Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-03-21
MUCH EVIDENCE FOR
PASTOR WALDR0N
Defence Introduces Testimony
Tending to Show That Wind
sor Clergyman Upheld Presi.
dents Action in Declaring War
on Germany.


The trial Of the Rev. Clarence H.
waldron of Windsor was continued
Thursday in United States court,
the day being given up entirely to
the defence who introduced witnesses
whose testimony tended to show that Mr..
NNaldron was far from being unpatriotic.
Almost all of the witnesses were men,
bers of the Baptist Church who left when
Mr.. Waldron did, the latter part of No
vember
MIR. Waldron during the day main
tanned his alertness regarding the wit
nesses and 1t was evident that his counsel
was needed by his attorneys. His wife,
who has been beside him during the trial,
was there Thursday and had frequent con-
situations with him in regard to the testi-
mony. Mr.. Waldron's father was also
present in the court room, although he
was not seated with his son. The court
room was only comfortably filled in the
morning but in the Afternoon large
number were refused admission because
there was no room for them. 1t is the
custom in the United States court to
admit only those for whom there are
seats.
The first witness called Thursday morn
ing was Amos Chase, who was on the
stand when court adjourned Wednesday.
Mr.. Chase testified that he was present
at a meeting between waldron and Rice
when the clergyman learned that Rice
had offered his services to his country. He
did not hear Waldron say that he was
sorry Rice had enlisted and hoped he
wouldn't go to war He understood the
minister to say that he was sorry Rice
was going away. The witness qualified his
statement by saying that Waldron had
lost number of his parishioners and re-
GREETED the loss of more Of his flock. Mr..
Chase recollected that Waldron said II he
were not minister of the gospel he would
go to war himself. Mr.. Chase and other
/ members of his family, who testified later,
are among those who left the Baptist
| Church at the time Mr.. Waldron did. and
| have since remained members of his flock,
holding their meetings in his house.
Mr.. Chase further testified that he knew
Of one occasion when Mr.. Waldron had
rendered the use of the church to some
Dartmouth students who wished to hold a
patriotic meeting there. Chase was GER
tain that it was patriotic meeting but
wasn't clear just where the patriotism
that was that there was a collection TAKEN
for what purpose he couldn't state. When
asked by Mr.. Billiard If this meeting
wasn't held for the purpose of raising
money for the students, the witness didn't
know. On suggestions from Mr.. Billiard
he could remember that one Of them was
a Chinaman who did most of the talking.
Chase was quite sure that America was
sung at the close Of the meeting. While
he recalled that Waldron presided at the
meeting, he could not remember that the
pastor said anything regarding the
prosecution Of the war, or urged the con-
gregation to assist the Red Cross or
kindred organizations.
Dean Blanchard, another Holy Roller,
was the second witness of the day. He
was Sunday school superintendent and
trustee Of the church until Mr.. Waldron
severed his connection with the church.
Blanchard went with him. Blanchard
testified that everything Waldron told
him regarding the prosecution of the war
was based on the word Of God Under
examination by Mr.. Leary, Blanchard said
that Waldron repeatedly prayed for the
President and that he might carry things
through successfully. Blanchard remem-
bered the patriotic meeting and also re-
membered the collection, but did not know
what 1t was for. He never heard Wal
dron say anything in support Of the Red
Cross. He was present when Mr.. Tux
bury called on Waldron regarding holding
meeting in the church for the purpose
Of creating enthusiasm for the Liberty
Loan drive. He agreed with the pastor
in that he did not believe the church
should be used for that purpose to the
exclusion of religious services. He never
heard Waldron say Christians should
not fight" Blanchard heard Waldror
say that the President could do nothing
else but bring the United States into the
war. He further heard him say that HI
could not take gun himself and hgh
and kill his fellow man. Waldron, dur
Ing Blanchard's testimony, showed grea
interest and was even more active thar
usual in the councils of his attorneys
According to Blanchard, the sentiment
to the effect that no Christian should xii
his brother were Waldron's persona
views. He did not try to indict then
on anybody else. Blanchard heard Wal
dron say that his parishioners must ODE.
the laws of the country. Everything h
stated was based on the Bible. Wal
dron gave Blanchard four or five copie
Of The Word Of the Cross"
Mr. Billiard inquired: What did h
give you these booklets for?" To thi
they expressed his views. Blanchard o.
one occasion heard Waldron tell Mis-
Evarts that he would send one of tn
booklets to her. Witness said furthe
that Waldron almost every Sunday praye
for the United States. the President an
the boys in the trenches. When aske
by Mr.. Billiard II the pastor had at an
time tried to get the boys to enlist, tn
witness could not remember that he hat
Blanchard left the Baptist Church whe
Waldron did.
Horace E. Allen, who said he was Dor
In ktttery, Me-. was the next witness
He was president Of the young men
Bible class and sang in the choir. He wa
present when Mr.. Waldron preached III
sermon. us the Kaiser Anti-C Christ
His testimony was like that Of some tn
day bef0:0 Ine minister had read e,
tracts from a magazine and also hs
read extracts from the Book of Revels
ton. He could not say that there we
anything complimentary or detriment,
to the Kaiser in the sermon. He remen
bered that at q meeting OF the Christie
Endeavor society Mr.. Waldron had MAJ
a motion that some surplus money whie
the society had on hand be turned ov,
to the Red Cross. He could not remen
Der whether It was the time the ArmeI
ians were seeking funds or not. He hs
heard Waldron say that while he cou
not. az q man of God. kill another hume
being, he could assist as a Red Gro,
man and do what he could to allevia
suffering. 1t developed that two of II