Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-12
LETTER FROM ANDERSON COUNTY.
A Rebel Methodist Preacher Liar EX-
D0ged.
augl2-4wt
CLINTON, ANDERSON COUNTY, TENN,
july 3lst, 1858.

4
July 31st, 1858.
I Editors KaorriHe Whig:
! l notice in the Knoxville Press and Messenger Of
/ yesterday an article which am informed also ap-
peared in the Press and Herald dated in Anderson
county on the 10th instant aud purporting to be
written by an "ex-Federal soldier The burden Of
this article s in regard to an alleged difficulty Of
! G. T. Gray, preacher of the NJ. E. Church South
at Walnut Grove Church. in Campbell county Of
| this 1 know nothing, that county being ont Of my
circuit, and have nothing TO say. But in the same
article the writer says that Dr. Pearne had ordered
tool Of his, eo-worker of the devil to go to Ma
hansm church, and TO 60 early and take the pull
/ pit, and not allow Mr.. Gray 70 FL his appoint
ment7
/ Now as l am the preacher in charge Of the cir
cunt II which Mahanaim church is situated, pre-
sumo this anonymous writer aludes to me Al
though dc NOT believe that the article in question
was ever penned by an aex-Federal soldier and
although it is useless for loyal men TO attempt to
keep up with the food of rebel mendacity SO freely
ventilated in the columns Of the rebel press, yet
desire to say few words in this connection. 1 am
not, nor viii any one who knsws me suspect me of
being "a tool" of Dr.. Pearne OF Of any one else.
went 10 Mahanaim church recently, but not sent by
DR.. Pearne nor told to go early or to go at all.
went because it was my regular appoia,tae1st, as
every one in that neighborhood knows. / found
Mr. Gray there in possession of the church. Some
Of the people who had suffered too severely from
JEFF Davis rufians to tolerate such conduct from
an ex-chaplain of the rebel army las Mr.. Gray isl
and minister Of a church which had lent its whole
tha nd
Of the rebellion, and whose ministers used to pray
that the gallant Union refugees might return
to Tennessee, were disposed TO insist that l should
claim my rights and proceed with the service. But
although believed Mr.. Gray's intrusion IN war
ranted and insolent, yet rather than run any risk
of disorder and violence at the house of God qui-
city withdrew ard left him in possession.
The writer whom strongly suspect to be the
reverend gentleman hmself) speaks of q "co-worker
Of the devil" The expression is an unfortunate
one for any defender of the rebel church. for there
are various points of resemblance between his Sa-
tsnic majestys character and that institution too
striking to escape notice. The Devil in the first
place was traitor and rebel. So were the leaders
of that church. The Devil strove to rule and fail
ing in this wished to ruin Ditto the Confederacy,
lent and vindictive in the hour of triumph Can |
his worst malice and venom exceed the fendish and
cruel hate that inspired the rebel church and its
leaders in the days when treason was in the ascend
ant? The Devil, when conquered in the open field |
uses fraud and deceit puts the mask of friend |
ship and love, and approaches his victim with /
smile Could anything be more like the conduct Of
the leaders Of the rebel Cnurcn, so YlndicIiVe and
bitter while in power, SO hypocritically soft and sly
now that their hour has passed. But the Devil,
thank God has been subjugated, and though he
may for time be per mitted 10 run at large he will
never regain the position he once held. And the
old rebel Church. though it may still spit its venom
and half show ITS fangs never again regain its
former power for mischief
We're anything further required to show the sim-
1arty Of character in the two, let me ask where can
be found two more discousolate mourners over the
death of their great standby African slavery, than
the Devil and the rebel Church Those who have
been here during the trying scenes of the rebellion,
or who forced to flee from their homes to avoid
rebel violence, know that my words give no over
drawn picture
l have before me Confederate States Alma
nae for the year 1862 the eighty sixty year Of
American Independence and the second Of the Con-
federate States, published at the Nashville aSouth-
ern Methodist Publishing House" l find in its
pages much relating TO the religious publications
and missionary affairs Of the NJ. E. Church South.
But among the Memorabilia" or table of remark
able events, find the following significant para
graph "Nov. I5LiHcoI,s traitors burn BRIDES and
't aoUR telegraph l0ires IN East Tennessee Mann
gf them since apprskendcd" What was done with
hose that we're apprehended Let Gallows Hill {
answer. Let the widows of Haun and Harmon tell |
And does any sane man doubt that the leaders Of
his same rebel Church would to-morrow-if thew /
lad the power-drive every loyal Tennesseean 9
rom bis home for fear Of a worse fate
90 VIXEN tae devil was sick
The devil monk would be Z
When the devil got well,
The devil monk was hs.r
The preteDce Of such men that they only desire L
friendship and peace, and are anxious 10 Cooperate