The San Francisco call., 1896-06-17
Aspires to Become the Leader of
the Unfrocked Pastors
Followers.
NEW MINISTER TO BE CALLED.
The Trustees and Members of the
First Church Determined to Again
Open It's Doors.

Deacon 1. II. Morse has finally deter
mined to sever all connection with the
First Congregational Church. At meet
ing of the board of trustees and officers of
the society called for tomorrow night Mr..
Morse will tender his resignation, the
same to take effect Immediately.
Along with the severance of his connec-
tion with the twice-scandalized church,
the senior deacon hurls a sort of defiance
at his former associates by falling bodily
into the camp of the unfrocked Brown.
1t has been we'll understood all along
that Mr.. Morse was hand and glove with
the ex-pastor of the First Church, but no
one ever dreamed for moment that his
loyalty to the man would cause him to
sever his relations with the church. They
looked for loEg, hard battle for the prop
ery of the society, but they never ex-
pected Browns chief lieutenant to fall
down at the first defeat.
Deacon Morse, however goes further
than a mere alliance with Brown. He
proposes and has already organized in
way a church or following for his minis
terial friend. He intends to stick to it for
all time to come, that is, as long as Brown
lS dJ bu6 ncdQs w AcA -Ludb ROnIlGudu
ceases to be the bright, particular star,
then he will pin his faith to some other
denomination.
"There is no secret about this matter at
ALL, said Deacon Morse last night. $50
far as l am able to see, there is no possible
way of harmoniZing the First Church,
and without this 1t could not be placed on
| paying basis. DR.. Brown tried for sew
eral years to do it, but failed; though if
| he had been let alone in this last crisis l
think he might possibly have pulled us
| through.
81 am with DR.. Brown first, last and al
ways, and propose to exercise my best
| efforts to keep ahoat the organization
started some weeks ago. There is no doubt
of its success, however. DR.. Brown is one
of the best drawing preachers in America
| to-day, though do not want it understood
| that his hearers are largely transient. The
| new church at Golden Gate Hall, for it is
a church and will always be so, is an ideal
| institution.
and is bound to be popular as well as self
supporting. Our actual expenses are only
$500 per annum. This is for rent. The
pastor receives such sum as the congre-
| CATION is willing to give. The following
circular issued June / will explain in a
way how we expect to support the insti-
| tuition:
SAN FRANCISCO, June 1, 1896.
| 1t is proposed that regular preaching, Sum
| day-school Christian Endeavor and Wednes-
day evening services be maintained in
| Golden Gate Hall, under the direction of
Rev. Charles O.. Brown. ID. The success
| of the services which have heretofore been
i in
the belief that large and useful religious
| work can be done, and that the time and place
| is propitious. To this end we invite monthly
subscriptions for the support of this move
| ment. We look to large number of small
| subscriptions rather than that the burden OF
support should be borne by few
| large givers. In cooperation and none
| tary interest, however small, there is great
| strength and certain success. By signing the
| inclosed pledge and dropping the same upon
| the plate, you will indicate your interest and
| sympathy, and for convenience in collecting
you will be furnished envelopes, properly num-
| bered. and your account will be credited with
| payments either weekly or mon thly, as is
| found to be most convenient to the subscriber
| Yours truly, d. W. FoLGER, Treasurer
S.-Arrangements have already been made
with James Hamilton Howe, and choral
| choir will be organized at an early date,
which we trust will be an important and
pleasing auxiliary.
"Dr. Brown expected to go East, but his
| friends prevailed upon him to remain
here. He has grand field before him,
and with no dissension among his follow
ers there is no reason why the Golden
| Gate Hall church, under his pastorate,
should not prove brilliant success. l
think l shall withdraw altogether from
| Congregationalism, though l have not
| fully decided on this point as yet. There
is no head to the church, and l am conse-
quently disgusted with it."
In the meantime there is every prob
ability that the old First Congregational
Church will open its doors within the next
four months. The abortive attempt OF
Deacon Morse, backed by Deacons Dexter
and Vasconcellos, to sell the church over
the heads Of the congregation has aroused
the Ire of the trustees and the members
| forming the backbone of the society.
They are now casting about for minis
ter who can bring the church together
again. Now that Deacon Morse is out
they anticipate no difficulty in accom-
plishing this and ultimately placing the
church on firm paying basis.
/