Evening journal., 1917-01-17
lcontinned from Flrst go

fenSe prominent MethOdist ulNine,
who. while unknown to many of this
conference at this time. it is said. will
be much better known before the trial
is finished
District superintendent Watt has
requested Dr. Easley and DR.. Dashiell
to act as counsel for the church. but
il is thought that many prominent
church officials not only of this con-
ference. but Of others. will be present
and assist in Strengthening out mat
ters.
Should the trial 90 against DR..
Cooke. it Is stated. he will take an
appeal TO tho Wilmington Annual
Conference II this body decides
against him. he still has the right
OF another appeal, but the last trial
will be decided by jury wholly COM
posed Of members from other confer
ences.
Presentation of the charges against
Pastor Cooke followed an attempt on
the part OF a number Of Methodist
IN nsters of the city, including Dr.
Dashiel aud Dr. Easley. to settle the
matters without the agency of a
church trial The ministers. IL ie
SAID, suggested that II Mr.. Cooke
would resign from the ministry. the
charges against him would be drop
ped The pastor thereupOn refused
and insisted that he be brought TO
trial
Just what hauppened at the confer
ole AN a q at a.
ments made by Dlr. Cooke regarding
the actions OF the ministers being
alleged to be wholly incorrect IN
form and substance IL is not denied
by the ministers nor Mr.. Cooke, how
ever, that the pastor WAS asked TO
resign the ministry and that he de-
clned TO do SO The charges against
him, Alr. Cooke insists are a tissue OF
lies"
Dr. Watt has said several times that
his only connection with the charges
against Mi. Cooke arises through his
Official position with the church. AS
district superintendent be explains,
IL Is necessary that they be presented
TO him and forwarded in turn to the
officials OF the conference. He also
is required under the church law TO
sign the charges before they are sub
mitted.
Regarding the charges presented
against him by Mr.. Cooke, for mall
administration aud malfeasance in Of
hce, DR.. Watt says:
The charges are not addressed to
me, but to the Wilmington Annual
Conference. l am not the Whining
ton Annual Conference and i will
keep the charges until the meeting
of that body and will deliver them
TO the proper body at the right time.
II is apparent to the public upon
reading the charges that this Is sim
ply a rehash of his letter to Bishop
Mcdowell There is nothing new In
il. Further than this / have nothinf
TO say at this time"
Because Of DR.. Watts connection of
cially with the churoh, he also has dc
cliued 70 sit at the Cooke trial. hut ha
requested the Rev. Dr. Wallen Wise. su
perintendent OF the Baston district, t
preside.
When asked today regarding IN
charges he had received, Air. Cooke said
Il am perfectly willing to answe
20 every charge made against me,
said Dr. Cooke, "snd ann willing an,
anxious to have every thing broush
out.
I'm my opinion this whole mattel
Is inspired by one man. the Rev
Robert Watt. and It is no longer ,
matter OF prosecution. but has resolv
ed itself into a case of persecution.
Il understand that DR. Watt ha,
( thought Il best 70 decline 10 presid,
at my trial i want him TO preside
/ and / want him TO act as a witness
for himself.
There Is one other man who. i an
convinced. IS responsible for a larg'
part OF the trouble In Wesley Church
and that Is the Rev. George Whit
| Dawson.
II DO not plan. as has been sug
gested, to bring additional charge
against any other members OF IN
Conference
Mr.. Cooke added that probably s
much time would be taken at the COZ
ference by the trial there would be III
tie time for any further charges. m
conference is scheduled 70 meet Mare
2s, and usually lasts about one wcel
The charges against DR.. Watt viii prOi
ably be heard az that time.
Referring to a statement alleged {
have been made by the Rev. Nj
Cooke at the conference of minister
in the ofice Of Mr.. Dsshiell regardin
having the ministers put in writin
their request for the resignation c
Mr.. Cooke, the pastor said this morn
ing that the statement accredited .
Mr.. Dashlell as Il appeared in tn
new spaper was correct in substance
although it apparently was change
in form probably by the reporter. MI
Cooke said.
The statement alleged TO have bee
made by Mr. Dashiell at the confer
ence was
Il insisted that If they had any OF
fer to make that they put IL in writ
ing. Al this point the Rev. Mr.. Dash
iell SAID: You want it in writing I
try and put us IN q hole al the tria
and I viii not give it, .
This is the statement MIR. Dashie
said was wholly incorrect in forr
and substance.
Charges presented TO the Rev. ID
Cooke follow:
3 The Methodist Episcopal Church vel
sus Rev. c.. A Cooke.
e Rev. Robert Watt. District Superb
tendent
II Dear Brothers.-We the under
signed members OF the Wilmingto
d Conference of the Methodist Episce
" pal Church, complain 10 you that tl
iy Rev G. a. Cooke, Pastor of Wesie
m church Ia the city OF Wilmington