Smyrna times., 1909-11-10
BAKER WITHDRAWS FROM
CONFERENCE UNDER FIRE
SERIOUS CHARGES PREFERRED
AGAINST ST. MlCHELS MINISTER
Rev. r. x. Stephenson Visits ST.
MIchaes on Sunday and Declares
Pulpit tVacant-Echo of Old Trial

MlChaelS on sunday and Declares
Pulpit Vacant-Echo of Old Trial
Delaware Methodism has lost
another minister. Rev. Charles S.
Baker, formerly Presiding Elder and
later pastor of the M. E. Church at
St. Michael's Md, has withdrawn
from the ministry and membership of
the Methodist Church, under charges
of imprudent and unministerial con-
duct. These charges are in part
practically the same as were those
preferred against him in 1904, when
he was convicted by an ecclesiastical
court, the Select Committee of Fif-
teen, and sentenced to suspension for
one year. At that time, the charges
against DIR. Baker were based on
stock transactions by which it was
shown that many people had lost
money, and he was counselled to ego
thy way and sin no more" After the
expiration of his year of pennance,
he was received back into the church
and assigned to station DIR. Baker
departed from st. Michaels last Wed
nesday, presumably for New York,
and during his absence his family has
been busily engaged in packing their
household goods at the parsonage pre-
paratory to their removal to Balti-
more, where they will reside. The
future plans of DIR. Baker are un-
known. In connection with his with
drawal under grave charges on Fri
day last, District Superintendent R.
K. Stephenson, of Smyrna, who filled
the pulpit last Sunday, gave brief
history of the affair to the congrega-
tion at the conclusion of Sunday NOR
ning's service.
Charges More Serious Than Before
1t is understood however that the
present charges are based partly upon
his alleged dealings in stocks anC
margins and partly because of Salleg.
ed unpaid debts contracted in anC
around St. Michael S. AS was hi:
du ty in such cases, DIR. Stephenson
the district superintendent, when the
charges reached him in proper manner
and form, summoned a district inves
tigating committee and the result O.
their finding sustained all the charges
Superintendent Stephenson hencefOrtl
declared the pulpit vacant. 1t will
be remembered that in 1904 Whining
ton Conference was shaken from en-
to end by charges against Baker fo
practically the same thing as describ
ed in the first charge of the presen
bill, and which resulted in his tria
followed his conviction, an
sentence to one years suspension fror
pastoral relations.
Echo of the 8aker4Corkran Trial
Rev. DR.. Wilbur F. Corkran wa
found guilty of the same charge q
that time. The trial of DR.. Bake
and DR.. Corka,; was one of the mos
interesting the Wilmington Confer
ence ever has had. The first hearing
conducted before a committee of mil
listers, was held in Union Churcl
Wilmington, in June, 1904, with Pre-;
iding Elder A. S. Mowbray presiding
1t was a secret session. 1t resulte
in the suspension of the two ministe
until the conference session in Graz
Church, Wilmington, in March, 100
The verdict of the conference W;
that DR.. Corkran be suspended for
year and DIR. Baker deposed from ii
ministry. DR.. Baker, however, ca
ried an appeal to a court of mini
ters, and his sentence was change
to suspension for one year. the sam
as DIR. Corkran received. They r
sumed their ministerial duties at Il
end of the year, in March, 1906. D.
Baker has been one of the best know
ministers of the conference, and hi
been Presiding Elder and also a del
gate to the General Conference. !
also was pastor of Asbury Church
Wilmington for a year. After t
expiration of his sentence DR.. Bak
returned to his charge.