The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-14
THE CHAMBERs- -MEILL IMBR0OuO.
Rev. Mr.. NeiU's Reiotnder TO Rev. Mr..
Chambers

nspectable paper as the medium through which
10 proclaim his high and unimpeachable UeTGcay,
and 70 attack me for few loyal sentiments
ratered IN a sermon preached in his pulpit July
~, 1854, 1t may, perhaps, be well to give the
facts, that your readers may Judge for them
selves how much credeuoe they are to give to
his "simple statement of facts in the case"
Take, then, his first statement: "When about
leaving home in the summer of 1864, called
upon him to engage his seruices for one or two
Sabbath mornings" Let us see how near this
prodigy OF consistency approaches TO the truth.
Just previous to the time referred to, received
note from my nephew, then member OF his
church, as follows:-
DKAR UNoLE:-MT. Chambers has desired OF me
that shOu ID request you TO proach ior hlm during
his absence from the city Please reply, and let me
know your decision
Yours afect1Onately, y. NELL.
To which replied as tollows:-
DRARNEPHEw.-Your request for me to preach for
Mr.. Chambers during his a5sence from the city is
lam not willing to occupy any pulpit which Is pros;
ard peIsis ed in Tor the maintenance OF human
''"''''' JAMES NELL.
Next day my nephew called to know If l
would consent to preach in the church if the
elders and trustees would unite in written re-
1uest 10 that effect. To which l replied, "If
Biey ueSlre IL i Will 10 IL, WAVING Iuc lOEudhlJ
of a written request" Mr.. Chambers was in
formed that had consented and then for the
frst time he called to see me, not to "engage" or
'employ" or hire" but to thank me for con
Senting.
On July 26 received the following note:-
PHILADELPHIA, July 26, 1884.
Rev. and Dear Strive, the undersigned,
members OF the First Independent Church, Broad
street, Philadelphia, take occasion 10 thank you
most sincerely ior the sermon delivered by you on
pastor, the Rev. John Chambers:
Desiring that others may participate in the plea
occasion, we respectfully and earnestly request q
copy OF the same for publication.
Trusting that you Will comp y with our request,
We remain yours, very truly,
E. TRACY, GEORGE L. YouNs, CHARLES ID. Sup
JAMES EVANS, r. S. WALTON, ROBERT LUTHER,
FRANCIS NEwLAND, JOHN YARD, JR r. II.
HINoKLEY, CHARLES V. PAINTER, JAMES NELL.
To which replied as tollows:-
PHILADELPHIA, July q, 1864.
Is. TRACY Esq, and others.
Dear Brethren :-Y our eemed favor of the 26th
at hand, asking copy OF the sermon preached ON
nothing in 1T worthy of such notice. yet If you
h,nk 1t win serve the cause OF CHRIST among YOU
JAMES NELL.
On the 10th the manuscript was handed to the
printer, and August 10th the printed sermon
was delivered. This brings us to his second
'.plain statement of facts,n that "aoahtn a ooeek
from the time Mr.. Neill preached in my church
received the printed sermon!" Here seventeen
days had elapsed and yet he says he had it at
Bedford Springs, and that it twas on the next
Sabbath gratuitously distributed in the church
and on the street." How these statements can
be in strict accordance with truth, your readers
must determine.
Anai no
sentiments he knew to be wholly adverse to all
NV opinions" and was "uncourteous." 1
acknowledge that under ordinary circumstances
my regard for the established rules of courtesy
would have deferred me from the expression
of sentiments which l knew to be conflict
with those OF the regular pastor; but all the
circumstances of my country at that particular
uncture were so extraordinary and perilous,
that could not permit mere point of profess
sional etiquette to prevent me from saying a
word for the announcement OF the many
patriotic worshippers who had long looked and
waited for such a word in vain. Etiquette is a
good thing at the right time and in the right
place, but whenever its observance might be
construed into an approval of treason against
the best Government God ever gave to man, l
beg to say that 1 shall trample down its rules
without a moments hesitation, and maintain
my position as patriot. Yet after all the
indianaut bluster of this reverend sympathizer,
there are but forty lines in the whole sermon to
which he takes exception, and which in his
personal interview he pronounced to be false.
Here is the paragraph
War is sometimes necessary to accomplish the
9iUne purposes and men engaged in 1t are serving
their generation by the will OF God fully as
when the most solemn duties OF the secret closet
Think you that Joshua, the c0mmander-tn-cblel ol
the forces of Israel, serving his generauon by
the will Of God less, while, with drawn sword ai
the head OF his army, he was pursuing the Amale'
kites across the plain, than Moses and Aaron and
Hur praying on the mountain top Tor success
No; they were all engaged In the same divInely
sanctioned work. Was Washington not serving
his generation as iplly, and in as perfect accora
his yeOmanry to victory over the well-discIplned
mics of Great Britain, and buying with blood thiE
rich inheritance for and for children as when
at Valley Forge, with sheathed sword, he knelt IL
the woods to pray tor the Divine blessing on hi
Wel-meant effortsg What he was to this nation
David was to the Jewlsh-its deliverer and best
ruler, And think you that the who haYt
sacrificed as comfortable homes ours, and arc
to-day the march, or In the battle line with
Grant and Sherman ana others, to suppress th
nnrighteous Rebellion and redeem our land frOu
the foul stains OF slavery, are serving their gene
ration less by the will OF God while in this grea
work than we who to-day sit in our quiet homes
and worship in this beautiful templeE MOI no! the!
are struggling to perpeiuate the best system OF gov
eminent ever bestowed upon q peopieI and to re
store that banner the stars and stripes as the las
and most glorious emblem OF dlsenthralmen
and elevation, TO every portion OF the reyolte
States; and for this work, our children and ou
ehldrens children will initiate our example in say
ing that they served their own generation, an
every future generation to the end OF time as non