The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-22
MINISTER SUED
 FOR $5O,OOO
Rev. MT. Bauder Aggrieved Because Local Pulpit Job
 Went to Another
Famous Baptist Preacher Is Defendant In Action Bas- ed Upon Allegations Con- tained In Letter Written to Local Churchmen.

Baptist church circles in this city received a distinct shock today when it was learned that the Second Baptist church pastorate of this city had be come the bone of contention in s5o,- 900 lawsuit instituted by Rev. Brad ford F. Bauder of Lyons, N. r., lat ter1y an insurance agent, against Rev. Dr. Cortland Myers. erstwhile pastor of the First Baptist Temple, of Brook lyn, N- r., now pastor of the Fremont Temple Boston. Mass.
 Rev. MT. Bauder through his attor- ney, John H. Wolrath. of Syracuse. N. r.. has brought suit for the big dam Myers in a letter written to the con- n1ittee on pulpit supply of the local that prevented him from securing the post Members of the Second Baptist church readily recall the two visits to this city of MT: Bauder at the time that many candidates preached here Rev. Mir. Hughes. father of Governor Hughes of New York State, was among the preachers heard in the long interval in which the church had no regular pastor, following the resigna- ton of Rev. Elmer E. Loux to accept a call to New Jersey pulpit.
 w. w. Collins of 272 Harriet street, one of the leading members of the Second Baptist church, and a member of the committee of two members selected from the committee on pulpit supply in the summer of 1908 to look up the various candidates for the pas torate. said today he readily recalled all the correspondence that had taken place at the time of the Bauder incl dent
 z ssT was appointed scribe of the com u1ittee,'' said he to a Farmer reporter today, land all the correspondence as a result went through my hands. MT. G. F. McKeel. who is connected with M. w. Manwar1ng, went to Brooklyn with me as a subcommittee to look up Rev. Mir. RaJIdeT.As We found h1In a most charming Christian gentleman. Rev. MT. Myers introduced us. and spoke in the terms Of highest commen- dation of the young clergyman. We were, I may say, most favorably inn pressed with him. He did not preach fin Brooklyn during our visit. but he came to Bridgeport, and created a dis tinctly favorable impression. MT. Myers sent us written commendation, and we inquired at great length from many sources and the replies we re ceived led us to believe that MT Bau- der was the man we wanted:
 Then there came from MT. Myers a short letter, in which he stated that he wished to withdraw his recommen- dation and anything he may have said in favor of the young clergyman The letter was of course a surprise to us. So we continued to look up other ap- plicants until we secured our present pastor, Rev. MT. Atkinson"
 Was there anything of a personai nature directed against MT Bauder in the letter you received from MT. My erS?'S he was asked.
 Not thing" said MT: Collins. There was nothing attacking his character. nothing at a11." MT. Col I1ns was very emphatic on that point. t'11r. Myers only said he wanted to take back the recommendations and the approval he had given MT. Bauder to our committee
 ..tWas the committee influenced by the letter to an adverse deciSiOn%' he was asked.
 1sWeH, I wouldn't say that the letter was entirely responsible forA our not ergaging MT. Bauder. But when we up the other candidates-there were a good many-and we finally decided upon Mir Atkinson
 MT. Collins declared there was no occasion for any public scandal. EfIt's a simple situation said he. = 'Du. Myers was the pastor of the, Irst he was called there, he was pastor of a church in Buffalo. Rev. MT. Bauder was pastor of a suburban Baptist church. AS a result of their acquaint- ance in Buffalo. Rev. MT. Myers suc- ceeded in bringing MT. Bauder to Brooklyn as his second assistant.
 MT. Myers was planning tr1p 70 Europe when we called upon him. He expected to be gone for some time. It was his plan to leave his pulpit to his first assistant MT. Bauder was very was an excellent preacher, and young minister of splendid character. So when almost on the eve of MT. My ers' departure for Europe the propos1- ton was placed in the hands of the church, the church body instead of ap- proving MT. Myers plan, selected MT Bauder for his place. On his return, Mr. Myers wrote us the letter we have been discussing a
 It was plain from the conversation of MT. Collins that his syInpathfes l were enlisted in favor of the young | although his first informa- l ton of the action instituted by Mir | Bau7er came from the Farmer report er