The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-09

classroom of the First Congregational
Church last night. There was large at
tendance. The doctor presided over the
meeting. He looked pale and careworn.
But there was still the old-time ring in his
voice.
Hymns were sung and prayers were Of
fered up.
Deacon Vasconsellos was the only person
present with the courage to speak of the
BroWn-Davldson scandal. He exhorted
his listeners to withhold their Judgment
until their pastor saw fit to make a public
statement
There is no doubt great deal of
anxiety and query in the hearts of those
members of the church who are here to-
night, said the deacon, regarding the
reports which have appeared in the papers
lately, and which, you ali know, reflect on
our pastor. These reports have been the
talk or the streets. You have all beer
inquiring about them.
Some wise heads have said that DIR.
Brown should make confession So Jar
as am concerned, want to say that l
nave confidence In DR.. Brown. Anyway,
he is not on trial. No charge has been m ade
against MIN before the tribunal of this
church; he has not been tried by its
officers.
Il, u want to say that ii a pastor ever
needed the support OF his people DR..
Brown needs it at this time. The church
ana people should uphold him. We are
all human and liable to fall; but | don't
know that DR.. Brown has fallen; but do
know that if DR.. Brown has fallen God
knows it. The will of God will be done.
Now IS the time we should show our
Christian Kindness and feeling"
DR.. Brown seemed greatly pleased at
what Deacon Vasconcetlos had SAID He
made short address to the meeting, but
was silent on the charges that had turned
the tide against him. He read two letters
from former congregations he had served,
showing that the people to whose spirit
ual welfare he had administered were still
unshaken IN their belief of his innocence.
Il cannot tell YOU" began DR.. Brown.
how great my desire is to talk to YOU
ABOUT thls matter. | can assure you that
want 10 TALK TO you more than you want
10 near me, but my attorneys have ad-
vlsed me to remain silent. They are wise
men, and l must obey them. l confess
that my desire has often been to break
away from them and tell Won nv SIDE
w hen get their consent will then break
my silence.
nave the right to take you into nv
commence to say that have received let
tiers from twenty different States since
TINS trouble began. They came from the
north, East and the West. Two of them
are OF such nature that | will read them
to you. They are from churches that 1
served in the past"
The letters referred to were from the
FIRST Congregational Church of Tacoma,
W ASH, and from a church in Kaama-
zoo, Mich, both of which Dr. Brown
served as pastor. The doctor entered the
infant class of the latter church, grew up
In II and finally became its pastor.
The Tacoma letter was signed by Messrs.
Hallock ana Merrill, trustees of the First
congregational Church 1t was in the
form OF a resolution and read as follows:
WHEREAS. Our beloved friend and former
pastor, the Rev. DR.. C. O. Brown, has been
made the victim of an evil and designing
woman, therefore be it
Resolved, That we still firmly believe in his
Christian integrity and faith.
The resolution was passed by the trus-