Evening journal., 1917-01-17

Il own UI DTtIGIEAnA CnITEc
against c. L. Crew and Mr. Thorp; he
knowing such conduct TO be dupiiolty
and unbecoming minister OF the
Gospel
8. Said c.. A. Cooke when allud
ing TO certain paper. a copy Of which
was sent to the district superintendent
said: "that paper is as false as hell"
he knowing the same to be grossly
unministerlal.
G. Said G. A. Cooke on Sabbath.
September II, 1916. prior to the Sec
ond Quarterly Conference. did In his
pulpit publicly argue for his return
as pastor and then submitted the
same to vote OF the congregation.
tho same being conduct unbecoming a
minister OF the NJ. f. Church.
z. Said Q. A. Cooke did from time
to time send 20 his district superin
tendent letters abusive and insulting.
and containing threats, he knowing
the same 20 be conduct unbecoming
a minister OF the Gospel.
8. Said G. A. Cooke in his report
to the Second Quarterly Conference,
or in connection Herewith. did brand
by name three Of his predecessors.
viz, Revs. T. R. VanDyke, George W.
Dawson and T. F. Beauchamp, with
being cowardly in that they knew
OF the heretical conditions in Wesley
Church but did not seek to correct
them, he knowing the same to be con-
duct unbecoming minister Of the
Gospel
Said @. A. Cooke did threaten GER
tain officials. viz. Brothers Manley
and Grow. ct al. that unless they took
their names off a paper protesting
Z 49, u aar
would be decapitated officially. or
words TO that effect. he knowing the
same to be conduct unbecoming a
minister Of the Gospel
10 Said @. A. Cooke did at vari-
Gus times approach certain members
and precipitate disturbances with
them; and In one case, viz. that OF
Mrs Thorpe. say to her: 'You have
done we'll 10 have lived with him
Cmeaning her husband) for 25 years, -
he knowing the same to be conduct
unbecoming a minister OF the Gospel.
II Said G. A. Cooke did from time
to time air In the press of the city the
troubles in his own congregation, TO
the injury and aferont Of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church and the cause
Of Christ he knowing the same to
be conduct unbecoming a minister of
the Gospel.
10 said G. A. Cooke did on De-
cember S1st. the last Sabbath OF the
year. issue from his pulpit a prblic
challenge to certain persons, viz, the
Rev. @. w. Dawson, the Editor OF
the Evening Journal. and others, to
come to his church on prayer meet
ing night, to debate with him alleged
false reports they were alleged to
have circulated concerning said
Cooke. Such meeting was actually
held, the public ane newspaper re-
porters were invited. and a voiumin-
Gus statement given out by said Cooke
for publication, he knowing the same
to be conduct unbecoming a minis
ter Of the Methodist Episcopal
| Church.
10 General beliigerency has been
characteristic of his entire ministerial
career.
IA In a trial brought against c. L
Crew. a former member of Wesley NJ
| +. Church. to which contention said
@. A. Cooke was a party, he did
against prescription Of law. and pro-
test of counsel, sit as Judge. After
the committee, chosen from Other
Methodist Churches Of the city, had
| pronounced a unanimous verdict OF
not guilty, and within three weeks
said Cooke did again cite Mr.. Crew
| to trial, on a new charge, said Cookies
bias and purpose in the second triai
/ being revealed by statements pub
! lished IN the press OF the city imme-
| diately after the first hearing and by
! method Of conducting the second
trial. Postponement was denied
when requested on account Of insuffi.
Client time for preparation. Accused
was also denied right Of counsel. said
! Cooke claiming the right to appoint
/ counsel. He then arbitrarily assum.
! cd the presidency Of the court, ap.
/ pointed himself counsel for the prose.
/ cution. and at a certain stage in ths
/ proceedings announced that he would
take the character OF a witness. Thii
gave him the threefold character ot
4 judge. prosecutor and witness. SaiC
! Cooke did further address the jury
In direct violation OF Methodist Law
and Usage, most bitterly arraIgninl
and characterizing the defendant
Said Cooke, having previously select
ed the committee from among tn
partizans OF his own church. the de
fendant was helpless. and was thu
found guilty and expelled from tn
church. In another legal actioi
against George F. Thorpe, forme
member OF Wesley NJ. z. Church
held two days later. the same genera
course as above was pursued, will
the addition that the cause was hear,
{ before a committee OF only FIVE, thu
husbands Of three members of which
were witnesses against the accused
In this perhaps unprecedented man
ner, Mr.. Thorpe was condemned ant
expelled from our church.
Charge four: Contumacy or De
fance OF ty-SpecifcationS:
I. Said G. A. Cooke in the second
quarterly conference held in Wesle!
Church September 10. 1915. in thl
presence of the Rev. j. Howard Ora,
and others did defy in an abusiv
! manner the authority of the distric
[ superintendent Cwhen said district su
perintendent, Rev Robert Watt. II
answer 10 a question Of one Georg
r Pierce as 70 whether he was a mem
5 Der. cited par. SO, Disc. OF 1870 say
2 ing: II am the one to say who is
d member OF this church." OF words I
q that effect, he knowing the same {
be subversive Of Methodist law an
e usage.
?. Said G. A. Cooke after the sec
ond quarterly conference IN a letter I
the district superintendent. Rev. Rot
), ert Watt. Of date Of September q
: 1916, did use abusive language an
!. reiterate his defiance OF the authorit
Of said district superintendent. h
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