The San Francisco call., 1896-02-20

or done, or what may hereafter say or do, is
entirely tree from personal prejudice, or pre-
conceived notions or opinions in regard to DR.
Brown; and that it is done only in the inter.
est OF purity, truth and righteousness Any
| one who knows, or thinks he knows, of dire
contagion, whether physical or moral, in the
comm munity, or in the church. and does not
do his utmostto prevent its propagation, is in
truth, responsible for the result that may
ensue. To conceal anything bearing upon a
case like this where the best interests of society
are involved is TO be an abettor and coadjutor
or, 10 use legal phrase, is to be accessory be-
fore the fact.
10 take the steps have taken, God alone knows.
saw Gethsemane before me, but l dared not
shrink from it. With deep humility and great
pain quote the words OF the Master whom
seek to serve: 'The cup which my Father hath
given me, shall not drink it?'
Ana now, trusting to the eternal strength
ana IN the ultimate triumph of truth and
righteousness, l take up the plain, simple
statement of facts and incidents as they have
been unfolded to me since the beginning of
this sad affair.
On the morning of Sunday, December %,
was startled and astonished by the publication
OF terrible scandal concerning our pastor,
Dr. Brown. Loving the church as l do, next
10 my nome. felt as II my own home had
been assailed.
AT the close of the morning service just be-
fore | opened my Bible class L extended my
hand TO DR.. Brown and assured him of my
earnest sympathy, my perfect confidence in
ms integrity, and OF my unqualified support in
ILLS ledIlul attack upon MS Cn9raCIer, Wnlcn
ielt sure was born of malign1ty and evil. He
thanked me heartily and said: ''Sister Cooper,
the blush OF shame shall! never be brought to
your cheek by anything which l have
DONE" The utterance seemed to me to be
heartfelt and sincere. have often been called
born advocate. l certainly am a true and
whom believe to be misjudged and abused.
Not satisfied with my verbal expression OF
sympathy and proffer of help i'll the afternoon,
after having completed my report of Dr.
Browns for mn hliaa 7 yyr i'm
letter full OF encouragement, bi1ding him be
brave and hopeful. reminding him of the
WORDS OF the poet-philosopher:
For right is right, since God is God,
And right the day will win,
To doubt would be disloyalty,
10 falter would be SIN.
This letter 1 directed to his home address
lIo3 Geary street, my daughter consulting the
telephone directory to make sure of the num-
Der. My diary confirms these facts. / mention
this fact in connection with this matter be-
cause Dr. Brown reproached me publicly on
the platform on the evening l made my pro-
test Tor never having written him on the sub
Ject This protest was made against the adop-
!ion OF the resolution OF confidence in his
integrity, after asking for suspension of
Judgment, which l then characterized as a
logical absurdity, and which position I still
But to return to the chronological order of
incidents. Bear in mind that this letter of
mine to Dr. Brown, wherein l expressed conf
dence IN his innocence, was written on Decem-
~ prOneTeQ
my sympathy and any service 1 could render.
Four days later, on Thursday morning, Jan
uary z, the Examiner published the first in
stalment OF the Overman letters And it was
just at this point that my confidence in the
integrity of DIR. Brown began to falter And
why? Because fac-simile letter of Miss Over
mans, published in that paper, was in the
exact chirography OF letters which Miss over
man had written to our Normal Kindergarten
trainer and to me in regard TO entering the
normal training class for Undergraduates
Striking peculiarities in orthography and
syntaX, in the use and non-use of capitals, and
many other distinctive characteristics con-
ylnced me that the letters came from the same
hand. My faith in DR.. Browns integrity was
somewhat shaken, but still hoped that the
darkness might give place to dawn.
On Sunday, January B, DR.. Brown did not
preach. Professor Lloyd occupied the pulpit.
reported the sermon, as usual, and after com
pleting 1t again wrote 10 DR.. Brown. l could
not speak as cheerily as in my former letter,
but | wrote as strongly as could. | said it
was right to apprehend blackmailer, but
asked him why ne did not take the precaution
to have an officer of the law seereted in his
study and then draw out Mrs. Davidson's state
ment from her, pay her the money, give her
receipt and at that point have the officer take
her into custody? In that way" I added,
''you would have protected the church. your,
self and saved great pain to all your friends"