Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-11


vined. That the NJ T. chGreh s.,.,s :. ...,;.,,.l
is proved By the caudal sppendage, South % shsir
title. Can any one doubt that they chose snd
adopted it from sectional motives and feelings7-
Why is it still retained? II may be said that 8
large minority voted TO rescind the objectionable
word True, they did; still majority voted to
retain it or It would not be retained Besides, If
that Church is not sectional, why the fierce on
slaught they make upon the n E. Church, with
the false addition which they usually make Of the
word North to its title? It cannot be denied that
God has blest the II E. Church IN Tennessee to the
conversion of thousands of souls. Forty thousand
Tennesseeans and CArolinians ara in that Church
to-day. Why fight them so unserupulousiy2 Why
prescribe them SO relentlessly7 Why refuse them
official courtesy Why SANDER them So ample
and palpable is the proof of this secionalism, SO
unmistakable indeed, that no impartial, ingenious
mind can doubt It. The NJ 4. Church South is
political. do not mean TO say, in this that she
has political tests of membership-nor for that mat
ter has the NJ. T. Church. But do mean that the
influence Of the great of the organization and
of the organization itself is in favor of the poti
cal party that still supports he lost cause It is
true ministers of the NJ E. Church South generally
discIains in the pulpit and elsewhere, that they
preach politics. Why do they disclaim it If
their character as non-poitical preacher and non
political Church, were well known and established
where the necessity and propriety of disavowing
political faint? Would man Of well known hon.
esty need to avow that he does not steal Would
that ayowsl simply, prove him honest9 Would it
not strongly suggest the contrary? Yes. they dis
GpotO being political but that very disavowal re-
flutes itself All understand it. Conservatives and
Republicans, alike, know very well what they mean
by it. With whom do they afiliato2 Who con-
stitute the great bulk of their membership p
Through what political organs do they anonymous
ly and otherwise, usually address the public and
SANDER loyal men, loyal ministers and loyal officers
of the Government The case ia too plain for rea-
sonable doubt. Against any good they may do, or
any souls they may save, not only would not ut
ter word but would bid them God-speed. Yet
they ought not TO sail under false eolors. Nor
would deny TO them the natural right, if they so
prefer, to be disloya sectional and political as
Church. But object TO their claiming to be loyal
non-seesoual, non political when they are the very
reverse Of all this If Union men, loyal men, true
patriotic men join them, it must be through misap-
prenenson OF their real character ana aims OF
that Ignorance does not lessen the fact that II doing
so they lend their influence and support to an or
ganization and to ministers re1shanded with the
blood of murdered innocence and which would again
if it had the power and hope of success baptize the
land with fratricidal blood know no fairer ex-
ample Of this spirit than Rev. VIM. Henry Harrison
Bates, pastor of the NJ. E. Church South, in Knox
vile; who, to his sectiona lism adds fragrant false
hood. / mention one instance, in addition to the
several which nailed to him in my late CORE
spondence with him in the WING. he stated to
gentleman in Knoxville, a few days ago, that was
melting and instgatDg nobs and riots in the eoun-
try against Church South preachers. In saying
this, Mr.. Bates uttered gross falsehood, showing
that the Gaming he received in Athens few years
ago, has not cured him of the bad habit Of lying.
THOMAS 81. PEARNE.
KNOXVILLE, TENN March 9th. 1853