Evening journal., 1916-12-19
Minister CLOSES
VESLEYDOORS TO
GENERAL public
Pastors Three Members of
Each Church and Wesley
ties at Crew Hearings
MINISTERS CONDEMN TRIAL:
conference MAY REVIEW

At the meeting OF the Wilmington
Methodist Preachers Association yes
terday the trial OF Clayton l. Crew,
trustee OF Wesley NJ z. Church, on
charge OF causing dissensiOn In the
church was discussed and resolutions
relat ng to the trial we're adopted The
Rev. G. A. Cooke, pastor OF Wesley,
was present and took an active part
IN the discuss ons. DR.. Cooke was
the only minister who voted against
the resolutions adopted
A prominent Methodist minister
stated this morning that the meeting
had decided unanimously to not make
publ C the resolution at this time. He
stated that the resolutions were very
brief.
II is understood that the ministers
all expressed regret over the affair
md thought 1t was q great pity that
the case was allowed to come to pub
lie trial. The resolutions deplore the
trial being held. It ls sa 4.
One minister who attended the
meeting said Il was thought best, on
account OF the trial not being COM
pleted. not to give out anything for
publication at tn time but he thought
something Will be done after the trial
& settled.
The trial will be resumed tonight,
and Pastor Cooke may exclude from
The church oil persons excepting the
Jurors. counsel. the witness who is
.sstifying and the pastor and three
members from each Methodist church.
Interest has become clty-wide in the
rial Of Trustee Crew. and in all prob
ability the affair Will be brought for
mally before the next session OF VIII
mington Conference IN March for con-
hderation-
Pastor Cooke today issued the fol-
lowing statement:
Public Not Invited.
"The Rev. George A. Cooke,
pastor Of Wesley N. z. Church,
wishes to announce that the pub
lie is not invited 10 the trial OF
Clayton L. Crew which Will be
continued at Wesley Church this
evening at 7.s0 O'Clock.
Members OF Wesley Church are
invited. also pastors OF Methodist
churches in this community, with
three members whom they may
choose. Any others by special
permission OF Mr Cooke"
The Rev. T. r. Van Dyke. pastor OF
Mt. Salem NJ. 2. Church. Is another
clergyman summoned as witness by
Mr. Crew, the accused trustee. who
has been notified that he cannot at
tend the hearing this evening. Mr.
Van DYKE received his "oficlal notice"
yesterday morning, Il being signed by
the Rev. George A. Cooke, pastor OF
Wesley NJ. z. Church. and being word
cd similar to the notice received by
the Rev. George White Dawson, pastor
OF AsbVry NJ. z. Church.
Mr.. Van Dyke said this morning
that while he had been summoned
as a witness for the defense. he In
tended 10 ascertain from his attorney
IL he should attend, as. he did not care
to make any scene, the whole case
being shameful he added.
The Withdrawing Of the privilege
Of attending the trial TO Mr.. Van Dyke
did not come as a surprise, however,
as Mr.. Van Dyke on Thursday night
of last week took exception 10 a state
ment made by the Rev. Mr.. Cooke.
This was when Mr.. Cooke. referr 'ng
TO those who applauded a statement
made by Mrs. Ella Jones, the depOsed
witness said: There appear to be a
number Of Russell followers pres
ent."
Mr.. Van Dyke informed Mr.. Cooke
that those who had applsuded were
not 'Russellites," but people who
we're in sympathy with Mrs Jones.
Henry r. Isaacs. counsel for the
church. made the following statement
to a representative OF THE EVENING
CONTINUED on Page Twenty-four.l