Evening journal., 1917-02-03
Holds UP DECISION
IN DR.. COOKE Case
Judge Churchman Desires
Two Weeks in Which to
Review the Evidence
HOPES FOR PEACE
IN WESLEY CHURCH

ecclesiastical court, the Rev. George
A. Cooke, suspended pastor OF Wesley
NJ. Z. Church. ended his argument in
City Court this morning on charges
Of interruptlng, disturbing and mo-
testing a religious meeting and will
full trespass. after ne had talked an
hour ana a half.
Breaking down under the strain OF
the trial, which consumed more than
nine hours OF the last three days.
tears trickled down the preachers
face as he concluded his argument.
He told Of his father and three broth
ers being engaged in the ministry
and Of his two sons growing into
manhood and that until this time he
had had no trouble IN the church Of
his choice in which he said he at all
times was interested and did his
solemn duty toward Judge Church
man deferred his decision in the case
for two weeks.
At the close OF DR.. Cookies argu-
ment, Assistant City Solicitor Lynn
said that It was an unpleasant matter
to have TO try DR.. Cooke, but that
he had proposed to him that II he
would give his word not to NEEDLE in
the affairs of Wesley ChuFch. the
charges would not be pressed against
him. This. said Mr.. Lynn, the de-
PENDANT refused 20 do
Mr. Lynn said further that the con-
troversy in the church could have
/ been conducted more privately, but
/ that DR. Cooke had transgressed both
d hA Ia % 4I.a h. Hnf 20
] Mr. Lynn added that Il was desired
/ by the oomplainants that no fine
4 should be placed upon the defend
ant. "They don't wish him 20 pay a
\ fine or serve a jail sentence; they
only wish him to obey the laws OF the
church" Mr. Lynn said.
Judge Churchman then read the
following statement:
Gentlemen: I have very carefully
! listened TO the evidence I'm these
cases. / shall review the evidence
when transcribed by the stenographer
with the care and deliberation, with
the gravity and importance the cases
demand and hand down a written
opinion at the earliest time possible.
consistent with the performance of
my other duties
"ln the meantime I trust the status
quo will be preserved
1.-THE Christian religion is a part OF
the law Of this State.
THE Constitution OF this State. In
Article 1, Section /, Of the Bill OF
Rights reads:
Although it is the duty Of al
men frequently to assemble togethe'
for the public worship Of Almight!
God; and piety and morality on whicl
the prosperity of communities de
= ponds, are hereby promoted; yet n
Z man shall or ought to be cOmpelle
Y 70 attend any religious worship. {
4 contribute TO the erection or supper
of any place of worship. or to tn
! maintenance OF any ministry, agains
4 his own free win and consent: and m
4 power shall or ought TO be vested II
b or assumed by any magistrate tina
shall in any case interfere with, o
/ in any manner control the rights o
, conscience. in the free exercise OF re
, ligious worship. nor a preference
, given by law to any religious societies
= denominations or modes OF worship
'In order that the members OF Yves
+ ley Church may perform the duty en-
! Joined upon them by the constitution
to assemble together for the public
| worship OF Almighty Cod and in or
! der that they may enjoy freedom t
- exercise religious worship, and In or
= der that the spirit OF our institution
may be preserved, hope that all per
sons interested In the causes befori
the court may refrain from any mani
festations OF opinion OF the unfortu
nate troubles OF that church. and tina
no act shall be done by either one o
the clergy or any OF the laity whicl
may even tend to violate the laws o
. this State or the spirit Of our religion
> institutions. so that all people VIII
} wish may safely attend Wesle
Church on the belief that services vii
be conducted as becomes the House o
| God"
District superintendent Watt wa
again called TO the stand today b.
the compliments to testify in re
buttal to the defense offered by DI
Cooke yesterday. He explained tn
nature OF the preliminary hearing an
suspension OF DR.. Cooke. Judg
Churchman declined 10 permit Dl
: Watt to go into a detailed statemen
, OF the Crew trial.
In the closing arguments Assistan
- City Solicitor Lynn contended Paste
= Cooke was guilty OF the charges b
4 his actions. On the other hand, ID
4 Cooke commended, in his closing plei
4 that he had a right, even II suspended
to go into the church, and he argue
Il he had caused no disturbance.
4 Had Trouble Elsewhere.
: Much OF yesterday afternoons Sc
: sion Of the court was consumed b
the testimony Of DR.. Cooke For
n few minutes a newspaperman test
y fed as to an assertion of Charles
4 Crew to him that II DR.. Cooke preac
y ed in the church on last Sunda
. morning, he would be Immediately a
: rested. Mr. Crew said TO him. ''W
: viii give DR.. Cooke all the law
: wants." witness testified.
- The career Of DR.. Cooke as a mi
lister was gone into by the complai
y ants. In cross-examination DR.. Cool
stated that he had been a member
: the Wilmington NJ. Il. Conference f
:, seven years; the New York Confe
= ence for two years; the Troy COME
- ence for two years; the New EnglaI
- Conference for ak years. and Il
~ Minnesota Conference for seve
ID years.
terial trouble in all these conference
have you not2" Assistant City Soli'
tor Lynn asked.
n mo; the trouble was with d
81 other ministers" the witness answ'
D. ed. Il made trouble for them-th
of 80 considered"
81 Were YOU not regarded as