The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-03-25

i NANN~ told that he has said All the trouble has been caused by quotations from the sermon with a different meaning from what the author meant" MT. Coe then produced a statement signed by 157 members of the church, one by 4S mem bers Of the ecclesiastical society, and one by 12S members of the parish and congregation, each paper expressing sympathy with Mir Browns teachings | and the good will of the signers to- wards him. Continuing, he said: "The attendance at the meeting of the church during the last year has been larger than in any preceding year. During Tn the past year it has increased fully one-fourth. The church has given more Tor foreign missions during the last year than during any other year in the last twenty years. There seems to be a deeper spiritual interest than in many years. believe that Christ and the blple are more now to the people than ever before. l never knew much about Christ until MT. Brown came here. flfteen persons will unite with the church on the first Sunday of April, and all come with full surrender to Christ. It Is very evident thor MT. Browns preaching has hit someone. It has hit me- and showed me what 1t is to be a member Of the church and a follower or Jesus Christ. The impression MT. Brown has made is that he has mes sage from God and because some refuse to accept it it is no sign that it is not message from God"
 The council then adjourned for dfn- ner after MT. James had announced that Professor Brastow, Rev. MT. Dib-. bit and Rev. MT. Bank would compose committee to consider documentary evidence
 The council was called to order again at 2:15 p. m, and evidence as to the ef- feet of MT. Browns preaching on the church was continued.
 $. R. Champion, former Sunday school superintendent, was called up and said that he was the oldest regular member of the school living. He said that he believed, since the first sermon Mir. Brown preached, the church society and the community have been strength ened month by month. He did not be- lieve that the church ever stood more firmly than it does at present, more willing or more able to back up the pastor, who is a talented, fearless, out spoken minister whom the parlshioners nrized very highly. He then quoted statistics to show that the church is growing in prosperity rapidly, and said that the young men of the town never realized what Sunday school was un- til MT. Brown came. The congregation has been increased by a class of people very desirable to get Twenty-s1x men with families are among the number Of new members.
 Dr. Scranton said that the church did not pay expenses last year and that there is deficit this year.
 Nathan Bushnell secretary of the so- ciety's committee, said in this connec- ton that he has charge of the finances and could state positively that the ex- penses were paid last year and that there is no deficit this year
 Various witnesses were called for the defense, and each one stated that they had heard Mir. Brown -itter none of the heretical utteranoes ascribed to him.
 In conclusion MT. Brown said that no conference with him had either been asked or suggested by committee of the minority The first he knew about it was that the committee had waited on one of his deacons to see if the church would unite with the minority in calling meeting of the council. MT. Brown said, however, that he had sought conference with the disaffect- ed ones to settle all differences. Dr. Nc cepted the fifth article of the creed of 1883 to which MT. Brown answered, Yes, as I interpret it. I don't allow anyone else to interpret it to me" MT. Blake said in conclusion that more than the church of Madison was on trial. It went further than the church of Madi- son, and so far as his conduct was con- cerned he had endeavored to have per feet fairnss on each side.
 The moderator then asked if there was any more evidence to introduce. Rev. MT. Blake said that he had none to put forth, and at the request of the moderator everybody in the church who was not a member of the council with drew. This was about s:45. The church people filled the spacious entry and the approaches to the building. The Brown ties and anti Brownies collected in dis tinct groups and continued to discuss the matter while awaiting the expected announcement of the councils findings. Rev Mir Brown himself moved about amid the people smilingly and evidently did not fear for the result. He received many kind words of encouragement from his supporters. The temperature was growing colder rapidly, and many of the women folk remained in the entry shivering until they had been thoroughly chilled. Frequent remarks were heard that it would be lucky if nobody was taken down with pneumo- nia as result of the exposure. About one-third of the whole number who is- sued fro mthe church at the initiation of the secret session of the council re- mained to the end. It was generally conceded that the council would not be more than a quarter of an hour in ar- irving at some decision.
 While waiting to hear the result the senior decaon of the church, who is among the opponents of MT. Brown, but is not as fervent as some others said that he believed that the church will recover from the effects of the rup- ture. If MT. Brown is retained many Of th0ce Iyh0 have oppoorad ;re+