The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-07-21
A AsOUFHERN BEEcHER.
Rev. John w. Hanner Suspend
E.aacd by Bishop NTcTyeire.l7 sss


Gaacd-by Bislaop McTyeire.l5 eas
ENAsHvnLE, TENN, July .1O-s--A.
commission appointed oby Bishop
McTyeire. OF the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, South. has been sitting
at Murfreesboro the past two days,
investigating the ministerial miscoh-
duct of the Rev. j. w. Hammer, .Sr..
presiding elder of that districts He
admitted having sent an, anonymous
letter to 8 respectable young lady
named ParaIee Nailor, conveying the
idea OF q desire for close intimacy.
and referring to the seventh chapter
of the Songs Of Solomon aud the Sec
ond verse OF the eighth chapter.
The setter was enclosed in an envcl.
opo with the letter.head Of the South
ern Methodist Publishing House.
Her brother. thinking il related 90 a
matter of business, opened it and
read it's contents. The commission
completely vindicatcd the character
of Miss NaiIor. 1aia3a V99T fsa.a sasss,.
Hammer is sixty years old, and
gray headed. He has. served in the
ministry forty years, and was one Of
the most 4)Tominent, as well as most
eloquent, men of his church. The.
matter creates q great deal of excite
ment. throaghontrtlle State. .s ID"
The commission to-day rendered
the following verdict: - sse
| Witnesses were examined. After
this the accused was given an oppor-
tunity to speak for himself, TO ex-
plain an anonymous letter, the au-
thorship Of which was attributed to
him, the said letter being the basis
ofothe charge Of immortality. The
committee deliberated until 10 o. clock
p. NJ. Friday. and resumed the ses-
sion at 9 A. NJ. Saturday, and at ~
O'Clock they reached and signed their
conclusions, of which the following
rs the sum , -s.ea--
The committee called in the case
of j. w. Hammer, Sr., have inyesti-
gated the same with painful and con-
scientious diligence, and with pray
erful reference to their responsible
ties to God and his church. They
have not been unmindful Of the ec-
centricities that have marked the ac-
cused for some years, but which have
not been deemed OF sufficient gravity
and significance to call for formal
discipline. His peculiarities have
been OF considerable service in ex-
Iplanation aud mitigation, and are
not without weight in estimating
some things said and done by him
The frankness and honesty of the
confession and explanations before
the committee duly impressed their
minds and hearts, Important evil
Idenee, was given by the accused
against himself, while he protested
his innocence Of. certain Intentions,
and would have certain things ex.
Iplained as quizzing and enigmatical
Eonly. But the committee could not
Fescape the conclusion from the evi-
demce before them that John. w.
Hammer, ST., Is not only guilty OF
what is improper and .rcpreIiensible
in thelhighest degree inca Christian
IMAM and minister, but that his con.
l duct In the affair deserves the formal
verdict that he is guilty of immoral
| ity in writing letter to a young la
| dy, dated June 25. apparently de
signed to corrupt her and TO sedueG
her from the path OF virtue, and
conchcd in terms intimating q readi
ness to be the Instrument of her ruin
Whereupon the Bishop pronounced
the suspension of John w. Hammer
ST.. from his ministerial Office untI
the next session of the TENNESSEE
Annual Conference. Suspension Il
| the sentence fixed by law after q yer
dict of guilty. Under such circum
stances, the Annual Conference Onl,
can pass the highest ,eensure, exconl
munication.l So thatevery travelin,
preacher Is finally slmenable. TIL
committee of investigation is PrOyid
ed for intervals Of the Annual Con
ference, 70 arrest extreme cases
The committee, it is Understood, de
liberated with great friendliness T.
the accused, but came nc last 20 th
Unanimous con clusion.