Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-07-14
SAD, BUT TRUE"
An Old Minister Suspended From
the Exercise of his Minis
terial Duties.
A Lamentable Case Of IndiSCretion on
the Part of Rev, John W.
Hammer, Sr.

Rev. John w. Hammer, one of the
oldest and most prominent ministers
of the NJ. L. Church, South, in Mid.
die Tennessee, was arranged before a
commission of his church, last week
and suspended from the exercise of
his ministerial functions, for writing
an obscene letter to young lady, a
member of his church, residing at Fos-
terville. Speaking Of the letter, the
Banner says:
1t came into the hands of Mr.. Hen
ry Nailor, the young lady's brother,
who was in the habit of opening the
letters Of the family by their permits
sion. Seeing the letter head of the
Publishing House, he supposed it had
been written on matter of business,
and, without ceremony, broke the seal
and read
IT'S CONTENTS.
1t began, according to the best recol-
lection of Miss Ms brother-in-law,
Justice Neeley, from whom the reporter
obtained the statement, thus:
DEAR ONE-Having been disap-
pointed so often, l thought 1 would
avoid the cause of my troubles, but
seeing your agitation and excitement
the morning you came to the buggy
for the overskirt, l ceanged my opin-
ion.n
1.-THE letter went on" added Mr..
Neeley, "to state substantially this :"
off you desire to be with me, or to
make an appointment, will be there.
There will be no failure on my part. /
will be at Fosterville on the 9TH of
July; Shelbyville on the 10th, aud re-
turn back on the 10Th of July. The
appointment for the last date will be
the best"
In the letter the writer also asked
whether she would play pomegran-
ate" or croquet, either or neither. The
letter had a reference also to the sew
enth or eighth chapter of the Songs of
Solomon, the witness did not remem-
Der which. 1t was signed
"sAD AND TRUE"
The same witness states that when
Mr.. Henry Nailor broke the seal and
read the letter he became greatly en-
ragged, took it to his sister and informed
her of its contents. 1t fell upon her
like shock and she appeared almost
heart-broken. She said it was the
most awful thing of which she had
ever heard. She declared her igno-
rance of any knowledge of it, and had
stoutly protested it ever since. She said
she had never given any cause what
ever for the writing Eof such letter
Witness said Miss Nailor had always
looked up to Rev. Mr.. Hammer as a
child would reverence her father. Two
specific conversations between Miss
Nailor and Rev. Mr.. Hammer were re-
peated before the Commission. One of
the conversations occurred in the midst
of her own family while DR.. Hammer
was temporarily their guest. She said
to him: "Dr. Hammer, why are you
so sad? The first time L ever saw you
I thought you were the saddest man |
ever saw" He responded: You
think right. l sometimes feel lonely
and desolate. feel like did not have
a friend in the world" She replied,
" DR.. Hammer, you ought not to feel so.
Everybody, am sure, that knows you,
thinks great deal of you, and would
do anything they could to comfort you
and make you happy;I know would"
The other interview occurred at the
last District Conference meeting held
at Smyrna. She had invited him to
her brothers. house, when he asked her
if she would be there, when she re-
sponded "Of course | will, or | would
not have invited you"
THE OFFICIAL MINUTES.
The Committee of Investigation
called by Bishop McTyeire in the case
of Rev. j. w. Hammer, ST., met at
MurfreesbOro' at 10 A. NJ, July 8, in
the Methodist Church. Committee:
Rev. r. II. Rivers, u. D., Rev. l.. c.
Bryan, w. II. Hughes, j. r. Plum
mer and J. ID. Barbee.
The witnesses were examined. Af>
ter this the accused was given oppoTtu-
nifty To speak for himself, and to eX-
plain IN anonymous letter, the auth
orshil 4 which was attributed to him.
said leter being the basis of the charge
of Immortality. The committee DELHI
Grated until IL o'clock p. NJ. Friday,
and at II o'clock they reached aud
signed their conclusions, of which the
following is the sum;
THE VERDICT.
1.-THE committee called in the case
of ]. w. Hammer, ST., have inYesti-
gated the same with painful and con-
sclentious diligence, and with prayer
full reference to their responsibilities to
God and his Church. They have not
been unmindful of the eccentricities
that have marked the accused for some
years, but which have not been DEEM
ed of sufficient gravity and signifi-
canoe to call for formal discipline.
His peculiarities have been considered
in explanation and mitigation, and
are not without weight in estimating
some thing said and done by him. The
frankness and honesty of confessions
and explanations before the Commits
sion, duly impressed their minds and
hearts. Important evidence was given
by the accused against himself, while
he protested his innocence of certain
intentions, and would have certain
things explained as quizzlng and enig-
matical only. But the Commission
could not escape the conclusion from
the evidence before them that John
w. Hammer, ST., is not only guilty of
what is improper and reprehensible in
the highest degree in a Christian man
and minister but that his conduct in
the affair deserves the formal verdict /;