“Dr. H. W. Pitman, Rev. D. W. Nowlin, Rev. J. D. Gregory and Rev. Wm. A. Taylor were banished in company with me. We had no trial, either civil or military, nor would they condescend to tell us what were the charges against us, or whether, indeed, there were any. Nor to this day—September 7th, 1869—have we found out why it was done, except through private and unofficial sources. The information thus received as to the cause of my banishment was as I expected—_I was banished because I was a Southern Methodist preacher!_ One of the officers was asked by one of my friends: ‘What are the charges against Spencer?’ He answered, ‘_I never heard that there are any; but he is a man of influence, and, if disposed, can do a great deal of harm!_’ Another officer was asked by another friend, and he replied, ‘The fact that he is a _Southern Methodist preacher is all I want to know_!’ There never was a more clear case of ecclesiastical persecution than was my banishment. Certain men sought to produce secession, treason and rebellion in the M. E. Church, South, by way of showing how they professed to hate these things in the nation; I opposed them, and they became my enemies and had me banished. If any one doubts this let him attend to the following documents: “‘ASHBY’S MILLS, IND., April 22, 1863. “‘_Mr. A. C. Stewart, Provost-Marshal, Danville, Mo._: “‘SIR—There are reasons which induce me to believe that my case is wholly at the disposal of the officers and Union men of Danville and vicinity. If this be so, I wish to solicit your attention to a few considerations in regard to my case. And, first, I was banished from my home and family _without a trial or a knowledge of the charges against me_, or who preferred them. Now, sir, is this right? Is there any law, civil or military, that will punish an _innocent_ man? How could the officer who banished me know that I was guilty of any crime without giving me a trial and hearing evidence in the case? Have I ever had such a trial? When? Where? Who were the judge, jury, witnesses _pro_ and _con_? Where was the prisoner during the trial? And where was my legal counsel to see that justice was done me? With what was I charged, and who were my accusers? Three months have passed since my banishment, and I am still left in ignorance of why it was done. Was it done merely to gratify official ambition? or rather, was it not done to gratify the malice of _secret enemies_? Can the interests of the Government be secured or protected or its dignity increased by such treatment of one of its citizens? Do you say that I am a great rebel, and therefore such treatment is good enough for me? How do you know that I am a rebel at all, much less a great one? Did you learn it from mere _rumor_, or from a trustworthy witness, sworn to tell the truth before a proper tribunal and in the presence of the accused? In the absence of such evidence how