Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-05-24
Letter OF General Stonenlal,

Letter or General StOneman.
A few days since several leading members Of the
First (old School Presbyterian Church Of this
city, addressed Major General Stoneman an plpr-
dsa letter rather demanding instead of requesting
that their church, now used BY permission Of tho
military authorities ~ u negro school house bo
turned over to them for the worship of tho most
high God
In their Communication these notoriously disloyal
men assert that thor church is desscratcd by heuso
to which II is now applied
To tho dhloyal chairman Of this disloyu COM
mitoe General slouomun sent the following ropy
HDQRs DISTRICT OF EAST Tenn,
Knoxville Tenn, May 49, 1866
Respeogmiy returned 10 NJ, King, K,oroiAe Tam,
/ There Il plenty of room in the loyal churches Of
this city for all who wish to attend 'the worship Of
tho most high God Investigation goes TO show
that the church was first dosocrated by being nado
use Of BY disoyal 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 tho Post Commandment will bo
called to lie shamolully althy condition.
By command Of MAJ Gen SToNEMAE.
/ ISigned G. NJ. BAscoM,
Major and A. A. q.
/ That our readers may appreciate tho proprsty Of
General Sonemans letter, We will state a fow facts
in connection with thil church
II ia the largest and weathcat congregation in
thi- city Our information is that there are but fvc
loyal moabers Of the church unlos, tho number has
been increased by parsons from the North who havo
raaanily lnttloI he.S
No congregation In East Iennessee u any dc.
nomination. was as disloyal as this The pastor was
anintamous blasphemer. From the commencement
the war, the pastor ROv. W. A Harrison, had
hsatrca! performances in this church until the Fed.
oral army came here.
dc declared in the pulpit that that portion Of the
congregation who sympathi1ed with the Govern
ment Of the United States should not come to the
communion table
He said that members whose SOUS were lighting
for the holy cause Of Southern independence should
not partake Of the cmblcms Of the flesh and blood
of Christ with men who sympathizod with those
who would assassnate them, meaning Union sol.
ders
Nj Harrison advised all the young mon Of his
congregation TO enlist in tie Confederate army
Said if they persisted in lighting the battles of the
South they would surely be saved That the course
Of the South was approved by God, and the wal was
for christianity and liberty, Told the young men
of his congregation that it was their duty to say the
men of the North wherever they could find them.
tie declared he would as soon read text from
Bible printed and bound in hell as from one printed
and bound in the North
He entered into IN argument to prove that Jesus
Christ and all his Apostles were Syhel7l iae born
oH Southern soik except Judas whom he declared TO
have been born in Northern latitude These
blasphemous declarations were made in the pulpit
at different times portion of the congregation
stamping and applsudng
Instead OF ejectng this blasphemo, and slanderer
OF the character Of Northern men from their church.
he was supported and lionj1el
Rebel officers Of all the regiments near this city
attended his services
When the Federal ARMY camc 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 arm. would hs
'"u Juvy r. SIUIl vd being
deprived Of service for while to having service
in a city over which the Federal flag hoated
To speak OF dssecraibg this church is rs rdcu-
Ous 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 coored youth of East Tonnes
see
PS.-olncc writing tho above we have been told |
by Mr. Hawa, partner in this office, and Nom.
Der OF tits church, that Harrison had him tried in
tho church because he ceased attendance on the SER
vices.
He gave rs his reason tor not attending Harri-
sons mnis!raslon that he disapproved the course of
the pastor.
\ leading elder rebukcd NJ. HAVE, and told him
that man OF his sentiments ough! to go North and
join the Yankee army. This older was Mr. Joseph
L. King, chairman Of the committee who wrote TO
General Stoneman.
Brig. Gen. Avian G. Gillem.
This officer arrived III this city last evening to re.
port to Gen. Stoneman for duty.
In the report Of General Stonemsn Of his raids