Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-03-13

II IA at Red-HOt Stage A History of tie
Diihcuit. from Its Inception to the Pre-
ent one Of the Principals Gives an
Interesting Resume Of the whole Trou-
bic.
LAYTON N. J. March o. 1895
Mix. EDIToh:-There has been consider
able said in the newspapers concerning the,
church troubles in Sandyston township,
sussex county N. j. In your issue of
March 9TH, you speak of the arrest Of Mi.
John V. Major and myself, on complaint
of Francis Layton for breaking windows
in the church, and the lock on the door of
same We very much regret that two of
our neighbors in company with the so
called Rev. Clyde w. Deming appeared
before Justice of the Peace, that they
then and there came to the conclusion that
we were so maliciously inclined, that one
of the said neighbors, was induced through
the persuasions of this Rev. Deming to
make the affidavit that procured the war
rant which caused our arrest. We very
much dislike TO appear before the reading
public as maliciously inclined criminals,
but we patiently await the verdict of the
court which we believe will be our vindica-
tion. In the same issue of your paper you
say the difficulty seems to have arisen from
circular letter Of political import This
circular letter was the outcome of other
causes, which primarily led up to the pre-
sent difficulties wish to submit to you
the following theories, propositions, and
facts, which l ask you in justice to pub
lish.
That you may the better understand the
matter, / here state that the difficulty
started as a purely ministerial scandal
months before it became known that the
said J. J. Vansickle was candidate for
office. II has now developed into bitter,
political, ministerial, church scandal.
Briefly as follows. About the last of June
1895, rumor said the Rev. Clyde w. Dem
ings, who is pastor over what is known as
the Hainesville and Centreville charges,
was guilty of unbecoming intimacy with
the opposite sex.
On July 9TH this Rev. Deming together
with lawyer a prominent divine from
Newton n. j., with a certain trustee of
this charge, proceeded to the home Of a GER
tain lady, who was alone with her mother,
and under the pressure of certain promi-
ses made to this lady, obtained from her an
affidavit completely exhonerating it is said
this Rev. Demings and herself of all blame
and guilt An open letter was then writ
ten by this divine from Newton N. j., and
addressed to the people of this charge say
ing a certain John j. Vansickle, had mali
ciously slandered Rev. Clyde w. Deming.
On the following Sunday this letter was
read in the Centreville church, and state
ment made by the accused pastor from the
pulpit. Soon after rumor had discovered
that this statement was apparently false,
other stories began to circulate of a very
damaging character to the pastors hereto
for good name. In he meantime the pastor
who had employed a lawyer, was very as
siduous in collecting evidence, Of which
he said he already had an abundance, with
which he would severely blister Mr.. Van
sickle. Sometime after another letter was
received from this Newton Divine by the
pastor, calling halt. In short time
afterward, no more evidence was collected.
Then it was rumored that the church
board Of officers were about to appear on
the scene, and as unit commence pro
ceedings for slander against the said Mr..
Vansickle. Following close upon this
rumor the pastor convened the board.
A carefully written document was offered
to the board for their signatures thereto.
This papar was signed by all the male
off n
sent. This document adroitly transferred
the responsibility of prosecution from the
pastors shoulders, and now presumably
depends upon the will and action of the
board As a member of that board here
assert that the prosecution is tabled alto
gether, and that no action was ever in
tended by the pastor, for in the earliest
stage of the scandal, challenge was
thrown directly in the face of pastor Dem
ings lawyer, daring him to serve the pap
ers on John J. Vansickle. A death like
silence on the part of the prosecutors now
prevailed. II was rumOred that Mr.. Van
sickle had bought OF the pastor for thou
sand or so. But following these events,
new charges were flung directly in the face
of pastor Demings, together with ehal-
lenge daring him 10 proceed against Mr..
Vansiekle. The two members of the board
who had not signed the document, earnest
ly urged their pastor to prosecute Mr.. Van
sickle. Yet no action was taken. The
fat had gone forth. The truce amid these
threatened hostilities would now have been
complete, but for the murmurs against the
way the pastor had allowed matters to drop
after his SO many threatcnings of prosecu-
tion. A few days before the November
election this already notorious open let
ter TO the people Of the charge, was prin-
ted, and sown broadcast by the U. s. Mails
over Sussex County, TO which was aP
pended an appeal, asking the people to cast
their votes against this John J. Vansickle
who had now become Democratic capdi
date for election as a member Of the HOuas
Of Assembly Of the State OF New Jersey
By this act 1t was undoubtedly expected
to transfer the scandal case from the socia