The herald., 1896-02-19
DR.. BROWN AND HIS CONDUCT
Will Be Investigated by the
Church Council
MORE ACCUSATIONS MADE
Upon Which Hearing Is Asked Behind
Closed Doors
At the First Session Of the Council Things
Seem to 90 Against the Ae.
cused Preacher
Associated Press spe ecisl Wire.

tional council to try Rev. DR.. C. o. Brown
for alleged immortality and unministerial
conduct was organized at 2:30 this after
noon. DR.. j. X. Mclean was chairman.
and as soon as the council was formally
opened DR.. Brown protested against the
caucus of members of the council held yes
terday afternoon. He said he was not
present and that the meeting was illegal
and unfair.
Chairman Mclean said nothing prejudi-
cial TO Brown had been done, but the coun-
Gil had merely organized.
1.-THE council had no right to meet with
out my knowledge said Brown.
"Do you challenge our right to proceed
with the trial?" asked Mclean.
Brown disclaimer such strong state
ment, but repeated his protest.
The secretary read the proceedings of the
caucus and the trial then was formally
opened for TESTIMONY against Brown.
1t was finally decided by the council
that DR.. Browns standing as minister as
we'll as charges of immortality should be
investigated, and the council then ad-
iourned until evening.
At the evening session of the council
things apparently went against the ac-
cused minister. He resisted the PROPOSE
ton to appoint a committee to receive the
charges against him, but the board ap-
pointed such a committee in the persons of
H. W. Hoyt, William Roder and +. G.
Williams.
DIR. Brown also proposed that the charges
of Mrs. Davidson be excluded, as she was
a disreputable and irresponsible person.
The council decided, however, that any
person signing formal charges should be
kI,.vr A~I
pointed a member of the committee to re-
ceive the charges, saying he knew more
about the case than anyone else, and that
it was proper that he should serve on the
committee. The council thought other
wise, and DR.. Brown then said he was glad
such action had been taken. He wanted
the investigation to be as open and COM
plete as possible. The council will hold
afternoon and evening sessions until Satur-
day, when, If the case is not finished, an
adjournment will be taken until Monday.
On the eve of the investigation new
sensation has been projected into the case.
and another charge has been made against
the Rev. DIR. Brown. The accusation is of
such serious character that those who
demand its investigation will also request
the council to listen to the presentation of
evidence behind closed doors.
The latest charge against the accused
pastor, and one of the most important of
them all, will be made the subject of thor
ough investigation, although the phase of
the inquiry, for the sake of one at least
whom it concerns, will be discussed behind
closed doors. The Rev. DR.. Brown is now
accused by one of the most estimable
young women OF his congregation of a de.
1iberate and malicious threat TO blacken
her character and publicly defame her
if she did not cease her attitude of antag-
onism to him. This young woman and
her mother charge that DIR. Brown declared
a week ago Sunday that he would fabricate
scandal and connect with it the name of
opposition to him.
The young woman, who, it is claimed
was SO threatened, breads to have her
name published in connection with the
matter. She would prefer to remain silent
rather than suffer the uotoriety which
would follow the presentation of her
charge. But she and her mother have been
induced to present the entire affair to the
council, under promise that it shall be
investigated in secret session and that the
public shall never know her name. She
came specially under the attention of DR..
Brown at the business session of the
prayer meeting on February, when the
hostile faction in the church was so bitterly
atraigned against each other. On that
night she was emphatically opposed to the
pastor and took no pains to conceal her
position. His friends learned of her atti-
that OH the following Sunday the reverend
gentleman went to the young woman and
told her quietly that unless she ceased her
fight against him that he would blackeu
her character and expose her to public
odium. He declared that he would accuse
her of improper conduct and crush her
in way, not only to make her influence
worthless but the destroy her good name.
The young woman was dumbfounded at
his threat, but had judgment TO ,Cform her
mother.
The mother. in turn, informed j. F. Ma
son, another member of the church, who
went at once to DIR. Brown and demanded
of him that he repeat the threat in his pres.
ence and in the presence of the young
woman and her mother. Dr. Brown re-
fused to do this, but informed Mason that
If the girl and her mother called at his
house he would repeat what he had said.
Both women called upon the reverend gen.
tlemen upon the following day, and DR..
Brown kept his promise. 1t is this Incl
dent and these facts which vii! be brought
to the attention Of the counc: for investi-
CATION.
When seen in reference to the matter, j.
5. Mason declared the stcry, as outlined,
was true.
"The Rev. DR.. Brown" he said, ad-
mitted that he has no grounds for the ac-
cusaton which he made against the young
woman. We wish to keep her name a Sc
cret, II possible. for 1T is regrettable that q
young woman should be so drawn into this
scandal. BY publishing her name we
would accomplish the very purpose of the
man who made the threat. In our desire
to shield the young lady who has been 30
outrageous!y insulted, we could not at first
see our way clear to present this offense of
the lev. DR.. Brown to the council which
will try him.
Il have already spoken to one of the
members of the tribunal and am assured
that the story of the young lady and of her
mother will be heard behind closed doors.
In this way we can bring the matter to the
notice of those who must pass judgment
upon the moral character of our pastor.''
Pastor Brown was more buoyant in spirit
tonight than he nad been for several d ,ys
before the convening of the council. He
said when seen at his home that he was
perfectly satisfied with the makeup Of tho
council. He believed that he wonld be
given "A fair trial and that the verdict of the
council would be i'll accordance with the
facts presented for its consideration. He
had not the least suspicion that any mem-
her of the council was preiueiiced against
him. In raising the question of Dr.. Fond's .
bias he did not really believe him TO be