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

20 the political arena. 1 nave hiWayh bfieu
TO do my own thinking and acting. Orig
inally Republican dyed in the wool. For
about ten years have voted the prohibition
tickets So you see ] was in no way interes-
ted in Mr.. Vanslckle politically There
fore he had never told me he was candi-
date, nor had he ever asked me 10 vote for
him When this last day election letter
appeard on the political arena, at once
openly announced my intention to vote for
Mr.. Vanslckle.
This letter has no political parent. The
political party in whose interest It was
printed refuse to own It, They are justly
ashamed Of It, as member Of the M. e.
Church, so am l. For the benefit Of those
who may be interested to know, am en-
powered to say, that John V. Major Is a
democrat, yet he was politically hostile to
Mr.. Vansickle, and did not cast his vote for
him at the last November election: men
tion these our personal political afiinities
to show that the two persons, Mr.. John v.
Major and myself who as will be shown
preferred the charges against our pastor,
were of the opposite opinion concerning MIR.
Vansickle's political aspirations. There
fore with us this Is not political contest.
Yet this is not the rule. 1t will be found
almost invariably that the supporters Of
Mr.. Demings are the political opposers Of
MIR. Vansickle, and the political support
ers of MIR. Vansickle are the opposers Of
Mr.. Demings: These things ought not to
be- As a remedy let me suggest the fol-
lowing Let the church adherents OF Mr..
Deming and the political opponents of Mr..
Vansickle, who compose one party In the
present difficulty, and let the political adj
herents of Mr.. Vansickle, and the church
opponents of Mr.. Demings who compose
the other party, and who have each formed
an alliance to sustain or crush the politi-
cal aspirations of Mr.. Vanslckle, divorce
the scandal question from the political
question, then let the political question of
Mr.. Vansickle stand or fall on its merits or
demerits: also let the scandal case Of Mr..
Demings stand or fall ON its merits or de
merits, then tell each party to base its
opinions on facts, not prejudice, nor per
sonalities. Take up these merits Of the
case, throw aside politics and personal diff
ficulties. Let us be united In fighting our
common enemy and settle our personal
difficulties in friendly and christian way
between ourselves. Then those who
are not christians settle your political diff
fculties in friendly manner at the polls
by your votes. We can then as n church
free ourselves of the political blot, and
with united efforts acquit ourselves Of the
charge of winking at social impurity and
spiritual wickedness in high places.
Let us have no more last day election let
ters If as christians you take this course
to bring the church into politics, don't
find fault If the world by reason of this
your conduct, forces its politics into and
upon the church.
For fully three months after the scandal
was first published, John V. Majors and
myself had stood by our pastor as true
patriots. Then we found that he had
made several statements concerning the
scandal, which we believed to be untrue.
We asked him to explain these apparent
inconsistencies, and charges, which not
only concerned bis own welfare, but the
welfare Of the church and the whole COM
munity. know you will not allow me
space for the details of our many talks,
which did not result satisfactory. Relat-
ing to these talks he thereby accused me
Of unchristian conduct towards him, as he
was my pastor. Then / asked him to pre-
fer charges against me, and have me tried
for this unchristian conduct before a
proper and unbiased tribunal as the trial
might throw some light on his own trou-
BILE, at the same time telling him that /
would not think unkind for SO doing. But
he refused TO bring the charges Then /
told my pastor / would bring charges
against him. When instanteri The fat
at once was in the fire On Dec. 2e, 1895
at the quarterly conference, then assem-
bled at the Montague NJ, E, Church,
charges were preferred involving my pas
tor as before stated as fOllOwsl Unbecom-
ing intimacy with the opposite SEX lying or
untruthfnl statements both public and pri-
vate; anger towards members OF the
church; unehristian conduct, neglect Of
duty as minister Of the gospel talking
to the world about members of the church,
anu ulalNtIoI tAAob bhAy
should know first. These charges were
signed by John Y. Major and myself, both
of us trustees and stewards Of the church.
The presiding elder, Rev. Sanford Van
Bensehoten was In the chair. He said the
affidavit of the lady convinced him that our
pastor was innocent. After some discus
sion and other business which was dis
posed of, the conference adjourned.
No action has been taken, the charges
have been ignorcel, church discipline has
been disregarded. Since the conference
every occasion has been improved and ta-
ken by my pastor, 10 yilify myself and
others who had now become his opposers.
BY the action Of the presiding elder, and
the advantages possessed by my pastor, by
reason Of his vocation, have been persis-
tently placed before the public AS trad
ucer Of my pastor, as maker Of false ac-
cusations against him.
/ am anxious to have this matter settled
in christian manner, but do not believe
any person is required to become partner
in guilt, to accomplish holy end. In q
letter 10 the presiding elder Of Jan. 18th
offered to become financially responsible
for prosecuting Mr., YAnsiekle for aDander
ing the pastor. here renBw the nifar, ad
ding that upon demand, will At once do
posit in the hands Of responsible parties