The San Francisco call., 1896-05-08
A NEW BROWN CHURCH,
1t Is Reported That DR.. Brown
May Form an Independent
Organization.
A METHODIST OBJECTION.
Some of DR.. Goodwin's Flock Do Not
Like the Id: of DR.. Brown
Preaching to Them.

It was said yesterday that the friends of
DR.. Brown who are still loyal to their old
pastor are looking for the right sort of a
hall and that DR.. Brown may start a new
church of his own, or rather new congre-
ton of his own.
DR.. Brown would be following some
bright examples, it may be remarked, in
setting up an independent place of preach
ing, fencing in lone field of pastoral
labor and starting on q new career of
churchly activity unhampered by confes-
sions of faith or books of discipline. DR..
David Swing of Chicago and other heretlcs
and offenders have done that thing with
varying success.
The late pastor of the First Congrega-
tional Church has not announced this pur-
pose, but it is reported to be in the shap-
ing process.
The invitation extended by DR.. Good
win to the unfrocked DR.. Brown to preach
al the California-street Methodist church
next Sunday is not appreciated by all the
mem bers of that congregation. Not few
are bitterly opposed to the courtesy"
and that opposition will probably take
shape to-day in formal protest against
such action.
1t is contended by those who differ with
DR.. Goodw win as to the propriety OF such a
course that Brown has been adjudged by
a council of his peers as a sheep with very
black wool, and further that the Bay Con-
ference, the highest body in Congregat ton
alism, ratified such action by stripping
him of all the functions belonging to q
pastor and minister.
For this reason, argue those who oppose
DR.. Goodwin's invitation, Brown has no
right to preach in any Christian pulpit
until he has been duly recognized by the
official head, Which means in the case of
the Methodist Church the General Con-
ference.
The full force of the request of d. Brown
and family that the First Church grant
letters of withdrawal and recon m enda-
tion," which was favorably passed on at
the Wednesday night meeting, has Just
dawned on the opposition.
Brown, with the assistance of his able
lieutenants, Deacons Morse and Vascon-
cellos, has secured what he could not have
obtained from the Bay Confer, nee or his
former fock-an unqualified Endorsement
to any Christian organization, and further
| the tacit recommendation that he be taken
into the fold.
1t now develops, however, that Brown
had nothing to do with the wording or
| even writing of the request for letters
OF dismissal. He simply told Deacon
| Morse what he wanted, and that gentle
man assumed the responsibility of phras-
1 AhS VIZ ASd0SoS3 WhiOA ASoOo 90 4OAiOno.
SAN Francisco, May 6, 1896.
To the First Congregational Church of San
Francisco: We, the undersigned mem bers oi
this church desire letters OF dismissal and rec
| ommendation to any evangelical church 10
which in the providence OF God We may be di-
| rected. Yours in the bonds of Christian fel.
! lowship, Charles o. Brown, Mary n. W. Brown,
Valentine C. Brown, Vincent w. Brown.
81 would prefer that this request be not
published" said Deacon Morse Wednes-
day night, because DR.. Brown may not
quite like it. Ny reason for making such
a statement is just this: Brown telephoned d
me to-day that he wanted his letter from
the church, anG so l wrote the request
and signed his name, Mrs. Browns and
their two children"
1t is not thought likely that Brown will
protest against the form of request pre-
scented by Mr.. Morse.
The action OF the trustees in determining
to sell the First Church is bitterly opposed
by some of the mem bers, though The ma
iority seem to favor the proposition. There
are those who look with horror at the
possibility of the sacred edifice, which has
been presided over by some of the most
eminent divines in the country-the
church which witnessed the meteoric flight
of DR.. Barrows and the peculiar rise and
fall of DIR. notwithstanding a place ol
ribbons and laces and perchance a corner
| rOOkery.