Evening journal., 1917-01-12
PASTOR COOKE To
face TRIAL; GETS
HIS notice TODAY
WeSley's Pastor Accused by
Ministers OF UnchriStian
Conduct and Defiance
DR.. WATT Turns Case
over TO DR.. W. A. Wise

Notice was served upon the Rev
George A. Cooke, pastor Of Wesle.
Nj. e. Church today by District Su
perintendent Robert Watt, to effec
that formal charges are TO be pre-
ferred against him and that he viii
have to face an investigation unde
the provisions Of the Discipline o
the Church.
This means Pastor Cooke will b.
tried before committee or a jury o
from five TO nine Methodist ministers
Dr. Watt, on his return late yes
erday from Chambersburg, Pa. re
ceived a formal notification from
three Methodist pastors that they de
sired to prefer charges against Pas.
tor Cooke and that the formal charges
and specifications are being prepared
and will be signed and filed within &
day or two.
The charges TO be preferred against
the militant pastor OF Wesley Church
are: Unchristian conduct, conduct
unbec0ming a minister of the church
Contumacy and defiance of church au.
fnority. The charges are among those
covered in the church discipline as
sufficient TO warrant an investigator
o. trial
All the charges grow out OF the
controversy revolving around the
trial of Clayton l.. Crew, n trustee of
Wesley Church, on charges brought
at the instigatlon OF Pastor Cooke.
After DR.. Watt received formal no
tice from three ministers that they
would prefer charges against Pastor
Cooke, DR.. Watt sene.a a registered let
Ger to Mr.. Cooke last night inform
ing him of that action.
Or Watt will ask the Rev. Or. vii
lam A Wise, district superintendent
OF EastOn district. TO preside at the
trial OF Pastor Cooke. DR.. Watt will
waive his disciplinary right to pre-
side because Of the fact that he has
been a target for some of Pastor
Cookies verbal shafts
District superintendent Wise viii
select the committee or jury OF min
listers to Investigate the charges
against Pastor Cooke Under the
Discipline the committee shall con-
sist Of rot less than five and not more
than nine Methodist ministers.
The trial will be held in Asbury
NJ r Church, and a date viii be de-
cided upon as soon as all formal pre-
liminaries are complied with. The
trial VIII be public it is announced.
and the formal charges and spec.fica-
tions. will be made public before the
trial
Under the Discipline OF the Church
committee OF investigation has
authority in event Of it considering
charges sustained. to suspend q
minister from the exercise Of minister
39l functions A suspended minister
can appeal to the session OF Confer
ence.
The Rev Mr. Cooke today said he
had received a letter from Dr. Watt,
district superintendent, notifying him
that charges will be preferred against
him. What the charges are or VINO
are his accusers Mr.. Cooke said he
could not tell, as no formal charges
had been made as yet
Appeal Crews Case.
Clayton l.. Crews appeal from his
conviction" ON q charge of defamation
by jury in Wesley Church on Mednes
day night viii he heard by triers ol
appeals on the night of January TO-
The appeal will be heard In Scott
Church, and it will be open 70 the pub
lie
District Superintendent Watt ha:
notified Pastor Cooke. of Wesley
Church, Mr.. Crew and all others directly
concerned IN tho case ~ the appeal hear
ing OF January 10.
nr. Watt wiI appoint nine laymer
from tho various Methodist churches oi
this citv 10 81 ms fricrs Of appenls I'd
n Jury e. hcHr Crews appeal
To Exclude Public Tonight.
The general pubic will be excluded
from tho church trial OF George r.
Thorpe former president OF the board
OF trustees OF Wesley Church. tonight
according to Pastor Cooke Trustees
OF the church and stewards and all
connected with the triGi will bo adj
Initted. Mr.. Cooke said today. He
added that he thought the church had
enough publicity I'm the matter aud
no newspaper representatives would
be permitted to attend the trial.