The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-21

no inkling of their contents, The
board regretted the whole affair from
start 10 finish. he said. and had tried
to keep 1t quiet for the sake OF the
church. What had leaked out could
not be helped. but the board would
certainly make no statement.
Done With DIR. Francis.
The church. he said, is done with
DR.. Frances. The pulpit has been
declared vacant. and each Christian
church rs a law unto Itself. with no
governing body. the deposed pastor
has no appeal from the boards de-
cision. There was a rumor ahoat
yesterday that there was 10 be con-
gregational meeting Sunday 10 re-
scind the action of the board depos-
ing the pastor. but Mr.. Blake and
other members of the board merely
smiled at the suggestion, stating that
DR.. Francis day as Christian min
lister was done. The association, Il
was stated. would Immediately take
steps to blacklist him so that he can
not ever again fill a pulpit in church
of that denomination. None OF the
members Of the board or the church
approached on the subject displayed
any malice and all disavowed any IN
tention of bounding the minister, but
all expressed the belief that II vas
a matter of simple justice to the
church to be rid of the man.
Charges Not New.
A former member of the board
stated last night that afIldavits as to
the alleged immoral conduct OF the
minister i'm Ohio and Colorado were
in possession Of the board last Octo-
Der before he was formally installed
as pastor. but his sturdy and plausible
defense won the majority to his side.
Some of these letters In the possession
Of this member warned the congre-
CATION against the pastor. predicting
strife in the congregation. II not
broken homes" but despite these
warnings the pastor was accepted.
This gentleman last night characteriz--
ed the first hearing Of the board OF
these charges as ''whitewash proceed
ings' in which the board had refused
to heed facts which were sworn TO.
and had been lulled into innocuous
deseutude by the smooth tongue OF
the minister. The charges referred
to embraced allegations of gross i'm
morality at Ironton, o., with a dones-
tic employed In his household. which
was aired in court in two trials and
the prosecution fiKally dropped, and
the other somewhat similar charge
in which female member of his con-
gregation was involved at Trinidad,
Col, which never came to trial though
the minister was expelled from the
church because OF it, DR.. Francis was
also charged with another kissing in
cident at Mt. Vernon, O., and the
board had an affidavit from the te1e-
phone girl who was the kissce in this
incident to substantiate the charge.
The eyes of the board were NOT OPEN
ed until the kissing incident was re-
ported.
DIR. Francis Statement.
DR., Francis last night gave out the
following formal signed statement:
Whenever and wherever any
charges against me have been inyes-
tigated by competent and impartial
persons or committees, including a
committee of ministers appointed by
the State ministerial association Of
Indiana. the official boards Of the
churches at New Carlisle and Sulli-
van. Ind. Judges Neal. Germ, Blair
and Berry. Of Ohio. and the official
board OF the Third Christian church.
of this city, they always and uniform
iy- exunerated me OF any and every
charge touching my moral character
that was ever made against me. II