The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-03
ELoPING PASTOR.
Rev. Dr. Cooke Deserts Wife for Young
 Girl.

Hampstead L. T., May 1.-Two let ters received here caused the vestry of St, Georges Episcopal church to hold Ia hurried meeting last night at the home of August Belmont, the senior warden. These letters involved the Rev. Jere Knoke Cook, the rector of the church. He is a married man. One of the letters was received by the grandmother of Miss Floretta Whaley, an orphan, who on her fathers death bed was left to the Rev. Mir. Cook S care. Miss Whaley is seventeen years old. When she is year older she will receive $1O.OOO.
 Mrs. Mary W. Whaley said yesterday that her granddaughter had eloped with the rector. She said that the girl had sent her letter, in which she said that although she loved her glsaamoth- CT and sister, her attachment for MT. Cook was greater, and that when the letter reached its destination the couple would be out of the country.
 The second letter was received from Miss Whaley by one of her girl friends Miss Whaley went to Manhattan sever- al days ago on a visit and to buy clothes. She was expected home Tues day night. Mrs. Whaley became alarm I ed when she did not return and began an investigation, which ended when a letter was received by her. This let te" was addressed from Jersey City where it had been mailed. Miss Wha- ley did not visit the places she said l would.
 1 The Rex MT. Cook married Miss Ma tilda Clark of Hartford, Conn, few years ago. He graduated from the Pennsylvania college and from courses at the Berkeley divinity school ant Yale university. At his ordination he was assigned to the rectorship of Chrlst church in East Haven, Conn. where he remained about year and half He is thirty-fve years old. Mrs. Cool went to Hartford several days ago. Mr Cook was curate at Grace church, Bal. Itinlore, before he received a call tc 1 Hampstead. He has built a parisE house and raised a large sum to have the church remodelled inside and out. side. He but recently succeeded ir having large sum raised for the i'm provement of the Sunday school build ling. In all he has collected nearly $10, O0O. Among the members of the con gregation of St. Georges church art August Belmont, H. Van Rensselaer, | Kennedy, MT. and Mrs Theodore Have Emeyer, Mrs. Sidney Dillon Ripley anC H. H. Hartman. Many of the mem bers of the Meadowbrook club are at tendants at the church, which is one O. the oldest in this country.
 r The wardens are August Belmon and Adam Seabury, and the vestryme1 are B. V. Gloves. Birdsall Post. c. F Norton, B, R. Carman, J. W. B. Van
 dewater and George w. Earle.
 ''The vestry is overwhelmed by tn, unexpected calamity" said Bishop Bur gess, "and is at a loss to account for 1t It is inclined to the belief that Dr Cook cannot be of sound mind, Thre years ago with Mrs. Cook and a part, of Sunday school children, he was in trolley car collision and he has been ; nervous wreck ever since. He obtain cd leave of absence year ago, went t Europe to recuperate but his condition
 sirce his return has been poor. Tn | church and it's property are in the bes of condition. Funds are intact. Tn
 vestry will take immediate steps to fl
 the vacancy caused by the departur
 of MT. Cook"