The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
FRIENDS Of
THE MINISTER
LOUDLY PROTEST
DR.. Cookies Resigna-
ton Causes a Storm.
THE coNGREGATIoN DIVIDED
SOME THREATEN TO GIVE UP
THEIR PEWS.
The Minister Has Not as Yet Pre-
sented His Requested Resig-
nation to the Vestry of
the Church.
THE CONGREGATION DIVIDED
SOME THREATEN TO GIVE UP
THEIR PEWS.

Chaos reigns among the congregation
of the Trinity Episcopal Church. The ac-
tion of the vestry in requesting the Rev
Henry E. Cooke to resign the rectorship
of the church has divided the congrega-
ton into two factions and a merry war
is on. The friends of the minister are
highly incensed over the Vestry's action
and many of them have already given up
their pews.
One of the ladies who maintains lofty
position in the affairs of the church is
the authority for the statement that the
friends of the Rev. Mr.. Cooke have been
seriously thinking of calling an indigna-
uon meeting to protest against his resig
nation and the vestry's request that it
should be forthcoming. Services will be
held in the church on Monday evening
and should the supporters of the minis
ter decide to make an open protest
against the vestry's action in all proba-
bility the matter will be brought to a
focus there and then.
There seems to be little or nothing pro
or con in the Squabble that borders on
scandal. Though the members of the YES
try are reluctant TO discuss their action
or divulge the reasons which prompted
them TO request their minister to pre-
sent his resignation, the facts are gener-
ally known.
Ever since the Rev. Mr.. Cooke assumed
the responsibility of the pulpit and af-
fairs of the Trinity Episcopal Church
there has been more or less opposition to
his course on the part of the vestry and
many other prominent and wealthy mem
bers, of the congregation. On the other
hand, the reverend gentleman succeeded
in winning the admiration and hearty
support of many of the workers of the
parish. This divided the congregation
One of the vestry in defending their ac-
ton to a friend stated that during the
last year there has been a vast falling
off in the attendance at the church and
a decrease in the, yearly receipts of sew
eral thousand dollars This he claimed
was due to the Rev. Mr.. Cookies sermons
and voice. which he claimed. was weak
and wholly inadequate to fill the church.
Other modern ideas which the minister
introduced into the services were dis
tasteful to the Vestry, so they claim and
for that reason they decided to request
mis- resignation.
The minister still refuses to discuss the
s;tua tion,, but his friends are all garru-
lously indignant. and some of them have
gone so far as to VOW that they would
never again enter the doors of Trinity
Church If DR.. Cookies resignation is ac-
cepted by the vestry.
IF they do not rescind their action I
will never put my foot inside the church
doors, again" said prominent and
church worker for years. THE Rev. Mr..
Cooke has worked heart and soul to make
matters run along smoothly, and nobody
could entertain any just criticisms to his
course. These matters, however, are del
icate and private affairs and do not feel
at liberty to discuss them too freely"
Many friends of DR.. Cooke are inclined
to believe that social affairs may have
had a potent bearing on the vestrys ac-
ton. While DR.. Cooke is a member of
a family whose social sway in the East
was never questioned. the minister did
not cater particularly to the bright satel-
lites of local society who happened to be
members of his flock. These who have
arrayed themselves on the side of the
minister state that during his regime DR..
Cooke assisted more than one lowly mem
Der of his flock to a position in church
affairs where they could rub shoulders
with the elite.
This IS believed to have promulgated a
feeling of opposition among a certain
class, and the friends of DR.. Cooke are
responsible for the belief that it played no
small part in the present trouble.