The herald., 1896-03-18
REV. DR.. BROWN CENSURED
A MILD AND GENTLE REPRIMAND ADMIN
ISTERED BY THE COUNCIL
Evidence Presented Declared insufficient to
Prove the Charge Of Adultery. but His
Threats to Disgrace Lamb Of the Flock
Were Very Naughty


SAN FRANCISCO, March 17.-Dr. Brown
has been acquitted on the charges of inn
morality and censured for unninisterial
conduct. He considers himself vindicated.
The report of the Congregational council,
which has been in session for the past
three weeks trying the charges against DR..
Brown, was made public tonight. After
reciting the reason for the calling of the
council the report says:
1--WE haye reached the following conclu.
sions:
"First-That all the charges, in our judg-
ment, may be grouped under the two ques-
tions: Did Rev. G; Q. Brown commit
Martha Overman? Has he been guilty of
any conduct seriously affecting his minis
terial character?
Second-That touching the first of these
two questions we are able to make answer
that the evidence before us does not sus-
tain the charge OF adultery with either
Mrs. Stockton or Miss Overman.
Third-That touching the question of un-
ministerial conduct, we find in DR.. Brown
certain constitutional infirmites of temper
in the light of which his actions must be
judged and which to some extent modify
our opinion of his conduct so that in one
case where the use of harsh and intimidat-
ing language is charged against him an
apology followed SO quickly that we do not
further notice it. In another case while
the menacing and intimidating language
used was not justified, it was the
speech OF an angry man, but in the
case of young lady of the purest
character and the highest worth who felt
herself threatened with fearful charge
because she hau opposed the pastor we
find his conduct to have violated all rules
which should control the actions of a gen.
tleman and Christian minister, and we
censure him for it. While we gladly re-
cognize the kindly and manly words of APP
probation and reparation offered by him
to the young lady in our midst, we should
be glad to add to this verdict that the var
ious facts in this case so far as ascertained
have not left q trace of suspicion in our
minds concerning the hitherto stainless
reputation of this honored minister of the
gospel. But we are regretfully compelled
to confess tha3 DR.. Browns explanation
of the reasons in his mind for paying to
Mrs. Davidson the sum of $500 and agree
ing to pay the further sum of $35 per
month for series Of years, all for the pur-
pose of securing the silence Of q supposed
Mrs. Baddin, is not altogether satisfactory
to us. And that Miss Overman's testimony
as to having changed certain letters, known
as the Overman-Tunnell letters, which con-
tanned the chief discriminating elements of
this case, has been impaired seriously by
confessed falsehood previously tod con-
corning the same matter. while strange
and apparently significant absence from
the city of the receiver Of the letters has
added TO our embarrassment in our efforts
to ascertain the truth.
While we have felt compelled to con-
denim the acts now specified in our BROTH
er's conduct, it il our hope and prayer that
the sharp lesson of recent months may be
taken to heart by him and that in conse-
quence his future years may be more
fruitful than any i'll the past. 1t is especial
ly our earnest hope that in the painful and
divided condition in which this experience
has left this loved and honored church,
both he and it's members may be led to
such fair understanding of their duty to
each other and to the divine Master that
the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace
may be preserved here and in the whole
sisterhood of churches. tSigned)
j. K. MCLEAN, Moderator.
GEORGE B. HATCH, Scribe.
DR.. Brown in commenting on the verdict
said, with reference TO the censure, that
the unministerial conduct charged occurred
after the council had been called and that
the council had no right to take up any
thing that occurred after this meeting had
commenced. With reference to his un-
satisfactory explanation of the paying OF
the money to Mrs. Davidson he said:
"The official stenographic report shows
to anyone who chooses TO investigate that
did not pay the $500 principally to se-
cure the silence of any Mrs. Baden, but
rather to secure the indisputable evidence
upon which the real criminal might be
found and punished, and it is on the re-
ceipt given by Mrs. Davidson that she this
day stands bound over to the superior
court for trial. This important fact the
council entirely overlooked"
Rev. DR.. Mckenzie, the leading Presby.
terian minister of this city, said DR.. Brown
has endured such physical strain as no
other man of this generation has ever en-
dured, and that he fought the battle for
every minister of the gospel.