Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-08-30

$500 -
A few days since several leading members Of the
First Coid SCHOOL, Presbyterian Church of this
city, addressed Major General stOneman an in,pu-
dent letter, rather denladg instead of requesting
that their church, now used by permission of the
military authorities as a negro school house, be
turned over TO them for the worship Of the most
high God
In their communication those VIGOROUSLY disloyal
men assert that their church is dsecrats by theu
to which it is now applied
10 the dislOyal chairman of this dislOyal COM
mlttee General StOneman sent the following reply
HDoRs DISTRICT OF EAST TENN,
Knoxville, Tenn, May 10, 1866.
Respectfully returned to Mr.. King, KnorriHe, Tenn.
There is plenty of room in the loyal churches of
this city for al who wish 10 attend 1.-THE worship of
the most high God" Investigation goes to show
that the church was first desecrated BY being made
use Of by disloyal congregation, led by disloyal
preacher, IN disseminating treason and reasonable
doctrines.
1t appears now to be applied to very good pur-
pose, that of educating the colored youth of the
city.
The attention of the Post Commandant will be
called to its "shamefully filthy condition
By command of Maj. Gen. STOSEHAS.
[Signed1 G. M BAseoN,
Major and A. A. q.
That our readers may appreciate the propriety of
General Stonemsns letter We will state few facts
in connection with this church
1t is the largest and wealthiest congregation in
this city Our information is that there are but ire
loyal members Of the church. unless the number has
been increased by persons from the North, who have
recently settled here.
No congregation in East Tennessee, Of any de-
nomination. was as disloysl as this. The pastor was
an infamous blssphemer. From the commencement
Of the war, the pastor, Rev. W. A. Harrison had
theatrical performances in this church until the Fed
eral army came here.
He declared in the pulpit that that portion of the
congregation who sympathized with the Govern
ment Of the United States should not come to the
communion table
He said that member whose sons we're fighting
for the holy cause of Southern independence should
not partake of the emblems of the flesh and blood
of Christ with men who sympathized with those
who would assassiante Them meaning Union sol
ders.
Mr. Harrison advised all the young men of his
congregation to enlist in the Confederate army
Said if they persisted in fighting the battles of the
South they would surely be saved. That the course
of the South was approved by God, and the war was
for Christianity and liberty. Told the young men
of his congregation that it their duty slay the
men of the North wherever they could find them.
He declared he would as soon read text from a
Bible printed and bound in hell from one printed
and bound in the North.
He entered into an argument to prove that Jesus
Christ and all his Apostles were Southern men, torn
o., Southern soil, except Judas whom he declared to
have been born in a Northern latitude. These
blssphemous declarations were made in the pulpit
at different times, portion of the congregation
stamping and applauding.
Instead of ejecting this blasphemer and slanderer
Of the character Of Northern men from their church.
he was supported and lonized.
Rebel officers of all the regiments near this city
attended his services.
When the Federal army came here, Gen. Carter,
Provost Marshal General, invited Mr.. Harrison and
the leading members of the denomination to open
their church for worship. They declined doing so,
because they believed the Union army would be
driven out in short time and they preferred being
deprived of service for while, to having service
L
To speak of Decorating this church is as ridicu-
Ious to speak of the dissertation of "faro bank
or whisky shop.
The Methodist and New School Presbyterian
churches might be appropriately converted into
school houses for the colored youth of East Ten.
uessee.
P.S.-Since writing the above We have been told
by Mr.. Haws partner in this office, and menu
Der of this church, that Harrison had him tried in
the church because he ceased attendance on the ser
vices.
He gave as his reason for not attending Harri-
sons ministrsOus that he disapprOved the course of
the pastor.
\ leading elder rebukel Mr.. Haws, and told him
that man Of his sentiments ought to go North and
join the Yankee army. This elder was Mr.. Joseph
L. King, chairman Of the committee who wrote to
General Stoncman.