Evening journal., 1916-03-31
Drs. Hoffecker and Watt
60 TO General Conference
lcontinued from First Pagel


of Easton district; d. J. Givan and F.
n. Faulkner, Of Salisbury district.
Il was learned that the canvass OF
the second ballot shows DR.. Stephen
son TO be elected. although no official
announcement will be made until
after 23O o'clock.
Pastor Cookies Statement.
A few minutes after Conference
opened this morning. the Rev. George
A. Cooke, pastor of Wesley Church.
Wilmington who was silenced yester-
day when he interrupted a speech OF
the Rev. DR. George p. Mains, of the
Book Concern, made an explanation
and offered to apologize if he had
done anything wrong Pastor Cooke
said:
Rising to a question Of privilege.
feel there is a matter involving my
self and maybe the Conference"
Hear Brother Cooke" announced
the Bishop.
Il do not believe any of the brethren
will ascuse me Of being thin-skin-
ned continued Pastor Cooke, but
there is a limit to which a man can
endure and beyond which they should
not submit
Il feel a great injustice has been
done me by what was said by the
/ Bishop yesterday and by the public
press reports going broadcast with
the impression that It was necessary
| for the Bishop TO rcprimand me and
! command me TO sit down, and that
: I had done something In breach oil
/ parliamentary courtesy.
Il do not believe there is a man
among you who can say you have
seen anything in my life or action that
was not that Of a Christian man.
Pastor Cooke explained that whcr
the special order was deferred and
DR. George r Mains. Of the Book
Concern, was permitted 10 speak. nc
thought he would sneak briefly and
/ then present the Book Concern divi-
dend. OR Mains. however went
on TO give an address beyond that
/ possibly interesting enough said
/ Pastor Cooke. "and ! gave him fifteen
minutes. when ] interrupted him.
merely wanted 10 draw out what was
in his mind as TO how long he would
continue. II did anything wrong
J will apologize TO the Conference
| Evidently there was some feeling in
favor OF the Bishops attitude, iudg-
/ ing from the applause Pastor
Cooke said he would like to hear from
the Bishop about il.
"The incident is closed. Brother
said the Bishop. 81 do not think il
for the good of the Conference for
you. or myself to project into this
! session an unpleasant incident of yes
terday."
II do not think you meant to wronq
me- although that impression may
have gone out remarked Pastor
Cooke.
"As presiding officer. not as an i'm
dividual l meant merely TO perform
my parliamentary duty" said tho
Bishop "The interruption of 3
speaker who had been given permits.
aion TO speak did not seem to me I,
be in harmony with the decorum o
the body That closed the Incl
dent
Purse for Dr. Stephenson.
District Superintendent r. X Stl
phenson. OF Dover district. read HI
report OF an exceedingly successft
year He told among other things q
1.743 conversions on the district an
POS persons Joined on probation
When he finished he was applaude
greatly.
There is a little item the brethrei
of your district have delegated to m
because they realize I'm somewhat il
practice in these matters" said tn
/ Bishop. "They are TO a man sorr
that under the economy Of the churcl
your term as superintendent will en-
with this Conference. think th'
same is true OF every layman in ever
church OF your district.
"I do not feel so kindly toward yo
as I might. I'm drawn naturally {
preachers who give me the leas
trouble. You are giving me grea
trouble. It grows out of the fact tina
so many churches insist on havin
YOU next year I do not know whs
I'm going to do. but I'm going to leay
. this Conference with the unfriendl
ness OF some of the churches an
! brethren because OF my inability
= appoint you to more than one church
oil Inc BISHOP sdiu ne hdu peeh NnoM
p in privacy. 80 refer to the superintei
\ dent as Bob" Stephenson. 1T soun'
O good" interjected Or. Stephenson.
n your friends think a whole lot
v you because of the wealth of affectiC
e the members Of Conference feel {
ward you.' said the Bishop. as he pr
T. scented a purse OF S100 in gold to Il
j. Stephenson. "This coin. bright shi
Z. ing and pure. is symbolic OF your hea
s and life" added the Bishop.
d Dr. Stephenson. his voice chok
It and eyes brimming with tears. made
J. speech in reply. He told OF his ear