Evening journal., 1917-01-17
Denies ANINUS
AGAINST pastor
Mr.. Johnson Says Brethren
of Mr.. Cooke Regret
Coming Trial
DR.. WATT FIXES IAN.
"a AS TRIAL DATE

The statement made by the Rev.
George A. Cooke, pastor Of Mesley
NJ. E. Church to he effect that In my
op Mon. this whole mater is inspired
by one man, the Rev. Robert Watt" Is
not strictly correct according to the
Rev. John l.. Johnson, pastor OF Scot.
NJ. E. Church, one of the slgners Of
the charges brought against Mr..
: Cooke, who insists the feeling that
Mr.. Cooke has not been conducting
himself in a manner BETTING a min
lister Of the Gospel as set for-h in the
charges, is widespread
! MT. Johnson this morning, when n
| terviewed by representative of THE
EVENING JOURNAL, said:
'Jnasmuch as this affair now is
/ in the regular channels Of ecclesias
tical procedure I feel the impropr ct
OF any further pubic discuss on, but
/ In justice 10 the church's supporters
la statement should be made concern
/ ing a last effort OF the di 5trict super
ntendent to save Brother Cooke from
/ he consequences OF his own acts.
'At the close Of the meeting Of the
Methodist preachers on Monday morn
ing in Grace Church, at the request
of the district superintendent, a num-
Der tarried to hear what was in his
heart.
"Dr. Watt manifest ed great feel
ing, at times being so choaked with
emotion that he was unable to speak
as he deplored the sad position in
which Brother Cooke would be placed
should the charges be sustained, yet
feeling his duty to God and the
church over which he had been given
executive authority, he still felt il
any way consistent with the interests
of the church could be found, that
now, even at this late hour he was
anxious to find that way.
"The brethren present felt that the
time had come when the church must
be protected. Brother Cooke knows
there is no personal animus in this
matter, but among his brethren there
is universal sadness because of this
sad and shameful occurrence. The
n1blic will have an opportunity to
draw its own conclusions when all
the evidence Is in. Brother Cooke
will be given a fair and impartial
trial and justice will be done to both
the church and the accused"
The church trial of Mr.. Cooke at As
bury NJ. f. Church, on January "a. as
decided upon, will be in the nature of a
preliminary trial, according to church
officials, the entire affair going auto
matically TO the annual conference in
event OF the charges being sustained.
At the coming trial the jury will con-
sist of not more than nine nor less than
five men, selected according to the
church discipline, by the district super
intendent. but as the superintendent in
this case is the Rev. DR.. Robert Watt
who has declined to preside at the trial
on account of counter charges brought
against him by Mr. Cooke, the jury will
he selected by the Rev. w. A. Wise, dis
trict superintendent of the Easton dis
'rict who will preside at the trial.
II the case is carried to the
annual conference which is sched-
uled to meet March 2S. the hear
inc will be before the conference or
before a special body. as the confer
ence NAV elect. The bishop or some
one selected by him being presiding
omcer. IF the charges are again sus-
tanned and an appeal is taken By the
defendant from the decision Of the
conference. the charges are again
heard by what is known as a Jud c.al
Conference. composed OF ministers an
pointed or elected as triers OF appeals
from the contiguous conferences. The
presiding officer at this trial NAV be
the bishop or some one appointed by
him.
Mr.. Cooke on receipt OF the lettsr
this morning from DR.. Watt. district
sunerinterdent fixing the date o. the
coming church trial for January "a.
Immediately replied. asking that the
day be set for January 81 and calling
attention to the rule Of the church
that the presiding officer shall decide
what constituted sufficient time before
holding the trial.
DR.. Watt. in his letter TO Pastor
Cook. stipulated that the committee,
or Jury which is to hear the trial, shall
come from outside the city of VIII
mington. desiring to give you every
advantage possible for a fair and inn
partial trial. The letters follow:
wilmington Del. Jan. Is. 1917.
. REV. G. A. Cooke,
| Wilmington, Delaware.
MY Dear Brother: By authority Of
our Book Of d sciDl,ne. see Paragraph
252, Section 1. I hereby summon you
to appear before a committee Of in
vestigation, composed OF your peers,
as provided In the law OF the church,
see Paragraph 252, Section ] to an
swer charges duly signed by your
brethren, a copy OF which viii be
placed in your hands. The da-e fixed
for the hearing is January "a 1917.
, "In view Of the fact that YOU allege
= bias on my part and. further. that
b under the law Of the church a charge
. of defamation must be signed by the
J person alleged to be defamed. and de-
string to give you every advantage.
have requested the Rev w. A. Wise to
preside az the trial and select the COM
, mittee making but one condition. viz.
that the committee must come from
outside the city OF Wilmington
"ROpFRT WATT.
District Superintendent
Specialize date fixed for this in
est'gation is January "a, a date in
view Of the fact that the witne sses
} are near, and you have said to the re-
porters that you we're ready, and 50
state, understand, TO others. that
will afford you ample time for prep
aration to meet the charges.
ROBERT WATT.7
"3l4 South Jackson stieeJ. Wilmington
Del. January IL, 1917.
''Rev Robert Watt, D. D., Wilmington
Del.
ain reply to yours Of January Is,