The San Francisco call., 1896-04-22


| know the truth.
Therefore, not only in justice to DR..
Brown but for our information, move,
as a question of privilege, that DR.. Brown
have this opportunity now"
DR.. Brown, in that quick, firm way
which is so peculiarly his own, then adj
dressed the conference. After thanking
the members for the privilege of explain
ing bis recollection of sending the dis
patches, he said among other things: 81
had no desire or intention of deceiving any
one. When the findings of the council were
handed me | was in close consultation
with friends-Mr. Merrill, Mr.. Nagle, Dea-
con Morse, ]. V. Kimball and my son.
We read them over, and then some one
suggested that it was an acquittal. We
read 1t second time, after which Mr..
Kimball said we would go to the telegraph
office. Our object was not to send false
telegram, but to see that garbled report
was not made.'
At this point DR.. Brown read the affida-
Wit of Nagle. Kimba and himself, which
has already been published.
Now In reference to the private teIe-
grams" continued DIR. Brown, 81 sent one
to Mr.. Gates of Kalamazoo, reading 'ac-
quilted of all charges. l also sent one to
my father and my three sons. Mr.. Cole had
told me that the entire findings of the
council would be sent East. What hope
knew the papers would be at the break
fast-table of every citizen in the land the
next morning.
81 sent this telegram to my father TO give
relief TO agoniZed hearts. After getting
home it occurred to me that my telegram
to Mr.. Gates might be misconstrued. The
next morning | was relieved to get teie-
gram from the editor of the Kalamazoo
Telegram asking for fifty words"
The speaker then read the telegram sent
to the Kalamazoo paper, which stated that
he was acquitted on the main charges and
mildly censured for hasty words spoken TO
young lady.
Hardly had DIR. Brown finished his ex-
planation when Judge Havens addressed
the chair. He stated that, as the repre-
sentative of others, he desired to present
the following preamble ami resolutions:
WHEREAS, In the matter of the ecclesiastical,
council called by the First Congregational
Church of San Francisco 10 consider charges
and rumors affecting the moral character and
ministerial standing OF their pastor, Sittings
of which council extended over q period OF
time from February 1S to March II, 1896, the
and standing OF Rev. c. o. Brown, pastor OF
said First Church of San Francisco, still under
grave suspicion and doubt:
First-1n respect TO his eXplaCaIion of paying
certain amount OF money 10 Mrs. Mary A.
Davidson.
Second-In respect to the seriously impaired
testimony by which the discriminating force or
the Overman-Tunnel letters has been met.
Third-1n respect TO the strange and appar-
emily significant absence OF the receiver of the
letters, which added to the councils embar-
rassment in their effort to ascertain the truth;
and
Whereas, 1t appears from such findings that
the Rev. e. o. Brown, In at least one instance,
is found guilty of having violated all rules
which should control the actions of a gentle
man and q Christian minister; and whereas,
no Christian churcn or body OF Christian
churches can live In self-respect or the worlds
respect, or can be free from completely with
evil ii it allows itself 10 sustain in good stand
ing pastor whose reputation is so clouded
ard whose conduct is so reprenensible; there
fore be it
ReSoIUed, That the Rev. C. o. Brown ought to
be and hereby is suspended from membership
in this the Bay Conference OF Congregational
Ministers until such time as in the Judgment
OF this conference he shall have lifted from
now resting upon his reputation and shall
have proved himself worthy to be restored to
the fellowship of the churches.
Several members rose TO their feet at
once, the chair finally recognizing Rev. ].
ID. Foster, who moved the adoption of the
report of the committee on credentials.
Foster began defense of DR.. Brown, but
was cut short by the moderator announc-
ing that the motion to adopt the report of
the committee was laid on the table
week ago and could not be considered un-
less by motion to that effect was passed.
Kew. Mr.. Hatch zen moved the adoption
OF Judge Haven resolution, seconded by
a dozen Or more. There was a lot of par
lamentary sparring, which finally sifted
down to an expression of opinion from
every member present concerning the
guilt or innocence of DR.. Brown.
Judge Haven reviewed the scandal from
the moment it became public property to
the present. He said it was the duty OF
the conference to take some action on the
matters left unsettled by the council.
There was q conviction abroad that the
subject matter had not been thoroughly
considered by that body.
Mr.. Coon be did not think it right for
members of the council to impugn their
own verdict 1t was like a Jury, finding
favor, coming together again for the pur-
pose of changing it.
Rev. Mr.. Willett followed in heated
speech in which he said that Phillip
drunk and Phillip sober were entirely dif-
ferent persons. He then attacked the
council in general way, finding particu-
lar fault with certain members who now
sought to down Brown.
Rev. Mr.. Hatch of Berkeley, pale with
suppressed excitement, immediately
caught the moderators s eve and advancing
to the front of the rostrum said:
"Phillip drunk would like to speak,"
said Mr.. Hatch from his position on the
PASeiOA-4A' 10 NClJ oOl1y Iudb IlS
was sober when he was a member of the
council. He is sorry that he was not
drunk then, If he is now. 1 went into the
council prejudiced in favor of DIR. Brown.
1 did everything l could to produce the
verdict that was rendered by the council
and | feel sure that | was influential in
some way in bringing it about. l went
there to see that everything that could be
said and done in his favor should be said
and done.
Il have leaned back against that evil
dence from the start with all my strength,
but in spite of that the testimony produced
before the council has pushed ne gradu-
ally over the hill until. as l stand here to-
day, believe that upon the evidence be-
fore the council, before any body of men,
intelligent and unprejudiced, in this coun-
try or any other, DR.. Brown would be con-
victed of the principal charges presented to
that body. | think that if I could go
through the evidence here could show to
any such intelligent body of men precisely
this fact"
At this point DR.. Brown rose to a point
OF order, contending that it was a time
honored custom amounting practically to
an established fact in law, that no Jury
man be allowed to impugn his own verdict.
This is just what this brother is doing"
added the doctor, "he is impugning mis-