The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-22
The San Francisco Conference
Wants Him No More.
New Proceedings Were Intense
" Bitter and Exciting.
VOTE WAS 40 TO 81.
Son of Dr.. Brown Wants to Shoot
DIR. Mclean.
Struck at the Aged Moderator
With Clenched Fist.

San Francisco. April 22.-Rev. g. O.
Brown pastor Of the First COngrega-
tional church has lost his standing as a
minister and viii be ostracised by his
fellow clergymen until he can prove his
innocence Of the charges of ungentle-
manly and unministerial conduct pre-
ferred against him. After an exciting
all day and night session the Bay con
ference composed of Congregational
ministers and laymen voted 49 to % TO
suspend DR. Brown until he has prov
ed his innocence.
The proceedings were intensely eXclt-
ing and many bitter words were spok-
en-. When the vote was annOuncedNaI-
entine Brown, son of DR.. Brown, at
tempted to assault Rev Dr. Mclean
the aged moderator of the council
which first tried the discharged min
ister-
DR. Brown and his friends bitterly
fought the Introduction Of the resolu-
ton suspending him, but without Sue
cess
DR.. Mclean took an active part
against DR.. Brown in the proceedings
of the conference. He delivered a Sc
in which he said. III went into the cOun-
ell of which 1 had the honor to be mod
orator with the thought that DR.. Brown
would be acquitted of the charges
sickening feeling crept into my heart
and as the evidence continued, it grew
and grew, until it seemed coiled about
my heart like some black and damnIng
serpent. The council was not to judge
of the innocence or guilt of DR. Brown.
Tt was formed to inquire into the
charges and to report to the church.
We found that the grOsSer charges
We're not substantiated by the evidence.
Nor were they disproved by the evi-
dence"
DR.. Brown made an eloquent appeal
to the conference to be guided by the
verdict of the council which he con
tended was an acquittal and closed
with the following words:
II ask my brethren again that some
thing more in the nature of testimony
be adduced before am condemned [
would rather have you bind my hands
behind my back and have six men in
an adjoining room ready to shoot, than
have you pass this judgment against
me. In the name of God, i say TO you,
dear brothers, don shoot"
The audience was dismissed and the
resolution was adopted by q vote Of
49 to g. The moderator announced
the suspension Of DR.. Brown and the
conference closed
In a short time DR. and Mrs. Brown
were surrounded by a number of
friends in the church who made loud
promises of support in the future
Nearly all the delegates had retired
when suddenly there was an exciting
scene in the church. While the Rev.
j. X. Mclean, the moderator of the
late council was talking to a friend,
NaIeLLl4G 6EOWn Jl- Browns son
rushed UP to DR.. Mclean and said:
How dare you vote against my
father2 III put a hole through you"
DR.. Mclean waved his hand gently
and replied; Take this little boy
away"
Young Brown was not to b silenced-
He clenched his fist and drawing back
his arm was about to strike Dr.. Nc
Lean in the face when q man grappled
with young Brown and held his arm
fast DR. Brown at this time came Up
and took his son away
DR.. Brown has made the following
statement. Il have no plans for the
future. I have spent the best part of
my life i'm the ministry. am now get
ting pretty well along in years and of
course I am too old to think of BEGIN
ming a life in any other calling I have
been fighting for my home and the
honor of my profession
III have asked my accusers to state
time and places Of the various sins
attributed to me They failed utterly
to do This. They have declared me
guilty without furnishing any definite
evidence OF my guilt. p