The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-29

fill the pulpit one Sunday. saying that
Rev. j. Vaughn Davis had no standing
as a minister. not having had his Gre
dentials approved by the Welsh Bap-
tist association Of Northeastern PENN
sylvania.
Rev. William r. Davis was formerly
pastor of the North Scranton Welsh
Baptist church, but split occurred
and part Of the congregation headed
by the pastor, organized the Memorial
Baptist church and erected a church on
Church avenue, which they have since
occupied The old church called Rev.
j. Vaughn Davis from Indian Territory
and installed him as q pastor. His
church belongs to the Abingdon Baptist
association and the Memorial church to
the Welsh Baptist association Of North
eastern Pennsylvania.
He Wrote the Letter.
In his answer Rev. William F. Davis
says he wrote the letter complained of
while acting as secretary of the Welsh
Baptist association of Northeastern
Pennsylvania. 1t was written on
March lS. 1902, and addressed to the
Welsh Baptist church. of Mahonoy
City. The letter was not false, he de-
clares, but a statement of facts it was
his duty to impart. Continuing, he
saws:
That tho defendant, acting on this oc-
casion III a ministerial capacity, having
received information from the credentials
committee that j. Vaughan Davis had
made an appointment TO preach at the
Welsh Baptist church of Mahonoy City
and that he had not presented creden-
finlx. II-t ha n
thereupon, in persuance or his plain duty
under such resolution, as secretary or
clerk of the association, so Informed the
said Welsh Baptist church of Mahanoy
City.
That in addition to the information
received from the credentials committee,
OF the failure OF j. Vaughn Davis to
comply with the resolution of the asso-
citation. the defendant received informa-
ton from his predecessor, W. d. Thomas,
OF Pittston, whom lie succeeded as sec
retary OF said association, that the said
]. Vaughn Davis. and the church with
which he was connected III Choctaw and
Chickasaw Baptist association OF Indian
territory, had been excluded from said
Baptist association at it's annual meet
ing held in the year A. d. 1896.
That w. ID. Thomas, when secretary OF
the Welsh Baptist association Of North
eastern Pennsylvania. exhibited to the
defendant copy of the minutes or the
annua, meeting Of the Choctaw and
Chckusaw Baptist association of Indian
territory, stating that the Refuge
church, to which the said j. Vaughn
Davis was pastor at that time. was. by
resolution, dropped from the roll until
she set herself right, which is by dis
charge or excluding their present pastor,
Rev ]. Vaughn Davis, for drunkenness
and other unchrstan conduct
Patterson's Affidavit.
That in addition to the minutes of the
ChoctaW and Chckasaw Baptist associa
ton of Indian territory, the defendant
has received from W. j. Patterson
member of the Baptist cnurch or Harts-
horn in the Choctaw division OF Indian
territory, and member OF the Choc-
taw and Chickasaw association, an affi-
davit verifying, under oath, the fact
that the said ]. Vaughn Davis and the
church of which he was the minister,
was excluded from the said association,
a copy OF which said affidavit IL at
tached and made part OF the DEFENDANTS
answer in this case
That, in sending the letter above re-
ferred to and complained of by the plain
tiff in this case, the defendant was per-
forming a ministerial act. under the di-
rectiOns of the said credentials commit-
tee, as we'll as the spirit and letter of
the said resolution, under which 1t be-
came his duty to act by informing the
said church of Mahanoy City that tho
said j. Vaughn Davis had not presented
to the credentials committee any creden-
tials. as required under the resolution OF
the Welsh Baptist association OF North
eastern Pennsylvania above mentioned,
and attached to this answer. That the
defendant believes the communication
was not only one of privilege, but that
under the duties of his office ii became
neressnrY To send the notice romplnined