Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-11-15
For the Standard.
A Plain Statement of Facts.

A Plain Statement of Facts.
A recent notice in one Of the newspapers of the
day, relative to my dismissal from the North Car
olina and Virginia Christian Conference renders it
necessary that should come before the public with
a statement of facts. This shall cndeaVOr to do
in temperate and charitable spirit, rudely to
wound the feelings of no one, but simply to vindi
cate my character Christian minister and as a
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-
| niously until the second morning of the session,
| when was called on to open the session of that
| day with prayer; wnich l did with acceptance to
| the brethren, so far as could observe. The com
mttee 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 BE-
ing member of a secret political, reasonable
| ganizaton. denied the charge, and demanded the
| proof; and the only evidence adduced was what
had appeared in certain political pagers, and even
these papers, thus relied on evidence, we've not
produced The eUideRce aoGs all heaTSGy. 1t was Sta
ted by that he had seen so and so in a newspaper
| or by that had told him certain things affect
ing my character. l denied all this hsdrSay evi-
| dence and asked for fair trial produced news
! paper containing my Card published a few months
since, to show that belonged to secret OF treas
! enable party. But this had no effect. To add to
| this unjust and ungenerous treatment and to fort
fy themselves as far as possible in the course they
| seemed determined to pursue my prosecutors char
ged me with having been unfIithiul to the Church
es under my charge. But this was answered prompt
! ly and cOncnslveiy in my favor by theleters from
! the Churches referred to, that were read 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
well as could have been expected under the circIm-
! stances Some of the 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 a trial was drawing to close, | rose
and said in substance to the Conference that while
felt had not been guilty OF any improper conduct
as a minis ter and while trusted had a conscience
void of offence touching the things whereof | was
! charged yet if it was thought that had said or
done anv thing calculated to ;njure the Churches,
or the Conference the cause of Christ, or the
| government of the Confederate States Was sorry
! for it and by the help of God [ would do so no
more But this had no effect [ was summarily
dismissed rather prescribed from the Conf renee
| on account Of my political opinions.
The writer in the newspaper referred to, over the
signature of Don probably 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 nsde.
meanor; but we could not in this case, for we are
and have ever been opposed to a minister of the
a disloyal character" "Any other misdemeanor."
If had been guilty of violating any or all of the
! Ten Commandments, my prosecutors would per-
haps have sympathized with me; but certain
shade or order of politics they could not tolerate,
and so they meddled in politics themselves in
order to punish me. They could tolerate bad mo-
rails, says this writer, and "sympathize " with an
| immoral minister much sooner than with one SuS
pec!ed of improper political associations If | was
guilty of treason, it was the duty of the civil law to
take hold of me- | was not responsible to the Con
ference for my political opinions. The members of
that body not judges in political but in spi rt
ual matters; and when they step beyond their
sphere, as they have done in my case, they not only
ntlict wrong on individuals, but they wound the
Church by causing alterations and political strifes
among lis members. 1t were better to bear even
with traitor-which solsmnly declare before God
| am nOt-until the civil law can take hold of him
and punish him, than 10 wound and mortlfy the
Church by introducing the rancor o. politics into
her organization.
But dismissed and prescribed as I am, can
thank God and take courage when / remember that
/ am innocent of improper conduct a minister,
and when know have the sympathes of many OF
| the ministers and people of the Churches. My own
congregation in Raleigh has sustained me and the
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 independent, and can Ii.
cense whom they please. Nevertheless do not as
| sail the Confsreace. | love my Church and vene-
rate its Conferences. respect Church authority
and Conference authority, in their proper spheres
but this does not preclude me from def nding my.
SELF which can only do by exposing my persecu.
tors and assailants. l trust and pray that the
Churches may not be seriously injured by the course
Of their Conference towards me and would aaec
.iqnately enioin it upon all the memturs CT the
Churches to ''love one another "-to banish all