Evening journal., 1917-01-05
PASTOR COOKE 5
Def IS IGNORED;
ASSAILS DR.. WATT
Twenty Persons Only At
Meeting; Challenged Min
listers and Laymen Absent
ASKS BISHOP TO GUST
DR.WATT FROM OFFICE

Evidently disgusted with the fsrci-
cal church trial Of Clayton L. Crew, a
trustee OF Wesley NJ. r. Church. who
was acquitted by a jury OF seven
churchmen from five outside
churches. on December 10, members
OF that church refrained from attend
Ing the public meeting called by the
Rev. George A. Cooke. the pastor, last
night Mr. Cooke had Issued chal-
lenges right and left 10 the Rev. DIT.
Robert Watt. district superintendent;
the Rev George White Dawson. pas-
tor OF Asbury NJ Z. Church: Caleb E.
Burchenal and others to be present
and present any charges hey might
have against him OF any wrong-doipg
This def OF Pastor Cooke was e
nored by those invited to prolong the
controversy Of the past fcw weeks al
the church. His challenge attracted
but sixteen persons. aside from the
representatives Of the pross and the
pastor himself. who constituted the
chairman.
Altogether twenty persons were
present. Not one OF the ministers or
iaymen challenged BY Pastor Cooke
was present Despite the fact that
Wesley NJ. j.. Church has a member
ship Of 100 persons. thcre were hut
sixteen persons at tine meeting. not in
cluding Pastor Cooke au1 three news
paper representatives.
Eight OF the sixteen persons pres
ent, aside from DR.. Cooke and the re-
porters, we're recognized as persons
not connected with Wesley Church.
Thus II all the remainder were from
Wesley, it would mean only eight per-
sons present from that congregation.
After Pastor Cooke had called in
vain for anybody who might desire
TO do so to come forward and pre-
sent charges against him, he read a
/ lengthy statement purporting to be
explanatory OF the troubles at Wesley
Church. He also read letter TO
Bishop William It. Mcdowell, stationed
at Washington. who has charge OF the
Z Wilmington Methodist Conference
area, saying he (Cooke) "is prepared
20 furnish proof OF misconduct on che
part Of District Superintendent Robert
( Watt. II believe can convince you
that he Is guilty OF conduct that
should depose him from ONCE without
/ unnecessary delay" says Pastor
Cooke, in referring TO DR.. Watt.
DR.. Watt. when asked today II he cared
to make any statement about Pastor
Cookies charges, said he had not seen
the letter to Bishop Mcdowell. and
did not care 10 make any statement.
anyway. When some of the statements
in Pastor Cookies letter were read TO
him, DR.. Watt laughed. but declined
to make any comment or reply.
Among those absent last night was
J. r. Beckley, who had as a trustee
signed the charges against Mr.. Crew.
W. T. Niokerson. another trustee, who
, signed the charges, was present. as
was J. c. Thompson, OF Eismere. a
member OF Harrison Street NJ T..
Church.
Mr.. Thompson's greeting Of Pastor
Cooke furnished the only thrill Of the
evening. and this came at the close
of the supposed hearing. Mr.. Thomp-
son, who had remained in the rear OF
the Sunday school room while Pastor
I Cooke read statements OF the recent
case, went forward at the close and
shook hands with the pastor. saying
Brother Cooke, you are doing wrong
in having those statements published" i"
Mr.. Cooke hared up at once, saying:
Il am not here to. be criticised. but il
you want 10 argue that point come
around some other time"
Mr. Thompson remarked that Jesus
Christ was prosecuted while He was
on EARTH" and Mr.. Cooke replied:
"Yes, and His replies have been pub
Continued on Page Two)