Evening journal., 1917-01-05

the Eplscopacy OF the church, whose
chief duty is TO SECURE the enforce
ment Of moral 6sciplne in the
church
'He has resorted to intimidation in
stead Of reason
"He has exercised tyranny instead
OF being just and fair.
"He has been a promoter Of strife
instead Of peace.
"He has encouraged lawlessness
instead of order.
He has attempted by unlawful
and unjust means TO discredit and
humHiate a pastor who was doing
his duty, whom he should have en-
couraged and upheld
IF these acts do not constitute
sufficient reason 10 cause the removal
OF a district superintendent in the
mind OF those who are in ecclesi-
astical authority then the matter
should be taken into civil court under
custer proceed ings on the ground of
betrayal Of trust Our annual Con-
/ ference is a civil corporation as we'll
as a religious association. IF neces-
sity requires il. we should appeal to
the civll court 70 prevent misrule in
the church, Ecclesiastical tyranny
should not he tolerated in the Meth
odist III. opal Church.
George Al Cooke.
"Pastor Wesley NJ. r. Church.
Wilmington, Del Jan. 4. 1917"
4 Pastor Cooke Reads Statement.
The lengthy statement read BY Pas
tor cooke about the troubles at Wes-
ley Is as follows
The recent ecclesiastical trial or
! one Of the members Of Wesley Al. r.
Church was one OF the most import
ant events that has occurred within
/ the bounds of the Wilmington Con
ference FOR several years The issues
that were involved in that trial were
vital and fundamental IN our eeclesi-
astcal life. The disclosure or passion
and animosity hat were manifest
during the investigation make il clear
that the foundations were being
shaken.
Il is time now to take a calm sur
yey OF The facts involved in that trial
The interests of the Methodist Epis-
! copal Church in the State Of Delaware
+ are of more Importance than the pri-
vate interests Of any man or any set
j Of men So far as I was officially CON
nected with that trial. my aim was
/ 70 purify and preserve the church
The church of Christ should be a
1 decent respectable institution The
J only way for ms to maintain respect
ability and decency Is to enforce dis
cipline against offenders NY efforts
I in that direction have not been kindly
received By an an element in Wesley
/ Church and by an element in VIII
/ mEngton Methodism This Is due
largely 70 misunderstanding and
4 prejudice. II IS time to clear away
/ the earrion or misnformation that
+ has gathered about this case that the
unclean birds Of prejudice may not
j have a place to feed Ignorance is
the mother Of prejudice.
THE EVENING JOURNAL OF this
city. supposed by many good people
70 be respectable newspaper, pub.
4 lished an editorial December IA, 1916
entitled wesley and It's Troubles" IN
which the following sentiment is ex.
4 pressed: ut is exceedingly unfortu
nate that the congregation Of Wesle!
NJ e. Church in this city; Is beinl
racked and rent by the trial or on,
OF its trustees who is not and has no
been in accord with the practices anC
policies OF the pastor. the Rev Georg,
A. Cooke. who has taken no pains e
conceal the fact. The mem
hers Of Wesley have the remedy fol
the trouble in their own hands The1
should apply II, fearlessly and impair
TALLY. for the welfare OF a religious
institution that has been so near anS
so dear TO them and for the upbuild
Ing of which they have made sucl
willing sacrigces of time, interest ant
money"
On December Is this exponent o
Pecksnifian morality had anothe
editorial. entitled Put an End TO It.
: which says: THAT so-cailed ecclesi
J astical trial of trustee OF Wesley NJ
! T. Church in this city has become al
? offense TO the community. IL there i
! vested in any OF the high officials tn
! power to put an end to IL. they shouli
: 4 exercise that power. II not, the mora
: influence Of those officials and o
/ Methodsts generally should be calle
? into play to produce that desired re
I suit, and TO eXterminate condition
e that are un-Methodistic and un-AmeT
lean. Wesley Church Is one of ou
( representative religious institutions
4 Il was founded for the benefit OF on
! community by earnest minded men an
{ women II never was meant to be a
h instrument Of torture by anyone, and
L should not be permitted 80 10 be
8 anyone.
i "Ihe revelations thus far made sho
II an extraordinary condition existing
II the church. and one which should not
e tolerated by any American congregatic
which places a proper value upon sel
I respect and the welfare Of the church
/ its sftiliation.
70 ''There nre many who feel that 4
is high time for the congregation Of We
IS ley. which is composed Of respectful b
and earnest men and women, 70 deanaI
20 in terms that cannot Be disregarde
r, that this high handed and distemperi
I work Of disruption shall cease at ons
ls not only for the sake Of Wesley, b
A. also for the sake Of Methodism AZ
+ whole. which never has stood for srl
y y trary repression or the making OF pct
y, ~ and pitiable personal grievances par
- mount to church welfare"
y Surely there must have been trar
piring within the walls Of this holy ci
II Wilmington something horribly II
no clean to cause THE EVENING OF
- NAL 70 hold its nose! Alas!l Alas
= If everyone knew TIE EYENR
Y. JOURNAL. as well as some folks
~ they would not be confused and frigI
u ened by this mock heroic defense Of
- iigion and morality. The pity is d
many good people have not gotten tn
- eyes open vet. There are those who
- not take much stock in the orthodoxy
~ THE EVENING JOURNAL, who bell,
- that Methodist preachers ought 10 lSn
= about these fnnffars 7 u,,tsf folo