Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-01-22
pastor COOKE Takes
FLING At ACCUSERS
Il May Be Put Out But the
Old Machine Will Be
Denied" He Asserts
APPEALS AND TRIALS
SET FOR THIS WEEK

Declaring that he is up against a
relentless, bitter, political machine
which is dominating the Wilmington
Methodist Episcopal Conference" the
Rev George A. Cooke. pastor Of Wes-
ID. NJ It. Church, who is to be tried
IT'S week on charges OF conduct un-
Incoming minister, has announced
.hnt he is-ready for the issue. Il may
10 put out" Pastor Cooke declares,
.but the old machine will be denied
iouae before / am put out"
The eyeuts OF the week touching
he relations Of Pastor Cooke With the
Methodist Church commences tomor-
row night with the hearings or the
appsals of Clayton l.. Crew and George
Thorp. former trustees OF wesley
Church. both OF whom we're expelled
rom the church for various alleged
offanaes. II was stated today by Dr.
Robert Watt, district superintendent,
hat the matter was strictly ecclesi-
astical and would not occupy great
amount Of time The actual trial OF
Pastor Cooke on the charges brought
bv the church, will commence Wed
nesday morning at IL o'clock In As
Jury Church and possibly will occupy
several days.
Neither OF these adairs will be open
to the public, only those connected
with the trials. ministers and repre-
.entatives of the press being ad-
nitted.
Hearing on the appeals will be
held In Scott NJ p. Church, SEVENTH
and Spruce streets, beginning at $50
o'clock. The Triers OF Appeals, not
more than fifteen nor less than nine
chosen from the different churches
Of the city. will sit with the district
superintendent or his appointee, In
this case DR. Watt, superintendent OF
the Wilmington district I'm the natures
OF an appellate court.
This court will hear the charges in
the original cases read, will listen TO
the bills Of complaints. hear the argu-
ments OF counsel for and against the
compIainants and viii then retire as
in the manner of a civil tribunal OF
high resort to consider the matter.
One Of Three Decisions.
One Of three decisions is possible:
Sustaining OF the verdict OF the lower
court, demanding OF the case for a.
new trial or reversal OF the verdict
In case OF the latter verdict the ap-
pellants are automatically restored TO
full standing IN the church as they
were placed before the original trials
in the lower tribunal. If the verdict
OF the lower court is sustained, fur
Their appeal may be taken to the VIII
mington Conference. which viii be
held In March and which will hear
the appeal or designate a high eccle.
siastical body to do so.
Counsel for the appellants, Crew
and ThOrp, IN the case Tuesday
night, are the Rev. y. H Dashiell
and Caleb r., Burchenal The Rev
George A. Cooke. who was prosecut-
ing officer witness and presiding Of
fieer at the trial Of the trustees some
days ago. has announced his intention
OF arguing the case OF Wesley
Church
DR.. Watt announced to day that he
would not make public In advance
OF the appeal hearing, the names Of
the members OF the committee who
preside at the appeal as the affair is a
strictly legal proceeding and Il is not
necessary, he said, for the public 70
know beforehand who the triers OF
appeal are
The public ia to be excluded, he
said. simply as precaution against
crowding the place where the hear
ing IS conducted and to prevent the
attendance OF those who simply want
TO hear what they think will be q
sensation. The representatives OF
all newspapers win be present and
viii be permitted TO use whatever
they see at for publication.
Hearing on the charges against Pas
tor Cooke viii be Wednesday morning
at IL O'Clock I'm Asbury Church, Thiri
and Walnut streets. As the Rev. D1
Watt has been a party to attacks b.
Pastor Cooke he will not preside a
the trial but has requested the Rev
DR.. w. A. Wise, district superinten
dent OF the Easton district, OF Smyrnf
Del. to do So Counsel for the churc
IN this case will be the Rev. u. +
Dashiell and the Rev. James W. hlas
ley. Pastor Cooke has announced hi
intention OF conducting his own cas-
and will be assisted by another min
lister whose name. It Is said. will no
be announced until the day OF tn
trial.
Pastor Cooke Discusses Trial.
This may be the last time shall
speak from a Methodist pulpit" Ny
Cooke said In his address at Weale,
Church last night, "and I feel that
u better that I should say SOM
things now for the benefit OF tn
Methodists outside OF Wilmington, whi
olnerwise might not hear them"
rah'or Cookies subject was "rh'
trlel OF Jesus" He made know
very clearly his feelings towards DR.
watt and the Rev. George White nav
SON both OF whom were charged Nj,
stirring mp trouble in Wesley NJ =
may have a fair trial, and ma
not. / have been warned by he Al
trict superintendent, DR.. Robert wa,
not 70 talk. as Il may be used araln
me-" said Pastor Cook
The people OF the Wilmington CO
ference have right to know why
am placed on trial. They have
right 10 know when religion is chok
TO death
There is something rotten in Dc
mark I believe in cleaning hou
and I intend TO remain until /
turned out When this is done
public shall know why and who
il
Thedistrict superintendent. dislo
lawyers and ministers have been
ferfersng in the Affairs OF Yves
Church and holding her people up
rfdfcule
~Dr. Watt Is trying 10 prevent
from telling any more ] have q ri