The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-18
BROWN CENSURED.
Minister Was Declared Not Guilty OF
immortality.
Outcome of the Famous Trial at San
Francisco, Cal.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 1S.-The Con-
gregational council has declared Rev. 9. ID.
Brown not guilty. of immortality, but has
censured him for unministerial conduct.
AS the council apologies for the GEN.
sure, DIR. Brown considers his vindica-
tion complete. DIR. Browns explanation
of the payment of $500 TO Mrs. Davidson is
regarded as weak, and Miss Overman's
story OF love and plackmsil Is given pass
ing mention.
The council, which has been investi-
eating the charges against DR.. Brown for
the past month, late last night made pub
lie its report. After reciting the reason
for the calling OF the council, the report
says:
We have reached the following con-
clusions:
/. That all the charges in our judgment
may be grouped under the two questions:
Di1 Rev. Z. y. Brown commit adultery
with Mrs. M. A. stockton or Miss Martha
Overman? Has he been guilty of any
conduct seriously affecting his minis
terial characters;
2. That touching the first of these two
questions we are able to make answer that
the evidence before us does not sustain
the charge of adultery with either Mrs.
Stockton or Miss Overman.
3 That touching the question of un-
ministerial conduct, we find in Dr. Brown
certain constitutional infirmities in tenn"
per in the light of which his actions must
be judged and which to some extent mod
lily your opinion of his conduct SO that in
one case where the use of harsh and in
timidating language is charged against
him and an apology followed so quickly
that we do not further notice it. In an
other case, while the menacing ana in
timidating language used was not justi-
fled, Ii was the speech of an angry man,
but In the case OF young lady of the
purest character and the highest worth,
who was herself threatened with fearful
charge because she had opposed the pas
tor, we find his conduct to have violated
all rules which should control the actions
OF gentleman and a Christian minister,
end we censure him for IT., while we
gladly recognize the kindly and manly
words OF appreciation and reparation Offer
ed by him to the young lady in our midst.
We should be glad to add this verdict that
the various facts in the case so far ascei-
tanned have not left trace of suspicion
in our minds concerning the hitherto
stainless reputation of this onored min
lister OF tine gospel. But we are regret
fully compelled to confesss that DIR.
Browns explanations of the reasons in
his mind for paying TO Mrs. Davidson
the sum OF $500 and agreeing 10 pay the
further sum of s35 per month for
a series of years, all for the purpose
OF securing the silence of
supposed Mrs. Baddin is not altogether
satisfactory to us, and that Miss Over
mans testimony as TO having changed
certain letters known as the Overman-
Tunnett letters which contained the chief
discriminating elements of this case has
been impaired seriously by confessed
falsehood previously told concerning the
same matter, while a strange and sp-
parently significant absence from the city
of the receiver OF the letters has sdded
to our embarrassment in the efforts TO as
certain the truth.
While we have felt compelled to con-
denim the acts now specified in our both
er's conduct, 1t is our hope and prayer
that the sharp lesson of recent months
may be taken To heart by him and that
in consequence his future years may
he more fruitful than any in the past. IL
Is especially our earnest hope that in the
painful and divided condition In which
this experience has left this loved and
honored church both he and its mem bers
may be led to such fair understanding
OF her dutv 10 each other and TO the
divine minister that the unity of the spirit
and OF the bond of peace may be pre-
served here in the whole sisterhood of the
churches. (Signed)
GEORGE Il. HATCH, Scribe.
j.. ID, MCLEAN Moderator