Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1913-05-16
II. C. NEAL CALLED
TO HIS REWARD
Famous Methodist Divine, Who Blaz-
ed the Way For the, Church in
Tennessee, Dies at Abingdon.

Abingdon, Va, May O.-Rev.
Henry C. Neal, an aged Metho-
dist minister, died here late this
afternoon. For the last few
years Mr.. Neal has not been en-
gagged in the active ministry on
account of his age and failing
strength. Previous to that time
he held number Of appoint
ments throughout Hollston con-
ference. Mr.. Neal was beloved
by all who knew him. He leaves
one son, John G. Neal, of this
place, and a daughter, Miss
Pearl Neal.
Mr.. Neal was well-known in
Tazewell, being distantly related
to several Tazewell families b
marriage. He was admitted to
the conference more than fifty
years ago. He is famous in the
history of Methodism, as a
preacher who was whipped
within the bounds of the Holston
conference in the attempt to
prevent him from preaching,
and to run him out of the coun-
In the year 1867, the first con-
ference held after the war, met
in Cleveland, Tenn. Mr.. Neal
was sent to the Maryville and
Louisville Circuit, a circuit to
which the Rev. L. X. Haynes
had been appointed the year be-
fore, but was forced to leave the
field by cruel and lawless mobs.
At that time the Northern
Methodist church had taken
possession of the church prop
erty of the "Rebel Southern
Methodists," and determined by
mob violence, if necessary, to
prevent the preachers of the M.
E. Church, South, from holding
service or recognizing their
churches, which had been scat
tered by the war. When Mr..
Neal made his round he was
intimidated by threats, houses
locked against him, and pistols
thrust in his face, and all sorts
of means taken to keep him out
of the community. There was
nothing against Mr.. Neal except
that he twas on the wrong
side," a member of the "rebel
church," and having conquered
the South these blatant, defiant
infidels, composed of mobs of
low-down white men and
nergoes, thought vainly to con-
troll the conscience and conquer
the hearts of the people as well.
Finally, finding that this in
trepid preacher could not be
scared off by threats, mob met
him in the road one day and
with cooked pistols against his
breast, halted him, dragged him
from his horse, blindfolded him,
so he cant see u.s." one said,
led him into the woods, beat
him on the head, cutting great
gashes, stripped him to his
shirt, tied him to a tree, and
two of them, one on each side,
began, says the account
written by Mr.. Neal himself,
ito beat me with wythes.
They wore out the wythes, and
untying him, made him lie
down, and throwing his over
coat over his head, departed.
He made his way to friends,
where his wounds were dressed.
Later on Rev. Jacob Smith,
was maltreated in about the
same manner in this same sec
tion-Blount county, Tennessee.
The above facts are cleaned
from the 4th volume of Holston
Methodism, by DR.. Price.
When the northern states con-
quered the southern states the
northern Methodist church
thought it had conquered the
Methodist Episcopal church,
South, and that to the victors
belonged the spoils. "The blood
of the martyrs is the seed of the
church. )" Southern Methodism
received great uplift in Tennes-
see by these prosecutions. Many
Tazewell Methodists will recall
Mr.. Neal. May he rest in peace!
Rev. L. X. Haynes was con-
temporary of Mr.. Neal, and if
he would give a few lines OF
reminiscence of those troubl-
GUS times and brave men, we
would all appreciate it very
much. Editor.