Evening journal., 1917-01-27
PASTOR
Will FIGHT TG
Retain PULPIT
(Continued from First Pagel

Continued from First Page)
we feel It is our duty 10 protect our
selves. That is the reason we have
decided to take action" he said.
The Rev. DR.. Robert Watt, district
superintendent, said this morning
that the church has taken action 70
protect itself.
Il cannot say anything more now"
said DR.. Watt. THAT covers every
thing"
Following the receipt Of notice
from the Rev. DR.. w. A. Wise, presid-
ing officer at the court OF investiga-
ton, which heard charges against
Pastor Cooke and suspended him I'M
I'll the next annual conference on the
charge Of defamation, Pastor Coke
late yesterday afternoon announced
that he would flight the case to the
end"
Il believe the court which tried me
was not a legal one according to the
Methodist Discipline, and I wish to
have a decision rendered in my case
by the civil courts Of this State.
Il shall preach from the pulpit Of
Wesley NJ D. Church Sunday morn
ing. and the Rev. Adam Stengle, who
has been appointed by DR.. Watt to
succeed me. will be permitted TO as
sist in the service, II he desires to
do So" he said.
Mr.. Cooke has announced as his
subject for Sunday, "An Appeal TO
Caesar" He said he intended to make
a civil test OF his rights. "I have re-
tained a lawyer" he said, land pro-
pose to see this matter through. II
they have me arrested I shall imme-
diately make arrangements for my re-
lease and will then deliver my ser
mon. There will be some things in my
sermon that think the public should
know and propose to tell them. II
I lose this fight after carrying IL
through the courts. propose to start
an Independent Methodist Church
here"
The announcement to Pastor Cooke
OF the action of the investigating COM
mittee follows:
Wilmington, Del, Jan. %, 1917.
Rev. George A Cooke, Wilmington.
Delaware:
~My Dear Brother-Pursuant to
the findings of the Investigating Com
mittee in the matter OF the complaints
Of the church against you. they hav-
ing sustained by unanimous vote.
Charge defamation, by virtue Of
the duty imposed upon the under
signed as chairman of the above
mentioned committee, / hereby notify
you that you stand suspended from
all ministerial services and church
privileges until the next session OF
the Wilmington Annual Conference.
Respectfully,
"W. A. Wise, Chairman
Pastor Cooke has given out the follow
ing for publication regarding his hear
ingi
an regard TO the investigation con
Quoted in Asbury NJ. f Church I hav'
only few words TO say;
''If the ecclesiastical SQUIRT by which
was convicted had been properly cOnsti
tuted and conducted fairly should hav
respected It's authority during the tria
and should now submit without question
10 It's decision.
''By the plain wording Of the law o
| the church that court was not properl'
constituted. NY position during tn
trial was that the court itself was VIC
lating the discipline and hence wa
without jurisdiction.
'I also made a motion at the be
ginning OF the trial that the entire
bill Of charges be thrown out on &C
count of malicious prosecution which
was prepared to prove TO the court
MY motion was denied.
Il was disqualified as a witness n
NV own behalf Of account OF the ex
preston OF my honest opinion in ref
erence TO the law OF the church.
For these reasons I cannot con
sistently recognize the validity OF the
verdict, nor can I comply with the OF