Evening journal., 1917-01-29

from preaching and from exercising
the duties OF pastor in Wesley Church
until the coming session OF our an-
nuai conference Shall we desist or
shall We ignore the order7 II we
obey the order we shall have 20 rec
rnire that It has authority. II we
do not obey Il. we shall be accused
Of contumacy or some other Dreadful
thing
"The issue we thus raise is one OF
vast importance. Brieny stated Il is
this: VIII the courts OF Delaware pro-
tect the Methodist Episcopal Church ?
Is the property OF the Methodist Epis-
copai Church safe against ruin. spoil
alton and robbery jesus once took
a whip OF small cords and drove the
money changers out OF the temple
They asked him: by what authority
doest thou these thlngsf" He re-
piled: 1T Is written Ny house shall
be called a house OF prayer, but ye
have made II a den OF thieves"
The property OF Wesley Methodist
Episcopal Church is held IN trust by
the terms OF the deed for Methodist
preachers and Methodist people, 20 be
conducted IN accordance with the dis
cipline OF the church. That deed Is
the legal charter under which we must
conduct the work OF OUT church. or
we forfeit all moral and legal claim
upon the property. VIII the author
ity OF the courts defend and uphold
our rights IN the Methodist ministry
and our rights TO the lawful use OF
the property IL Is a big issue and
Il involves every Methodist church in
the state OF Delaware. n the courts
OF the state viii not protect us then
the title 20 all our church property is
lnvnlidatod. Whoever can get pos
session by any sort Of foul means can
have Il to use it as they please.
Il have attempted 20 far az n has
been possible to conduct the affairs
OF Wesley Church IN accordance with
the rules OF the church and / have
preached the pure gospel OF Jesus
Christ as I nnd Il IN the Word OF
God. have stood with calmness and
hrmneas for the authority OF the dis
cipline. the only authority recognized
in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
except the Bible. whose authority we
DO not question.
~The simple performance OF my duty
has aroused an unreasonable preju-
dice, a malicious prejudice against me.
a false loyalty 60 the church and a
misdirected zeal for the church have
been responsible for the opposition to
my work.
Il allego that have been suspend
cd from the pastoral OF Wesley Church
by a court that was unlawfuily con-
stituted, and that was organised and
conducted with an evil motive In view.
am prepared 70 furnish proof in
civil court 20 substantiate my ailega-
ton. There is so much az stake In
this Issue that Il would be wrong TO
cease the contest until every legal
means has been exhausted. I appeal
20 Caesar. From the unjust verdict
OF a preiudiced ecclesiastical court I
appeal TO the civil courts OF the state
OF Delaware. II / am right / want
the courts to declare a. II am
wrong and the courts 30 declare
shall cheerfully accept the decision.
for l shall have the consciousness that
have done my duty IN the fear Of
God. who shall lay anything to
the charge OF Gods elect II is God
that justiheth"
blessed are ys when men shall re.
vile you and persecute you and say
all manner OF evil against you falsely
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad foi
great shall be your reward IN Heaven
for 20 persecuted they the prophet
which were before you.~ MaN
B-il-i3
Behold 7 send you forth a. sheer
IN the midst OF wolves: be ye therefor'
wise as serpents and as harmless a.
doves But beware OF men: for the,
viii deliver you up 20 eounseis and
they viii scourge you IN their syna.
gogues and ye shall be brought be-
fore governors and kings for My sake
for testimony against them and the
Gentiles." Matt l0-l6-is.
Il appeal 20 Caesar for the defense
and for the protection OF my rights
and for the defense and protection OF
the rights Of every Methodist church
IN the state OF Delaware. II 10 time
FOR the civil authorities 20 come 70 our
rescue
Swore Out Warrant
Al the close % the sermon a war.
rant for the arrest OF Afr. Cooke wa
handed one o. the ofaoers present
George ?. Thorp having gone to IN,
police station and made aridavit q
the alleged cffense OF disturbing Z
religious meeting"
A. Mr. Cooke closed his sermon n,
turned and announced that ths Rev
Adam stengle would pronouncs TIT
henetiotion
, hr. stengie a. once arose and step
, ping 20 rhs front o. the platform sal
that 1rst be wished 70 make an an
nouncemeut He sid in part:
We are face 70 face with a yer
seribuE situation. After an invest
Eaton By committee. the Rev. q. A
Cooke. pastor of this church. wa
suspended from miniaterfal an
church privileges until the NEXT ses
Eon of the Wilmington Conferenc,
D The Rev. Robert watt. district super