Evening journal., 1917-01-17

/ refused TO consult Win INC pastor
and the loyal officials OF the church.
With a view to the peaceable adjust
ment of the trouble.
! (c) That during the preparation
for the trial he gave the influence Of
his Office 10 support and uphold the
said c. L. Grow, and to the detriment
and injury Of the pastor and the
church.
cd That during the progress OF
the trial his influence was exerted 70
help clear AIr. Crew. and TO pervert
or impede justice. He circulated or
caused to be circulated rumors to
tho effect that the pastor would be
removed at Conference time. This
was for tho purpose OF encouraging
the disloyal faction and discouraging
the loyal supporters of tho church,
and II had that effect.
Ce) That AT the 3rd Quarterly
Conference he refused to entertain
three motions introduced by the pas
tor. and gave false rulings on ques-
tions Of law, 20 prevent the Quarterly
Conference from exercising its right
ful authority.
C) His letter further affirms that
his oftense amounts 20 n fragrant
abuse of his high office representing
the Episcopscy OF the Church. whose
chief duty is to secure tho enforce
ment OF moral discipline in the
Church"
(g) That he has resorted TO in
timidahon instead Of reason.
Ch) That no has exercised tyranny
instead of being just and fair
Cd That he has been a promoter
Of strife instead Of peace.
(j) That he has encouraged law
lessness instead OF order
(lS) That he has attempted by un-
lawful and unjust means to discredit
and humiliate pastor, who was do
ing his duty. whom he should have
encouraged and upheld.
CD That he has furnished evi-
dence to demonstrate his essential
unhtness to be consulted in reference
TO the appointment Of our preach
ers.
All Of which allegations arc false
and defamatory.
Csigned). ROBT. WATT.
Note: Dr. Watt signs this part Of
the charges because required by
Methodist law
(m) That he might proceed un-
der paragraph 252, section 2, OF the
Discipline Of 1915. and attempt 70 get
an investigation. but that would not
be successful for the reason that the
preachers are either afraid of. or they
are subservient to, him. Or, I might
wait until Conference time and enter
charges against his character under
paragraph 265. Discipline 1918, but
there ig a strong likelihood that he
can secure influence and following
enough to prevent a trial, or have IL
secret. In either case Il would be
impossible 70 secure a verdict against
him, no matter what the evidence" q"
the same being false. and defama-
tory OF the members Of the Whining
ton Conference.
Charge 2, Falsehood. Specifications:
1. The said G. A. Cooke, I'm the
presence OF the Rows. J. l.. Johnson,
q. T. Anderson. ct al. did state that
the Rev. Robert Watt has sought to
shift his responsibility upon the
shoulders OF a layman, a statement
, which tho said Robert Watt then and
there characterized as wilfully false.
and the said q. A. Cooke did not dis
sent from such characterization.
2. The said Rev. @. A. Cooke
when one Mrs. Ella Jones at that
time member or his church. asked
o for q letter Of transfer to Harrison
St. NJ. p. Church, did give TO her a
e letter Of withdrawal. Whereupon the
. said Mrs. Ella Jones said: Mr..
r Cooke this Is not what / asked for:
' l want a letter OF transfer" To this
1 the said G. A. Cooke replied: THAT
{ Is all right; that " Just the same. "
he knowing the same 10 be mislead-
ing and false. That he did know the
same 70 be false is additionally shown
, by the fact that he subsequently gave
Mrs. Ella Jones letter OF transfer
TO Harrison Street, church Of which
she is now an accredited member.
3. The assertion contained IN the
statement of the Rev. G. A. Cooke,
, published in the daily papers OF Will
. mington, January s. 1917. TO wit:
That a church trial is IAN extreme
a measure of discipline TO be used only
B when all other means shall fail" This
b despite the fact that he had sought
without reason 70 get Mrs. Ella Jones
to ask for trial. saying: why dc
e you not ask for a church trial TO vim
g dicate you?" And despite the fact
c that, after the trial OF Mr.. Thorp
and In the same room, he said: The
ol time had come when the only way
+ to clean the church up was TO re.
+ sort to tho little black book" And
lel despite the fact that. during less thar
n three years pastorage IN this city h,
k. has made written threats to brinl
D. three OF our ministers to trial.
4. That said G. A. Cooke did, OF
o Wednesday night, January 10, 1917
r. at Wesley Church, say TO the repre-
s sentative of the Morning News OF thii
& city; If this were my trial. woulc
K want all the publicity I could get
II But the defendant has requested thai
i the hearing be entirely secret" OF
n words TO that eject, he knowing same
= 10 be wilfully false
/, 8. said q. A. Cooke stated ovel
4 the telephone to George Stengle. o.
the Morning News OF this city-whicf
statement was published-that an hs
b, knew about the charges against hin
was what he saw in the paper, where
az he had already Acknowledged re
ceipt Of letter from the distric
superintendent saying that charges
were 10 be preferred.
g. said G. A. Cooke did utter an,
. publish against the Rev Robert Wat
T. certain libelous and untrue state
ments. the same being given by hin
II to the press In the form of a lette
n TO Bishop Mcdowell. which letter wa
introduced as evidence under tn
r charge of defamation. and. having es
tablished defamation az the sam
r time establishes falsehood.
Charge Three; High Imprudenc
l. and Unministerial Conduct. Specih
cations:
r. u. A.. ....t..st -. - - a. c..