Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-04-03


gated the rumors, to the members Of
the congregations at Hainesvi1le and
Centreville, in which the rumors
were denounced as being without
any foundation, and without doubt
base fabrications, and malicious
libels. This letter was read in open
congregation before the churches
over which the Rcv. G. w. Demings
had charge. There the matter
should have ended, and in fact it
was fast dying out, when on OF about
Nov. / the person whom it was al
legged had first started the rumors,
being a candidate for member of the
assembly, the letter above referred
to was obtained from the Rev. Clyde
W. Demings, the pastor Of the
Methodist Episcopal Churches at
Centreville and Hainesville and
with his consent and that of the
writer, Rev. Alexander Craig, of
Newton, N. j., was placed before
the people of Sussex county " and
in all fairness they were asked, is a
man who would make a dastardly
and unprovoked attack upon a min
lister of the gospel a fit man TO re-
present them at Trenton"
This was throwing the church, the
pastor and the congregations into
the arena of politics. Naturally
old sores were opened, and the old
bitterness revived, which finally cul-
minated in an election for trustees
of the church, at which election
two sets were chosen. A civil pro-
ceeding in court would have tested
the legality of the meeting and set
tied the rights of the contending
factions, and this course should have
been pursued. Instead both parties
attempted to hold possession of the
church edifice by force, and arrests
followed.
If we understand the law correct
ly, person not a member of the
church would have no legal stand
ing to contest the validity of this ele-
ction, therefore in order to avoid an
issue it seemed proper to the minis
ter and his supporters to prefer
charges against the opposing trus-
tees and oust them from member
ship
Mr.. Demings presided at the trial,
selected the jury, assumed the role
of counsel in the examination OF
witnesses, and production of evi-
dence, and then when the two trus-
tees were declared guilty of the
charges in manner and form as they
We're preferred, he performed the
mournful duty of declaring them
expelled from the church member
ship and their names erased from its
rolls. We intend no reflection on
the character of the jury and have
not alluded to the propriety of al.
lowing the accused trustees time tC
prepare their defence, or be repre-.
sented by counsel, or giving then
every fair means to defend them.
selves from the charges, all of which
they in person requested.
They are formally expelled ant
hence are precluded from testing the
legality of their election.
They are under bonds to appear
before criminal court and answer
the charge of maliciously breaking
in the church and disturbing its
peace. These charges should bt
pressed by the prosecutors and il
they are found guilty, after a tria
before a jury of their peers they
will be punished as they deserve
The church cannot afford, no mat
ter what the alleged character O.
the two offending trustees may be
to resort to subtufuge trickery OF
sharp practices to gain its point
The veriest william in this countr,
is entitled to a full, fair and i'm
partial trial before tribunal com
posed of judge whose mind is un
biased, and candid and unprejud
iced jury.
We would like to see the Sandys
ton church Z" hew to the line let tn
chips fall where they may"