Year: 1875

writing letter To young lady, dated
June 25, apparently designed to cor
rupt her aud to seduce her from the
path of virtue, and couchsd in terms
intimating readiness to be the instru-
ment of her ruin.


Whereupon, the Bishop pronounced
the suspension of John w. Hammer.
Sr, from the ministerial Office until
the next session OF the Tennessee An
nual Conference.


suspension is the sentence fixed by
the law, after n verdict of guilty under
such circumstances.


The Annual Conference only can
pass the highest censure of ercomnlu-
nicdtiOn. To that every travelling
preacher is finally amenable. The
Commission of Investigation is provi-
ded for the intervals of the Annual
Conference, to arrest extreme cases.


The Commission, it is understood,
deliberated with great friendliness to
the accused, but came at last to unan-
imous conclusion.


When the young lady, whose name
had been so unpleasautly connected
with the case, flushed her testimony
and left to take the train home, the
Bishop took the occasion to thank her
for attending on his summons at such
inconvenience to herself, and also as
ured her that, however the case
might result, he had no doubt that her
reputation for virtue and purity would
be untarnished, and he believed that
the committee would be of the same
mind.


All the evidence taken in the case,
and the verdict, and the journal OF
proceedings were sealed up and will be
forwarded to the Tennessee Annual
Conference, which meets In Fayette-
vile next October.


MISS NAILoR, OF FosTERvILLE,
is handsome, modest young lady, of
fair complexion and dark hair. She
was attired in mourning, both her par
ents being dead. She has two brothers
and three sisters, all of whom are MEM
bers of the Methodist Church. The
family are highly esteemed by the
community in which they live. JUS
tice Neeley is regarded as one of the
most popular 'Squires in Rutherford
County.


WHAT DIR. HAMMERS FRIENDS SAY.


Before leaving MurfreesbGro the Ban
ner'S representative was approached by
prominent members of the Church,
and asked to wait and obtain the state
ment of DR.. Hammer, that it might go
with whatever else might be publish
ed. Heinformed them that it was both
the desire of himself and the Banner
to give an unbiased and impartial re-
port of the proceedings of the Commits
sion. The Banner would publish DIR.
Hammers statement, whatever might
be its length. They commended this
spirit, and said nothing more could be
desired. AS will be seen elsewhere, the
statement could not be obtained.


Rev. G. b. Farris, venerable preach
er, rode eighteen miles to Murfreesboro
to ascertain the result of the delibera.
tions of the Commission. He said he
did not believe DIR. Hammer had any
evil intent in writing the letter. A
man who had been endorsed by forty
successive Conferences could not be
guilty of such folly. He never would
believe DIR. Hammer guilty.


There were many who expressed
much sympathy for DR.. Hammer. They
said he had experienced a great deal of
trouble, and they believed his mind
was not what it used to be. His wife
was an invalid, and he had had much
anxiety on her account as well as the
multiplicity of duties imposed upon
him by his Office.


During the day at Murfreesboro' one
of our reporters held an accidental in
terview with General d. II. c.
Spence, at whose house DIR. Hammer
has been an invited guest for nearly
two years.


Reporter-General Spence, if you
have no objection to telling it, would
like to know your opinion of DR.. Han
ner and what your impressions are as
TO his guilt or innocence?


General Spence-I have known DR..
Hammer familiarly; understand his
idiosyncracies of character, and am
decided in my convictions of his abso-
Lutte innocence in the whole matter
DR.. Hammers explanations of all the
phrases and features of the celebrated
letter are fully convincing to my mind
that no Illicit harm was ever meant.
They are so convincing that | have
never for moment failed to extend
my welcome to DIR. Hammer for all
time as n member of my household.


1t is true that advice has been ofli-
ciously rendered, by men of religious
position, to drive him from my hospi-
tality and home, but it is equally true
that do not only discard such advice,
but announce publicly to all such ad-
visers, and to the public generally,
that L prefer as guests in my home,
and friends upon the street, any and
all men guilty of folly or even re-
pentant weakness, to any canting
Pharisees who demand persecution. l
will keep manfully in my home all
whom / choose as friends, and discard
all whose uncharitableness and hunger
for scandal seek to rise to clerical de-
struction men whose lives have been
devoted to all usefulness, but who, in
moments of ill-advised and improper
emotions, exhibit to a morbid and
fault-finding public written express
sions of such a peculiar sentiment as
ordinary men are not subject to or
possibly capable Of


If DR.. Hammer is as fully acquitted
of all guilt or blame by the public as
he is by me and his host of friends in
Murfreesboro', he could afford to leave
the pulpit successful and happy man.


General Spence further asserts that
he is neither his God, his judge, his
prosecutor, or his prosecutor, and de-
sires friendship from no man who
sought to pursue DIR. Hammers degra-