold of him
and punish him, than to wound and nortify the
Church by introducing the rancor OF politics into
But dismissed and prescribed a. am, I can
thank God and take courage when remember that
am innocent Of improper conduct as minister,
and when know have the sympathies OF many Of
the ministers and people of the Churches My own
congregation IN haleigh mas sustaneu the anu tue
Conference, though it has deprived me of the right
to preach in its name cannot prevent me from
preaching for such Churches as may call me to do
SO, for the Churches are independent and can IL
ceDse whom they please. Nevertheless do not as.
sail the Conference. love, my Church and ve'le.
rate its Conferences I respect Church authc rity
and Conference authority, in their proper sph sres
but this does not preclude me from defendiD my.
sell, which can only do by exposing my persecn.
tors and assailants. l trust and pray that the
Churches may not be seriously injured by be course
tionately enjoin it upon all the memb ars OF the
-Churchaa tn Mloua ona another ITO ha.;eL IL