The herald., 1896-02-06
CONFIDENCE N DR.. BROWN
|ST0RI 0FNRSTOUR I0ONE CONFIDENCE N DR.. BROA
That AAfiis Little Mills Will Voted by the Members of
Grind Church
DESPITE OPPOSING LAWS BUT THERE WASA STRUGGI
No Mosey Mexico And the Church Walls Listened
Permit Pdzefghing usual Sounds
@E1--
The
uIaIy
,Iagls
Voted by the Members of His
Church
BUT THERE WAS A STRUGGLE
And the Church Walls Listened to Un.
usual Sounds
The Young People Of the Church, and Partic-
uIarIy Young Men Decline to
Express Confidence

Associated Press Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 5.-The First Con-
gregational church of this city tonight
adopted resolution of confidence in the
integrity and uprightness of Rev. DR.. q. o.
Brown. The resolution, which was tenn
porsrily defeated a week ago through the
efforts Of Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper, the Cos
pastor of the church. was not adopted
without a bitter struggle, in which many
house OF worship. Or. Browns wife
made lengthy address in which
she accused Mrs. Sarah B. Coo
per of bringing sorrow to her
home by introducing Mrs. Stockton to DR..
brown, This brought forth spirited re-
ply from Mr.. Cooper's daughter, Hattie. in
which she accused Mrs. Brown of uttering
falsehoods. The resolution Of confidence
was adopted by a vote of l25 to 70. A
peculiar feature of the vote was the fact
that almost all the young people of the
church, especially the young men, refused
to vote confidence in DR.. Brown. All the
gray heads voted confidence.
The meeting opened with prayer. and, at
the close OF which Mrs. Brown asked per-
mission to speak. She related in language
which lacked nothing in emphasis, her
version of the events which led TO the
presence of Mrs. NJ. A. Stockton in the
church and to her introduction to the
pastor. Mrs. Brown accused Mrs. Sarah
d. Cooper of having brought that young
woman to the church and of having
brought her to the notice of the Rev. DR.,
Brown. She assLsed Mrs. Cooper of giving
public commendatop. She accused Mrs.
Cooper of having done this to save her own
good name and TO accept whatever advan-
tage there might be in stepping free before
the public. She accused Mrs. Cooper of
attacking her husband because she feared
herself to be attacked, and she charged
her with grave offense against the laws OF
the church of which she il member.
What was probably the most painful out
burst occurred shortly after Mrs. Cooper
had arisen in her place to explain to the
congregation why she did not believe that
DR.. Brown should occupy his pulpit pend.
ing the council. Her daughter, Miss Hat.
tie Cooper, who sat beside her. essayed to
prompt her mother on one point. and this
raised the ire of Mrs. E. Zannig. Mrs.
ZaHnig occupied seat just across
the aisle from Miss Cooper, and when
she observed the assistance the young
lady was offering her mother, leaned over
and made an insulting remark. There was
q quick retort. Mrs. Cooper paused in
her remarks for moment and then there
was an appeal for protection to Deacon
Vasconcellos, who sat behind the ladies'.
After adjournment Mrs. Cooper made a
formal protest to the deacons and board of
trustees regarding Mrs. Zahnig's conduct
toward her daughter, and promised to
make an investigation. 1t is said that Mrs.
Zahnig is not a member of the church, al
though she voted on every question which
came up at the meeting.
While Mrs. Cooper was presenting her
protest Miss Hattie saw Mrs. G. o. Brown,
and lost no time in reaching her side and
expressing herself forcibly in regard to the
remarks made by the PASTORS wife con-
cerning Mrs. Cooper during the meeting.
Mrs. Brown, you told what yon know
were falsehoods," said Miss Cooper. sYou
knew in your heart that those cruel insinu-
ations were without foundation. repeat
it; you told falsehoods.an you know it,"
A large crowd of the members of the
church gathered around the women, and
when Miss Cooper expressed herself in this
manner there was angry protest from those
who are friendly towards Mrs. Brown,
while on the other hand many applauded
what the young lady said.
Mrs. Brown Indignantly denied that she
had said anything which was untrue, and
then Withdrew from the scene.
In discussing the angry remarks she
made to Mrs. Brown. Miss Cooper said:
II told her nothing but the TRUTH was
Miss Cooper's reply. "She said things
about my dead mother which she knew
were untrue. She told falsehoods-tha ia
the plair English of it. l will permit no
one to heap caiumny upon my mother and
go their way without hearing from me-"
."You should not use such strong Ian.
guage," suggested one of the women. 1You
might have said she was mistaken
mo, I DO not believe in mincing Words"
said Miss Hattie. "When I speak the
truth speak out and fear no one. do
not propose to accept that people are mis-
taken when know they are telling false
hoads. That is what Mrs. Brown has done
re- Ardi7g mother. and do not retract a
wo''d ! have said."
. Then Mrs. Davis became aggressive
again.
"Your mother has been the protector
and voucher for Mrs. Stockton" said she,
with o toss of her head.
my mother is the friend Of any person
whom she does not know to be unworthy,''
replisd Miss Cooper calmly. "She would
be. and no doubt is, your friend in the
same way"
"And do you mean to say that Mrs.
Stockton is good and christian woman? 2"
asked Mrs. Davis.
I'VE know nothing to the contrary. We
have never known Mrs. Stockton to be
other than gentle, honorable and Christ
ian alttle lady, and until we know some-
thing to the contrary we shall continue to
be her friends. Mother and do not cry a
woman down just because one or two peo-
pie might say she was bad. That is not
Christian like, and you, my friend, should
know that" -.1
The contention ws now getting to be so
warm that Deacons Vasconcellos and Dex-
ter, together with several other gentlemen
belonging to the congregation considered
it wise to interfere. and they persuaded
the women to separate. -......s
Deacon Dexter gave out the information
just before the last of the congregation left
the building that the board of deacons
ments for the holding Of the church coun-
Gil would meet within week for that pur-
pose. The council, he said, could get un-
der way about ten days later.
DR.. Brown declared that Ee would moi
occupy his pulpit until he was fully vindi.
Gated from the accusations that had been
made. He then made motion that the
board of deacons of the church, at its earli.
est convenience, call council to investi'
gate the charges.
With the adoption of this motion the
business of the night was over. The Rev
DR.. Brown thanked the congregation foI
the expression of kindness and considers
ton, and Deacon Dexter dismissed them
with the expression, "God bless you, every
one"
The closing of the meeting did not dis
perse the people of the church and before
the last person left more angry words had
been spohen and more bitterness had beer
expressed to indicate the the people Of tht
First Congregational church had divided
against themselves.
Lady Wilde Dead