Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-28

Tothe Rditors OF the Union and American:
/ take this occasion to vindicate myself
from the malicious sspersons of Daniel
Watkins, published on the 25th inst, in
tending no controversy with him, it being
against my will to do so. He asked, in
the Communication referred to, what
church / belonged to, ''as you claim to
be Rev, '0-his words. / never claimed
10 be called Rev.; but viii give the pub
lie a statement about my rela
ton to the church of Christ.
Joined the white Christian church in
The year ofsOur Lord eighteen hundred
aud thirty-two, and remained with them
over fifteen years. During my cOnnec-
tion / was treated by them with the ut
most courtesy and respect, and we had
perfect Christian harmony. The white
brethren called on US to organize and ex
ercise supervision over our colored breth-
reE. They often gave the church to US
20 hold our meetings. Sometimes they
would give way of Sunday nights to our
meetings, until the church became SO full
that there was not room enough Tor the
white and coloredo Then having pro
cured Brother Kinchen Sledse, notable
preacher, we concluded to ourselves 10
establish q church separately for the bene-
fit of the colored people. Having no lot
or house, / made a gift to the brethren
of color, of lot, for the space of ten
years, free of charge, and appointed
trustees with an understanding that
they should have the privilege OF pur-
chasing At the expiration of that time,
should they fail 10 do 50, they would re
turn me the lot, upon legal notice. Then
they had no house, and we built house
that was worth about s GOO, of which I
paid out of my own pocket 81, 600. After
we were in the house, the white brethren
sent down Elder Thomas Claiborne and
Elder Sledge, and organized the congre-
cation; and by the unanimous consent, l
was chosen teacher, whichlab l accepted,
at that time, against my inclination.
continued pastor for over fifteen years,
until after the war. During that time
we were prosperous and happy as a
church. The white brethren often visited
us elders-Wharton Hanning, Sledge,
Jones, etc. and we increased so fast we
had TO rebuild or enlarge our place Of
" orship, and we still increased and found
our house still too small, and the lot not
being large enough 10 build large
church, | proposed to the brethren to
agree and purchase a large lot sufficient.
The time ran out that gave the lot to
the brethrc1. and they not being able TO
purchase, let them have the lot SIX
years more than agreed to, in all sixteen
wears, for nothing. After the war
the house not being sufficient 70 hold the
large crowds that attended meetings,
did go and purchase for the brethren,
gave my own obligations for q large lot
and paid for it during the time l was
teacher and commenced building on il.
Then there arose difficulty in the church,
mot against me or anything / had done,
but against others, and the settling of that
case, was SO utterly Tepugnant TO every
principle OF Christian candOr and truth,
that was compelled 10 withdraw from
the leading partisans in the case, who
were prominent in their relations with the
church. | resigned the pastOrship, and
withdrew my presence, requesting in
month or 50 a letter of dismissiOn from
the church and Told them | had bought
for the church a new lot, and
that ] would give them the interest and
money had put in the old church house,
and they could take the house and remove
60 the lot purchased. The parties did not
wish to build just then, and came 10 me
and wished to know what i would do
about the lot and old church. | tord
them they could continue in tie church
ON the lot as long as they wished, bur for
the lot would charge them five dOllsrs
month. But they consulted lawyer,
Dick Howard and others, ana attempted
10 defraud me out of my tith to the lot,
and filed bill in Chancery to effect ii,
for there was no controversy about the
house, which cost me 1920 to regain the
title To property let them have lG years for
nothing. In referencel.to the bill of
chancery-he and they there accuse
lme of defrauding the colored people, and
here would stale if they or the congrcga-
tiuu ever gave me a dime during the
fifteen years of labor | do not know il,
and never received from them or the con-
vregation cent as salary orfor services,
nor ever asked il, but IN all cases OF
charity did as much as any. And now |
want TO declare before heaven and earth
| never was u subject of church discipline,
tefore either the white or COlOred
brethren upon any charge preferred
against me to my face, nor cited TO any
trial before neither white nor black for any
misdemeanOr in either morals or doctrine.
And if any person feels disposed for fur
iher investigation, hold myself bound 10
rive complete satisfaction. But am not
accountable for the misanthrOpic preju-
dice which either white or colored breIh-
rem may have, or their envy and malice;
the Apostles had TO contend with false
brethren themselves. And / shall not,
unless compelled, make any further notice
of Daniel Wadkins-beyond the state
ments herewith append. And a man, as
be did, carry around paper 70 stop the
kfree schools in Nashville among the poor
colored peoplc-no one need expect anv
more Of him than to try to injure and
yiIify the Manual Labor School.
Immediately after ] withdrew, built a
church of Christ, and established a con
gre alton in the thirteenth district, which
Is regularly organized, with four elders
and two deacoUs; holding forth regularly
the Word of Life: worship three times
very Lmd's day, and the Lords Supper
and worship once during the week; open
to1all white or colored who are willing 10
cooperate in Divine worship, and are get
ting alongin peace, harmony ane progress.
Yours most respectfully,
PETER LOVELY.
President Manual Labor School.
Inow desire 20 call attention to the fol
7 did say 10 Elder Peter Lowery that l
MA Give 10 Daniel Watkins money, but
ST recollect the amount bit think it
was two dollars; said money to the best
" racoll, ction was for 70 all the Manual
Labor School, WALTER SooTT
May 90, 1870.
s,.ya IN DApiel Watkins eon,e