The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-04-21
Chr 8ulletin.
THE LASr or HORdCE COohE

THE LASr OF HORiCE COOhE
The New York East Conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal church, lat week. as
posed OF the case of the crring brother
Rev. Horace Cooke, a, has been stated
The proceedings, in view Of the prom
hence that was given to the e'capad' oi t"e
dominic, were very interesting 'h '.'
part Of the church over which be formerI!
ministered an elder pre.cnted be F''iSi"-
ton and requested that be Doe allowed to
withdraw. lie admitted there was ample
evidence upon which to bring Cooke TO
trial, bu, though, no good end would Ice
observed by such Il course.
Another brother objected to allowing
him to escape uncenurcd.
DIR. Woodruff, secretary Of the confer
.nce, urged that there should be no further
discussion of he subject. II had been "
cause Of positive pain 20 every member oil
the denomination. and many Of them had
had to hang their head, in shame at the
thought ofthe disgrace which had bcch in
fct upon them. He would have appeared
before the bar Of the conference and made
open confession Of hi. error, as then some
hopes might be entertained ofhis ultimate
regeneration ~ it wa. he feared that he
would never get up again and become I"
true man, and he could only ask God
mercy upon him,
DR.. scuddcr objected 10 the idea that Mr.
Cookies actions had made him (thc speak
err feel shame or disgrace. Nothing oi
the kind should make him hang his head
nor did be believe that the public would
esteem the clergy any les for IT. such
things had occurred since the days of Ju-
dns, and were likely to occur again. He
wanted, however toPrcycnt the possibility
Of Mr.. Cookies applying for rc-admi,'ion
into the church without expressing contri-
,ion for Mi, ofon.c. The whole affair had
been 50 dramatic that 1t was not unlikely II
might have such termination, aud he
wanted To- prevent IL, occurrence 10y little
foresight a, the present time.
Mr.. Roche said tina, they had no power
TO anathcmaiizc aud cNgommunicato per-
sons like the Catholic, but they had q
right TO ccusurc and c&rel those who de-
serve such punishment, aud hc thought
some decided action should be taken in the
present matter.
The result of the debate, which was long
and excited, was that the secretary was
requested to place On the journal the fol-
lowing minute Of the occurrence:
Whereas, ], Is understood that Horace
Cooke has handed in hi, parchmcnts, and
thereby admitted biz criminal unttncss to
continue In the church and ministry;
Rssoircd Tina, his request g. bc permit
ted 10 withdraw be granted.
Thu. quietly the Rev. Horace Cooke
passc. into ob,our,ty. The action of the
conference was, we think wise. No pos
sible good could have resulted from ut rial
The case has been notorious enough and
has caused sufficient scandal. We are
happy not 10 count our.ryys among those
who imputc every crime ofn minister &c
the gospel to thcclo,h be wears, rs j. toe
customary. The disgrace attaches to the
offender alone, and IN No. sense to hi, pro-
fession. The stigma {, n, foul, whore a
man uses the carb Of I'll, Clergyman and
bis sacred privilege. topromotc the de-
signs of the scduccr, that abstract justice
declares no puni,hmm, too severe
for such villain. But .hc tendency t.
include IN the condemnation Of the
individual who ,in,, not only the dcuom-
nation of which hcis member. but rclg-
ion itself j. SO strong that In ease, like
this Of Horace Cooke where the trial OF
the criminal would cause gra, excitement
and it, details be- given Publicity through.
out the country, the cnds Of morality will
probably be better -ub'ory,l hy the course
,ha, has been adopted. The cccle,iu.ticu
cour, could do no more after trial, than
eIpel him from the ministry. and thi, has
been done without converting court
Now let this man aud hi, crime ,ub,id,
into obscurity and forgy,iulU,.., while W,
hope that no more such wo.v., ia sheep
clothing may ever intrudc themselves int,
the company Of iho-e g. whom the poopl,
look fortheir example OF purity and god
illness.