Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-03-30
COOKE ON
TRIAL; Decline
TO TRY DR.. WATT
lContinucd from First Page

Continued from First Page)
cision on the appeals Of the Rev. Mr..
Cooke from Dr. Watts rulings at
Wesley quarterly conference. His de-
cision sustained the decisions of DR..
Watt in three Of the four appeals. and
reversed his decision on the fourth
point, that which appealed from his
decision that a church could not de-
pose stewards at any time other than
sessions of the quarterly conference.
The bishop ruled that a church, when
real cause was shown, could dismiss
a steward at any time.
Bishop Mcdowell announced his dccis.
ion upon the Rev Mr. Cookies appeals
from DR.. Watts rulings in open session
today. The composition and actions of
the committee of investigation and the
action of Dr. Watt i'm arranging for its
appointment were declared valid
The text of an appeal for a decision
or the bishop recited the points in
yolvcd and summarized the entire
matter as follows;
I'VE therefore ask for a ruling from
the presiding bishop as to the ques.
ton raised viz. the validity of the
trial court; in other words, was the
court that tried and suspended the
Rev. G. A. Cooke valid and were its
findings valid and binding"
This appeal was signed by W A.
Wise, president, and William r. Now
bray, secretary Of the committee.
Committees Finding Valid.
The decision of The bishop follows.
THE bishop is Of the opinion that
the ruling Of the chairman was in full
accord with our law and usage; that
the committee as organized was valid
and competent to act in the case. anil
that the findings of the committee
were valid and binding"
All this morning the trial Of the
Rev Mr.. Cooke, before the select
number. continued in the Junior Me
chanics' Hall. The prosecution rest
ed on the charge of defamation, after
the record OF the committee OF in
vestigation. on this charge. had been
read. There was no evidence taken
oher than TO introduce several news
paper clippings.
This afternoon the trial board will
take up the charge Of ministerial
conduct. Several witnesses in behalf
Of DR.. Cooke will be called during the
afternoon.
While the air is full Of rumors re-
garding the trial. the trial board is
Sitting tight" and giving out neither
information nor intimation, and ID,
Cooke is equally silent.
Indications early this afternoon
tend to confirm the fact that the
Cooke hearing will be long drawn out.
Pastor Cooke will require the best
part Of a week. according TO reports
for the presentation OF his case. I'm
less some steps are taken TO shut off
this threatened flow OF testimony. the
Conference will continue to an I'M
precedented limit
Laymen Also Meet.
While the Ministerial Conference wa
in session in the auditorium of tn
church today, the annual session of tn
| Laymen's Association was held in tn
/ basement. Joseph Mallalieu, of Milling
| ton, Md. conducted the devotional ser
vices. W. o. HofIecker presided an,
Clarence A. Short, of Newark, was sec
rotary. Seventy delegates were present
which was the highest number ever il
attendance. Brief addresses were made
by the Revs. +. G.. Prettyman, W. W
Davis, of Baltimore, and W. X. Lord.
Standing committees were selected
and the morning devoted to routine
/ business.
When the Conference opened this
morning District Superintendent William