Evening journal., 1917-03-29
DIR. WATT and
PASTOR COOKE
face CHARGES
lcontInued from First Pagel


to deprive him OF his rights m tho trial
Of Clayton l.. Crew. lie threatened tol
have the complainant removed as pastor
dur ng tho trial and also to have him
arrested II he insisted on presiding at
the trial this in the Office of Caleb r.
Burchenal on or about December q. 1916,
and IN violation of the Discipline Of
church"
Specification two alleges: "He
(Dr. WatD refused 70 advise with the
complainant and to assist him In
overcoming the disloyal faction IN
Wesley Church. On two occasions he
said he knew nothing about the trou
bic AZ Wesley Church and did not
care to know. while at the same time
he was giving support TO the oppos-
ing faction.
1T was his duty under the law Of
the church 10 see that the discipline
was enforced, and to assist tho pas
tor in every way possible. He has
hindered the enforcement OF disci-
plne. and with malicious intent hes
! injured the pastor and Wesley Church.
This Is a fragrant abuse OF office and
betrayal OF trust that should not be
condoned by tho Wilmington Confer
ence I demand that he be brought
TO trial for these serious ofenses."
Referred 10 Conference.
Tho Rev. Tilghman Smith moved
that the entire matter be referred TO
the executive session. in which he was
supported by several other ministers.
II was so decided by a unanimous
vote.
The prevailing note Of tho remarks
in this connection was that these
matters should be handled in n mani
ner behtting dignihed Christian min
listers and can only be handled thus
in executive session"
DT. Watt Reads Report.
Tho entire matter was sprung too
suddenly 10 permit the bishop 10 give
any consideration to the question Of
decision pr,t'lously submitted. and he
announced that he would have TO take
time 20 consider that matter He also
J said that he had overlooked the fact
that the call OF Or. Watts character
would develop these situations, but
there was no reason why the reading
Of his report should be suspended
. Charges Against Mr.. Cooke.
After the report OF the Wilmington
| district had been read, announcement
| OF the charges against Mr. Cooke was
made when HIS character was called
Passage OF the characters OF both Or
Watt and DR.. Cooke was suspended
by reference, with both sets of charges
to the executive session.
There are no new charges flet
/ against Mr.. Cooke as yet, those hlet
being the same referred 20 the com
mittee OF investigation some month";
ago.
p Dr Watt, IN requesting the publ
j. reading OF the charges against hin
n said that ",he impression had bee
industriously and sedulously circu
~ lated in public that the whole matte
IN was the result OF personal anlmosii
TO on my part That IS as far from n
2S truth as Is pole from pole. so witnel
that Supreme Incarnation OF Truth
The Conference decided 10 so in
executive session at 2 o'clock this a
ternoon. Or Watt announced that
order to facilitate the work OF th
Conference relations committee,
II presented tho request for retiromet
u OF the Rev A. ?. Prettyman, an
moved that the rule TO refer snoh r'
,, quests to the committee be waived
This was done.
/
t. tor Cooke I'm the way OF appealin
from his suspension by a ministeria
investigating committee sitting Il
=, Wilmington, OF which the Rev. w. A
/. Wise, was chairman.
J. Before tho Conference acts on eiteh
y set OF charges, Bishop Mcdowell Is eA
y pected to pass decision upon Paste
3 Cookies appeals from DR.. Watts do
uN
- ence. which form the basis OF tn
charges against DIR. Watt. II this pC
culiar situation clarifies Itself charge
will be referred TO a select numbe
I or jury Of ministers in each case,
y Is expected, 20 conduct the trials Q
Dr. Watt and Mr.. Cooke.
J.. The charges against Mr.. Cooke II
= !, cmde unministerial conduct, contumac
"A defamation and falsehood.
N Question Cookies Standing.
~ The question as 10 Cookies right
n refer any charges before tho Uonierenl
n. may be brought up this afternoo
n though nothing definite is planned up
,V this time. Several ministers incline
Nj the belief that as no has been suspendl
z. from all ministerial privileges, while
still Is member Of the Conference,
has the status only of lay memb
until the Conference has released hi
from the suspension imposed by u
committee Of invest cation.
N Counsel for the church has 7
II statement TO make along this lin
~ but another official expressed u
view that the charges would IA
k automatically because Of the lack
~, official standing OF Mr.. Cook
ty Whether this technicality will be 4
al voked, however, has not definitely
of veloped.
he The Rev. Or. George p Jones, wi
NJ for six years was district superb
m tendent OF the Salisbury district, al
ed who has intimate knowledge OF IN
10 territory. has been invited by Bish6
IN Mcdowell to sit in the cabinet be
slons with the Rev y. H. Dashie
= who for sevedal weeks has been
temporary charge of that distriC
Some are wondering whether th
presages DR.. Jones appointment
The superintendency Of that district
A large delegation Of laymen ar
ministers OF the Salisbury distri
will urge at a meeting with the bishc
tomorrow the appointment OF n
Rev. DR. Charles A. Hill, just finlshir
hve-year pastOrate at Crisheld,
the superintendency Of Salisbury di
trict. He formerly WAS pastor or S
Pauls. Wilmington.
Bishop Mcdowell conducted the d
votionaI services when Conference r
sumed its session this morning. Du
ine the reading OF the minutes BishC
John W Hamilton arrived and toe