Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-10-22
SATURDAY PRESS.
Mrs S. Il, Cooper.
sr,rNNrSr or rur crixpHArrp uKursr CASH.
s,S francisco
OCTOBER ~, 1881.

rrNrrMrSr or crinuRArrn urnrsy r,srrS
san FRANCISCO.
hntroH Sruhnsr fSrss In reading your san
Francisco o"frcsrondent'a letter which appeared |
on 'he 'th s' aeo ho has fallen into an error OF
fact In his reference 10 Mrs Coupor's trial for |
horcsy before an inquisition Of old meal hars"-- |
tho nan Francisco Presbytory. IIc aaya she was
convicted" when In point OF fact the rroshytory
had no Jurisdiction in tho matter and could no,
oven ocnsnrc, much less convict His idea is IN,
one which has gone abroad through sensational
newspaper headings, aud was shared 10y the writer
OF the very excellent article read before the Cous
ms S'cictv on Saturday evening last, the writer
believe, being member OF Mrs. Sarah H. Coop.
ors bible class in Calvary church Tho story is
substantially rs follows,
= fellow named Roberts who for ron-a bas hoo,
10 calvary Church what kcarncy was TO san Fran
CISCO, namely, rufsan, dcmugugue. woul,.bo auto
GRAFT or Pope, brought charges before Calvary
Church Session about year ago against Mrs
Cooper for hctesy
The Session know its man; II also knew Mrs
Cooper who "a n most dovout Christian, yot tho
changes, trivial ns they were, duly considered
aud Mrs. Cooper oxoncrated with every mark OF
honor. confidence and esteem. Stung 20 tho quick
by this rebuff the sneak sent spies into her class TO
catch her tripping With tissue evidence Tins sur
reptitously obtained he planned another trial be.
fore packed Session, aud without defence, the
first in,imation Mrs Cooper had of this under
hand inhneuNcr being in her sitting room
blackcncd by the presence of this friend in SANITY
garb, who III eNultant tones read to her what pur-
ported 10 be series OF resolutions adopted by the
dismissal.
Mrs. Cooper is q nervous, delicate creature sensi-
tive as Hover, and recpiied with horror from her
tormentor, imploring him to silence. But no; he
followed her up emphasizing with slow delibera-
ton; rasping voice, aud angular gesture the cruel
rnnuliatet n .tasIn V,nu R,b h,I
taken advantage of Rev. MIR. Hcmphilrs absence
to work up case. Exulting in the success of his
scheme, and III the souls agony depicted upon the
blanched and tear-stained cheeks OF little tremb-
ling, helpless woman, he departed smiling like the
VILLAIN that he is For hours she was Frustrated
by the blow Fortunately this good woman IL
blessed N her home. Her husband and daughter
are perfectly devoted. In their loving embrace
and happy vital temperaments of her own over.
worked mentality finds relief
On her pastors return he told all. He soon
exposed the fraud by which the resolutions were
obtained and in No doing incurred the open enmity
of Roberts which had hitherto been hypocriticay
cioaked Rev Mr.. Homphill's surprise nj being also
Charged with ',heresy" may be imagined by those
In Honolulu who know him, and his ultra -orthodo,
views, which they had u chance of learning during
ms wet some two years ago. But this piece
with Roberts other charges, and part of his las,
and diabolically inspired plot to .ssplit Calyar,
church from cellar to ceing''-a plot which shoull
ma literal fulflment II unsttanable otherwise
In moments of anger, righteous indignation Pr
for humanity's sake let US suppose mental aberra
non1he threatened to put a keg of gunpowder un
fragments. To Mrs. Hemphili. the pastors wife
among others he made this satanic threat.
In pursuance of his plans he brought charges be
fore the late Presbyery against the church Session
IN which he stated that the Session had not exam
med his charges preferred against Mrs. Cooper
The question for the Presbytery to determine WA
simply whether the Session had or had not hear,
all the evidence which Roberts was pleased to in
troduce AIRS Coopers orthodoxy n side issu
into which the Presbytery through curiosity allowe
itself to be drawn by Roberts who wished anon.
other things to gain some notoriety by the pubcit
ne elamored for during the Presbyterys early exc
cutive sessions The statement that he is an in
surance agent will explain great deal His con
tenpnoie proposition to free the church from hi
cative of his character But little credit is reecte
upon the Presbytery by its verdict, the only re
deeming feature about il being that n full conyen
non was not assembled because decision no
expected till the following day, and many of Mr..
Cooper's friends were absent. May not the trail O
the serpent be seen in this alsol
Analysis of the notified verdict discoses tina
there were 81 Presbyters voted out of a Presbyter
Of OF. 90; voted to sustain Roberts charges agains
the Session mot against Mrs. Cooper and refe
the question back to it for reconsideration
voted to 80 sustain partially" whatever that ma
mean and voted To dismiss the charges in totc
The eight last mentioned represent the intelec
and culture of the body the other l2 consist of
or 4 ignorant narrow minded laymen like Rober,
himself and the remainder are clergymen with
out churches, or appreciable standing in the con
munity.
this pro,racted inquisition, which might be regart
ed rs farcical were it not so vital matter to til
victim anu 10 christianity through her. How 81
that the Church's worst enemies should be With
its own wails-that IN twelve disciples We find on
Judas
AT present the affair is in sfafn qno Mrs. Coops
conducts her class of nearly 500 ladies' and gentl,
men as usual in the auditorium of Calvary Churcl
which is one of the largest in San Francisco. A
the church next Session Roberts will be at han
with his charges, and will worry the members
the verge OF endurance. verdict will be rent
cred acquitting Mrs. Cooper. Roberts will the
summon the Session before the Presbytery VIII
may return the matter to the Session again, or di
miss the charges; in the latter event he can appe
to the synod. This is how of the cergyme
put 1t: believe him lRobertsl to be n man ,
appeal. lie Will appeal in any event unless
wins all, from this court to q higher, and to Il
highest in the land, and even to God himself Al
i God decides against him he will want anoth,
God"
Some good Christian people were amazed whe
the statement went abroad that Mrs. Cooper sa
abe would rather dwell in perdition with Ineerso
than In heaven with Roberts. Mrs. Cooper il
cocsin of Bob" lngersoll and knows his inn
life ~ she does her own She knows him AZ
kind husband, induleent father and possessed
generosity boundess as humanity needs. VIII
surprise can then be felt when under Robert
bood-thirsty bigoiry and prosecution she shou
beg the question and stung to the metaphor shou
say; IL heaven were peopled with men like 20
which cannot believe, and hell with men iii
lngersoll, would prefer 10 dwell with the latter
especially when We remember that during the pa
SIX years Roberts has been her bette noir, and
his iinpish Vaccinations making earth n he
In letter received from Mr.. Cooper by the Ia
steamer he informs me that during the eight da
OF the trial Mrs Cooper did not average more tn
two hours sleep per day. He adds "Of couI
u was severe trial to her physical strength b
the dear soul seemed to have strenQth gwen b
from the angel world" WILL CARSON
The "Critics