The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-07-16
HERALD AND MAIL.
Friday Morning. July 18th, 1875.
Another Great Scandal.

Last week a rumOr was circulated thai
the venerable Dir John w. Hammer. one
of the most distinguished and popular
preachers in the NJ. E. Church, South, was
connected in some way with terrible
scandal. 1t soon assumed more definite
shape, and 1t was announced that he bad
written a letter to young lady of Eos
terville, Rutherford County, which con.
tanned improper proposals and indecent
language. The rumOr, alas, proved to
be true, and we will give brief synopsis
of the whole case. Mr.. Henry Nailor,
of Fosteryille, found letter in the house.
unopened with the name of the Metho>
dist Publishing House on it, and thinking
II was "a business letter, opened and read
it. Il proved to be written to his sister.
Miss Paralee Major, and contained such
grossly immoral language, that Bishop
McTyeIre said it was unit to appear in
public print. Young Nailor was greatly
indignant, and took 1t to his sister, who
was overwhelmed with establishment, and
SAID she recognized the letter, which was
signed Sad and True" as DR.. Han
ner.s, 10y the handwriting. Henry Nail
or soon spread it abroad, and it reached
Bishop McIYeire's ears. The Bishop
Immediately appointed Rev. j. r. Plum
Ll'tr III H. IL INlNtISy new y. H. Oar
bee, Rev. w. Ii. Hughes, l.. G.. BRYANT.
a commission to try Dr. Hammer. They
held their meeting in MurireesborO, and
the result was not known until Sunday.
Below we give the verdict of the commits
tee.
"The committee called in the case o..
j. W. Hammer, ST., have investigated the
same with painful and conscientious dill
,.rTfl .T,,l
their responsibilities 10 God and his
Church. They have not been unmindful
OF the cCCentricities that have marked the
accused for some years, but which have
not been deemed of sufficient gravity and
significance TO call for formal disci-
plue. His peculiaritIes have been CON
sidered in explanation and mitigation,
and are not without weight in estimating
some things said and done by him. The
fraukness and honesty of confessions
and explanations before the Commission,
duly impressed their minds and hearts.
Important evidence was given by
the accused against himself, while he
protested his innocence of certain inten-
tiOus, and would have certain things ex-
planned as qulzZIng and enigmatical only.
But the Commission could not escape the
conclusion from the evidence before them
that John w. Hammer, Sr., is not only
guilty OF what is improper aud reprehen
sIble in the highest degree in a Christian
man and minister, but that his conduct
in the affair deserves the formal verdict:
That he IS gUitty Of immorGIity-in
writing a letter to a young lady, dated
June 18th, apparently designed to corrupt
her and to scduce her from the paths Of
virtue, and couched in terms intimating 9
readiness to be the instrument of her
ruin.
When this verdict was read, BishoI
McTycire announced the suspension Of
John w. Hammer, ST., from the ministe-
rial Office until the next session of the
Tennessee Annual Conference, which
meets on the Sth of October, at Faycttc-
vile. DIR. Hammer; in the examination
acknowledged that he wrote the letter
but denied that he had any design upon
the virtue of the young lady. Miss
Major, who was a witness, testified that
DIR. Hammers conduct toward her had al
ways been that of dcvout and Christian
man, until he wrote that letter. all OF
which DIR. Hammer said was true. The
Bishop announced that there was moths
ing IN the examination which compro>
missed in the least the character and vir>
tue of Miss Nailor.
Coming as this scandal does, on the
heels, OF rather III the midst, of the
Bcccher~Iilton case, it has caused
trouble to the NJ. f. Church, and indeed
to all denominations in Tennessee. Bish-
Op McIyCire is TO be commended, how
ever, for the prompt and vigorous mans
ner IN which he disposed OF the case.