Evening journal., 1921-11-03

The funeral Of the Rev. John
Coke, father of Principal Charles
Coke. of the High School, was held
yesterday afternoon from his late
residence. 500 West Twentieth
street, interment being made in
Riverview cemetery.
The officiating clergymen were
the Rev. Robert A. Brown, of New
York City, the Rev. Edward Sykes,
of Newark. n. j., and the Rev
Ernest williams, of Philadelphia
The pallbearers were officials of Mr..
Coxes church in this city, Lewis
Melvin, Robert Davis. Ernest
Greenwich. Ralph Huey William
Hendricks and Edward Buck.
Mr.. Coke was born in Tavistock,
Devonshire. England. February 90,
.1S53. At the age of nine years he
was left with his widowed mother,
when his father, who had come to
America as a civil engineer, died Of
cholera. Due to his own indomi-
table will and perseverance he help
ed maintain a family, secured an
education. and fitted himself for
the ministry He was affiliated
with the Bible Christians and Prim-
tive Methodists in England.
In 1881 Mr.. Coke came to this
country and settled in Wilkesbarre.
Pa. From there he carried on his
ministry. in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, but when the Christian and
Missionary Alliance was organized,
under the late DIT. A. B. Sampson,
Mr. Coke was one OF the pioneers
and organizers Of the movement.
Later his daughter, Miss Sara Coke,
went to India as a missionary, under
the Christian and Missionary Ali
ance. She remained there for eight
years before she returned on her
first furlough, in 1915. Mr.. Coke was
then pastor OF the Christian and
Missionary Alliance Tabernacle, in
New Castle, Pa He also served as
pastor of the Christian and Mission
airy Alliance churches in Butler Pa,
and in Wilmington. Under his min
istry in Wilmington, arrangements
were made for building the church,
which now stands in West Fifth
street, near Washington.
During Mr. Coxes ministry in
Il Butler, Pa, the modern Pentecostal
movement started and spread rap
Idly over this country and abroad
Mr.. Coke was one of the prime par
ticipants in the Pentecostal move
Iment and had travelled repeatedly
Into almost every State in the union
hearing the pentecostal message OF
the Baptism OF the Holy Spirit, &C
cording to Act ga.
During the war, while he was en-
gagged in evanglistic work in Texas
he preached in the army canton
ments along the Mexican border
Lately Mr.. Coke has been Presbytei
for the Pentecostal churches in the
New England States, with a charge
. in Boston, headquarters in Spring
field. Mass, and churches through
out the New England States.
Recently Mr.. Coke attended tn
National Council OF Pentecosta
churches in St. Louis and returne,
from there determined to devote tn
remainder OF his life and ministr.
p to the work in Wilmington, and tn
State Of Delaware. II was upon hi
; return home from the Council tina
he contracted pneumonia fror
3 which he died last Monday.
: A friend writes the following re
d garding the departed clergyman:
"Mr. Coke was a singularly stron
= and determined man; and. thong
g he made many friends and com
r. manded the respect Of associates,
= lived life apart, apparently aboy
this world He was seemingly II
= capable OF dealing with the pet
n annoyances and trivialties OF III
e He lived a life apart, consecrated
" noble and consuming ministry
s Mr.. Coke is survived by his wido'
a Mrs. Mary Post Coke; one sister
l. this country, Mrs. Joseph f. Ma
near; and the following childrei
oi John II. Coke OF Norwalk. Obi
he Miss Alice Coke, Miss Sara ]. Coz
10 at present a missionary in ChupT
m India. the Rev. William A. Coke
Brooklyn. y. Y. Charles Coke, A
drew ]. Coke, Mrs. ]. Campbi
Thorne OF Pittsburg. Pa, Mary al
he Frances Coke, OF Wilmington, al