The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-10-21
Trial of Rev. John W. Hammer

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for the unfortunate lapsus of one
Of the most honored and talented
members of the Tenn. Conference,
yet out of their higher love for the
church, stifed their compassionate
yearnings for their erring brother,
placed upon him, albeit with sad
regrets and aching hearts, the seal
of condemnation, and inflicted the
keenest peng possible to the minis
ter Of Christ, namely, withdrawal
of those pastoral parchments, which
be had held unsullied for forty
odd years,
The other fact brought TO light in
the sequel of the trial was the spir.
it of reimbursement and the con
trite humiliation which the unfor
tunate minister manifested under
the chastisement laid upon him By
his brethren. "Let the righteous
smite me, it shall be an excellen'
OIL"
REPORT IN THE HAMMER CASE.
The most interesting and exciting
part of the proceedings now came
up. Mr.. Wilkes, of the committee
of trial in the case of Rev. DIR. Joh1
w. Hammer, Sr., announced to the
Chairman that the committee were
ready to report. Mr.. j. P. Meier.
rim, Secretary of the committee
then arose and read the following
The committee of trial In the
case of Rev.. John w. Hammer, Sr.
with earnest prayer and mature de.
liberation, have performed the del
icate, painful and responsible work
appointed them, as best they could
in the fear of God. They find the
specifications sustained by the evi
dence, and that the specifications
sustain the charge of immortality
and do hereby suspend him from
the Office of the Christian ministry
in the Methodist Episcopal Church
South. @. L. Henderson, j. H
Nichols, w. G, Doris, B. NJ. Ste
phens, j. j. Pitman, r. G.. Irving
j. Sherrell, J. c. Putnam, S. P
Written, J. B. Hamilton, r. h
Brown, j. Moore, A. Mizell, w. H
Wilkes, Chairman, j. p. McFerrin
Secretary.
During the reading of the report
there was a most painful silence
Every ear was strained to catcl
each word as it was uttered. Or
the faces of the members of the Con
ference and those of the spectators
rested look of sorrow and uncer
tainty, for the result of the deliber
atoms of the committee had not un
til that moment, been known to any
but the members; and many of DR.
Hammers brethren who had beer
unwilling to believe him guilty
wavered between the fear of an ad
verse verdict and the hope of al
acquittal. But when the verdict
guilty, and suspension from tn,
holy office of the ministry-was an
nounced, all doubt was gone. l
seemed that a single sob arose from
the whole assembly. The Confer
ence was bathed in tears, and Their
was scarcely dry eye among tn
| spectators. The result had, b,
many, been expected, yet it seemet
to strike all as if it were some sud
den affection. A loved brother,
tried friend, had fallen.
PRoNoUNCING THE SENTENCE
AS soon as the verdict had bee
announced, the bishop rose an
said: AK. ft.....
1t is my painful duty, withou
any further words, to pronounc
the sentence. l pronounce job
W. Hammer, Sr., suspended froI
the Office of minister of the Metho
dist Episcopal Church South.
DR.. Kelley counsel for DIR. Har
ner, advanced to the platform an
began to speak.
The Bishop interrupted him, say
ing, "You cannot say anything m
brother, except you wish to take a
appeal" ~
DR.. Kelley whispered a few word
to the Bishop, who then saiG
Brother Kelley has satisfied m,
and L will grant him the indulgenC
of a word or two"
HOW DIR. HAMMER WAS AFFECTED.
DIR. Kelley then said:
l left DR.. Hammer at his room to
much overwhelmed by his emotion
to appear in your midst. He di
not know what the verdict woul
be-desires to express no opinio
as to whether it is right or wrong
but with tears rolling down his face
and heart crushed by sorrow an
age, wishes to say that he believe
in the righteous intentions of tn
committee, and if this verdict sha
bear hard upon him it is from n
want of purity on their part. Ths
from the Church, to which he CAV
the love of his boyhOod and tn
strength of his manhood, he has re
ceived IN return kindness, love an
multiplied honors, and now if thi
mother, to which he has given
life of love and labor thinks it hes
to lay on him the heavy hand O
Christening, out of a broken hear
he will love and honor her still.
F., In regard 20 the folly, which Ia
admits in writing the letter ant
which has cost him such pangs o
agonizing repentance, he desires t,
say to the younger members o
Conference ''look upon my agony
behold my stricken old age! an,
learn to avoid the very appearance,
of evil" At the close of DR.. Kel
ley's remaks, he sat down, overcom
by his emotions, and nearly ever,
member Of the Conference wa
weeping.
The verdict confirmed the wors
fears of DIR. Hammer, not by an,
means the worst that might hay,
been rendered. Every one SCENE,
to think the committee had don,
only their duty, and that, howeve
painful the verdict, it was jus
one. The sentence simply sus
pended DIR. Hammer. AT the Con
ference at Columbia next October