New-York tribune., 1905-06-18
FIND MINISTER'S GUILTY:
Stock Gambling the Charge-Dela-
,care CIergymen Defendants.
fBY TELEGRAPH 70 rHE rr1srvs.


Buffalo. June 17-Bishop Joseph z -sFa-- =
the Methodist Church, gave out the decision
here this evening of the judicial conference COM
pleted yesterday in New-York City IN the cases
Of the Rev. DR.. W T. Corkran and the Rev c
: Baker both Of the Wilmington t12aL5 tc.isss
ence Bishop Berry said that the judicial ooli
ference sustained the decision Of the Whining
ton Conference which found the two ministers
guilty of stock gambling. Bishop Berry also
declared tina. this decision Of the judicial con-
ference means that the Methodist Church has
placed its ban or all stock gambling. and that
the decision will serve as Il warning to ali Meth
odist ministers who may BE- ct Gagged III similar
prao tees. if there are eny. BishoD Berry said.
We considered this case eo-inportant that Ne
maintained the Utmost secrecy Throughout tnR
trial and in all the details lsacipg 10 the IFlai,
but now that the decisioa - made I am Wiltins
that the public shoCd know u ~ order tn9t
there may 0e g III understanding OI Just V4ls'
the Methodist Church stancs II such matters
1r. CorkTa2 and Mr. Baker, ot TIE :" "llIlissztP.'
Conference wee aTraisned nstoTe the Wi'if'isls-
ton Conference on char ges q business fresCIdi-
fties consisting IN buying slocz MARGINS a.G
selling mining ard eil stec1 that Vers foI!la ~
be practically worthless. 1hty were arE3lshsu
before the Wilmington Con-ereIscs II Atarch CT
this wear. Both were co1Vic1eI-
Dr. Corkran was SUSPENDED IRON az ''''-i-s 80,
tarfaI duties and functions :or one yer, an
Mr. Baker was deposed from the mi -stTy 6Ct
OF them took appeals from tts escs-oil t-hq lI
court which I have been holding IN New or
was Eeld to try TIE appeals II was WAT y
call . judicial conference, ana w spent To-
4avs over the two cases. Each c2Se was CON
tested stubPo-Hiy on both sides, and M " 4
verdict was reached Friday afternoon
Z The action OF Wilmington Con- ference IN tt@
case Of Dr.. CO-kran was sustained ana the pSlt
atty On Mr.. Baker was reduced from eZpnisio
to SUSPENSION for one year. the same as Niis
done with Dr.. Corkran. Both were guilty o. tne
same thing, and we thousht II was Only iatr %
make the penalty the same III each case
The judicial conference took the position t-ls.-
buying stock margins was gambling 50 u
was regarded by the conference is an ifnnlo-
ralty. Neither minister can preach nor per
form any ministerial duty before the year IS up
Ihey both confess that they acted il an unmill-
isteriaI manner hence the Church vas dlspose1
/ to be little lenfent with thcin-
/ I would Ike 70 have 1t understood distlilcssy
that in arriving at the decision which was made
/ in these cases the Methodist Church makes z
distinction oety cen legitimate dealings IN ie2ltI-
mate stocks and dealing in stocks on margins
! where the buyers. never expect to see the goods
/ tley buy and where the sellers never expect -
deliver any goods. In other words, the Church Is
| now on record having placed its ban upon
such stock dealings as, for example. are carried
/ on by bucket shops but finds no fault with the
! dealings in stock where the purchases and sales
/ are outright and made in good faith. Where ac-
| tua deliveries Of v-ares made. il cannot De
| regarded as gambling. but buying and selling
| stocks margins is clearly and distinctly
gambling and cannot be sanctioned by the Meth
| odist Church.
( According to Bishop Berry. both DR.. Corkran
and Mr. Baker were prominent and influential
men of the State of Delaware. and each of them
/ heretofore had borne an excellent reputation.
! Mr.. Baker was pastor Of the Asbury Church, In
I Wilmington. ard DR.. Corkran was pastor Of the
/ leading Methodist Church in Georgetown IL IS
known that If the judicial conference had de-
/ cided in favor OF the men they would hays been
renstated forthwith in their home churches, and
would have preached in them tomorrow