The San Francisco call., 1896-02-20

Yes" she replied, 81 came to tell you. l
Wlsh TO teii you because he is so cruel to you
me. W
''Dr. Brown" continued Mrs. Stockton, ofol-
Ioweu me perslstently while was in the Sur
veyors office; found him waiting for me day
after day in the corridors. The first thing
Knew, there would be DIR. Brown. He would
ask me To lake ride with him on the cars or
70 go Win MIN somewhere, until his constant
attention was observed by friend one day
Brown"
Mrs; Stockton entered into full details, which
VIII not embody in this statement. They
we're OF such a character as to convince me
that DR.. Brown should not occupy the pulpit
unui q thorough investigation had been insti-
doubt.
This interview with Mrs. Stockton lasted
nearly TWO hours, my daughter being present
ali OF the time. During the interview Mrs.
stockton told me that when she joined ihe
church 1t was with a sincere desire to be helped
10 live Christian life. With real pathos she
referred to her title daughter and said: 81
want TO raise my little girl 10 do right l love
my little girl and l want her 10 be good"
Here Mrs. Stockton burst into tears and trem-
bled with emotion.
then said: 81 cannot ask you TO go with me
before the council and testify. 1t would be
asking too much..'
Mrs. Stockton replied: 'I think ought to go,
and If you will let me go with you and your
daughter will go and tell them what know
OF DR.. Brown"
pointed out all of the difficulties that she
would have TO encounter, but they did not
seem to shake her purpose. She LETT me with
the avowed wish OF going with me TO the
council.
l do not hesitate to say that I believe that
Mrs. Stockton was moved by the Spirit OF God
TO come to me on that morning. She was,
believe, moved by that same Spirit OF God the
week before 10 write me letter, which she
did, and, resisting the Spirit, she atterward de-
stroyed II. But again the mighty Spirit OF COD
moved her to come and tell me the truth.
Toward the close of the interview Mrs. Stock
ton said: 81 was never so happy as when / was
teaching in the kindergarten under your direc-
tion. l loved the WORK. loved the little
children and was happy"
And right here desire to say that the judg-
ment of the world in regard TO women is in
sharp and bitter contrast with the judgments
in regard 10 men. 1t is all wrong. And
further wish to say that | stand ready TO help
all women who desire 10 live pure and good
life, l would forever help them and never
hinder them.
When told DR.. Brown, as my minister, in
the sacred confidence that pertains TO that
holy calling, or that should pertain to it, of
the Port Angeles letters which referred to Mrs.
Stoekton's unpaid bills in that place, and
when | further suggested that she might be
somewhat gay in demeanoT. DR.. Brown aC once
asked, "Do you think have compromised my
seIt?' replied, ooh, no; you are her minis
ter, and your motives could not be chilled into
question" DR.. Brown responded, "But have
been TO see her when she was i'll and have re-
NAMED Tor some time, hearing her troubles
oLA0 II Sii4S ~ COnIOTI ner. / again assured
MN that no one could question his motives.
further stated TO him that l had seen both
Mrs Brown and himself getting on the street.
car Wlth MRS. Stockton, and mentioned some
ny Ing Iumors, concerning The truth of which
L knew nothing. All that said was in the
spirit OF Christian kindness to all concerned.
mere Inc matter ended. have never spoken
OF Mrs. Stockton TO Dr. or Mrs Brown from
that time TO this, except in response to Mrs
Browns paper on the evening OF Wednesday.
fepruary ., when she charged me with break
ing up her nome by introducing Mrs. Stockton
10 DE- Brown, with all the consequences that
followed.
1t seems 10 me that such charge as this is
very unjust. Certainly a minister of the Cos
pei should be one to whom the members of his
church can confidently introduce any and all
who seek direction and guidance. A minister's
primal mission is TO seek TO lead the weak and
wandering ones back into the paths of pleas
antnnss and peace. A minister's highest vo-
catiCn IS, or should be. 10 seek the prodiga is
and the wanderers and to bring them back TO
the Fathers home. That is what Jesus did,
ana no scandal ever attached itself to his dear
name In doing this. minister's character
should be so granitelike in quality and yet so
Kind, as TO enable him TO minister, as Christ
did, TO any and to all who need his ministra-
tons. Sinners need ii most of all.
Not the righteous, not the righteous,
Sinners Jesus came to call.
All ministers and all Christians should be
able to say Ito some extent, at least, as did
Jesus the master 'tThe Prince of this world
seems TO me that any minister who censures
another for introducing the weak and wander
ing ones confesses thereby that he is not fitted
for the sacred restorative and purifying work
OF those who are called of God TO go forth TO
seek and to save that which was lost; to be min
listers OF Christ to any and all who need them.
Hence, say again, minister's chief con-
Germ should be to reach out after the wanderers
no matter how far they have wandered, and
he should be morally and spiritually strong
enough to dothe work.
Paul tells the story of what q Should
be in his letter to Timothy. He SAYS: HE
musthave good report of them which are
without" This we have q right TO desire and
to demand.
The foregoing part OF this statement was
finished ard placed in the hands OF a type
writer ON Saturday morning, February 10. On
the evening of Monday, February II Mrs
Stockton spent the evening in my home tell
ing me, in the presence of my legal adviser. of
the terrible pressure that had been brought TO
bear upon her to prevent her from appearing
before this council and testifying against Dr.
Brown. She was told that he (Dr. Brown)
would put her behind prison bars if she testi-
would go to prison" My attorney assured her
that this was only the same style OF 1ntimida-
tion that had been practiced upon those who
were to testify against DR.. Brown She said:
'I long to go before that council and to tell all
know OF that dreadful man."
Just as she left my door, she said: fMrs
Cooper. am determined to do what is right
l will go to the council and testify in spite OF
all the threats OF imprisonment that have
been made"
l wish to recall the fact TO the minds of the
council that Mrs. Stockton came to me from
the first of her own free will She sought the
interview because she felt she ought to do It,
And now l close this statement. l have
spoken plainly. l could not do otherwise
have set down naught in malice. have done
only that which was compelled to do by my
conscience and my sense OF duty. Gods voice
was mandatory within me. / dared not dis
obey, no matter what might be called upon
to suffer. To have faltered would have been
sin. There are two places in this great whrl-
ing world that should be held sacred. No pro-
fame hand should ever be laid upon them-the
home and the church. The church wnere we
take our little ones TO dedicate them to God
the church where our fair, pure young
brides pledge their sacred vows the
church from which we carry forth our
beloved dead to their last resting place: the
church where we group 10 hear of Him who is
the way, the truth and the life; the church
where we pledge ourselves to seek its peace
and prosperity. In doing what l have done
have endeavored to seek its peace and pros
perity by seeking its purity. First pure, then
peacea ble-this is the divine order / have
done my duty. have no further responsible