Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-07-22
eSiD AND TRUE"

'aiu icngtny statements concerning tht
investigation by Church Commission al
Murfrcesboro Of damaging charges affect.
ing the reputation OF Rev. John w.
Hammer, Sr., one Of the oldest, ablest
aud most highly respected divines Of the
Southern Methodist Church. Bishop
McTyeire presided over the commission
Il appears that DR.. Hauner wrote an
anonymous letter To u Miss Paralee
Nailor, Of Fosterville. which fell into the
hands Of the young lady's brothers. The
letter was skown to Bishop McTycire,
and the examination resulted. We ouote
extracts from the reports ofthc Nashville
journals: ~ "a }sail lsiis
THE LETTER. Nsi aat
This anonymous letter (tho authorssip
Of which is ascribcl to DE-. H.) was Of
such questionable propriety in language
aud tone. as to deserve and demand IN.
vcstigation on the part Of the. Church au.
thoritles. 1t was couched 10 terms more
amorous than altogether discreet aud con.
ventional, and here ard there interspers-
ed with significant references to certain Of
the more passionate passages from the
seventh aud eight chapters Of the 'sSongs
Of Solomon" coupled with reproaehes for
not illllng, or suggestions bow to meet
appointments to be agreed upon, at stated
time and places. 1t was inclosed in an
envelope, bearing the business label of
the Methodist Publishing House, NASH
VILE, on the outside, indicating that il
may have been dispatched from this
place. 1t was addressed to Miss ParaI-
leo Nailor Fosterville. II was opened
by the. young lady's brothers at that place,
upon the not unreasonable presumption
that 1t was merely business circular
from the Publishing House. as they Oh
served that it was inclosed in the BUSH
ness envelope Of the Nashville, Book
Concern. They were in the habit of
opening such letters addressed to men,
bers Of the family. Whom they had
opened it, and discovered the character Of
its contents, they went directly to their
sistei and required an explanation. She
recognized the hand writing as that Of
Dr., Hammer, and expressed not only great
surprise, but CONSERVATION at the recep.
tion OF such q missive. ais,odm ssf s,,nl
u began according to the best recollec.
tion of Miss. Ms brother.in.law, Justice
Neeley, from whom the reporter obtained
the statement, thus: s,.,s "a, ~ ,H,,
"DEAR OSE-Having beed disappoiut-
ed 50 often, 1 thought | would avoid the
cause Of my trouble, but seeing your agi.
tatlon and excitement the morning you
came to tho buggy FIR the oyers1irt, l
changed my opinion"
"The letter went on" added Mr..
Neeles. ''to state substantially this:
"If you desire to bo with me, or to
make an appointment, / will be there.
There will be no failure on my part. ]
will be at Fostervillo on the 7th Of July;
Shelbyville on the 10th, and return back
on the 18th of July. The nppointment
forlthe last date will be the best, p,li
In the letter the writer also asked
whether she would play "pomegranate'
or croquct, either or neither. Z, The letter
had a reference also to the seventh or
eighth chapter Of tho Songs Of Solomon,
the witness did not reeollect which. Il
was signed 'Sad and True.s' asseo,as
The same witness states that when Mr..
Henry Nailol broke the seal and read the
letter he became greatly enraged, took
It to his sister and informed her Of its cou
tents. 1t fell upon herlike shock and
she appeared almost heart broken. She
said it was the most awful thing of which
she had ever heard. She declared her
lgnSrance Of any knoSledge Of It. and
bad sloutly protested it ever since. She
stated that she had. never gwen one cause
whatever for the writing of such letter.
Witness said Miss Nailcr has always
looksdup to Rev. Mr. Hammer as child
would reyerenceher father. Two specific
conversations between Miss Nailor and
Rev, Mr., Hammer were repeated before
the Commission. One Of the converse.
tlons occurred in the midst Of her own
family while Dr. Hammer was temporarily
their guest, She said to him: s'Slr Han
ner, why are you so sad? The first time
Lever saw you | thought you we're the
saddest man ! ever saw" He responded,
you think right. sometimes feel
lonely and desolate. feel like | did no.
have friend IN the worla.' She replied
"Dr, Hammer. you ought not o.foeI 90.