The herald., 1896-04-22
The Bay District Conference
Takes Summary Action
THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL
Is Logically Supplemented by the Action
Taken Yesterday
Conference Decides He Must Prove
His Innocence

Brown again fought for his ministerial
excellence today before the Bay con-
ference of congregational churches. DIR.
Brown was strongly arraigned by q
number of ministers. Mr.. Hatch, the
minister of the Berkeley church, said
that at the council he had stood by
Brown and had held the council back
from condemning Brown too strongly.
Now, however, he was thoroughly con-
WINGED of Browns guilt of untruthful-
ness and improper conduct, and of his
general unworthiness to preach. Rev.
DR.. Freeland of Oakland said man
who pays blackmaii changes the pre-
sumption in his case from innocence to
guilt. Rev. DR.. Mclean thought Dr.
Brown should not be allowed to preach.
and Judge Haven moved that Brown be
suspended from the ministry until such
time as he cleared his character.
A long discussion followed on this.
The ministers in overwhelming major
ity seem to be opposed to Brown, but
the latter , has s, some friends r sv who i nre
Coombe said the ministers were trying
to set aside their own verdict given
through the council because Brown had
not received the verdict in a proper
spirit.
Deacon Brown took the platform He
said that public sentiment must not
interfere with the deliberations of the
church, for in this case the public was
not the judge. The council had found
that there was not sufficient evidence to
convict DR.. Brown. and he wanted to
know how conviction was to be had
now, when there was no new evidence.
DR.. j. l.. Mclean followed i'll severe
arraignment of the accused pastor. He
said that he could deliver himself of all
he had to say in twelve minutes or in
thirty minutes. The conference grant
ed to him and to DR.. Brown unlimited
time in which to speak.
DIR. Mclean said. ST went into the
council, of which L had the honor to be
the moderator, with the thought that
DIR. Brown would be acquitted of the
on sickening feeling crept into my
charges against him. AS the trial went
heart, and as the evidence continued it
grew and grew and grew, until it
seemed coiled about my heart like some
black and damning serpent. The pro-
cedings today are logical sequel of the
work of the council. That council was
not called to judge of the innocence or
guilt of DR.. Brown. 1t 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 We're they dis
yroved by the evidence. There were
many doubts generated there; not by
our actions, but by the evidence of DR..
Brown, and by the disappearance Of the
witness who could have thrown con-
siderable light on the subjects. The
luOluSS VI lIlc COullCll lelI tUIce grave
doubts The Disappearance of Mrs.
Tunnel certainly looked as il 1t had
been connived at in the house of DIR.
Brown. We gave him the benefit of
every doubt and extended the mantle
OF charity as far as possible.
1.-THE findings of the council have been
before the public for month. They
leave a grave doubt of suspicion on DR..
Brown, and that is what was intended.
The members of the council said that
doubt overhung their minds regarding
the payment of money to Mrs. David
son. When an entirely discredited wo-
man went to him and demanded thous-
ands of dollars from him he could not
give 1t, but when she returned as the
harbinger Of the glad news that the
other woman would remain silent for
$500 the money was quickly forthcom-
ing, to obtain evidence, so DR.. Brown
said
again. he sent money to Mrs. Tun-
nell when he could i'll afford it. He sent
her $55 in all. Did not this look as if
there was something that he was afraid
would come to the light Of day?
1.-The council gave him the benefit of
the doubt, mixed with charity. The
ministers extended too much mercy.
Their findings were garnished with too
many pearls and the pearls were thrown
where it has been said pearls should
never be thrown. The thanks we re-
ceived for our work has been character
tstic in this respect.
1.-THE suspension of DR.. Brown would
be a withdrawal of our confidence in
him, but it would be right and not un-
usual in such a case. 1t is sad thing
to see a mans career so checked, but
all this business has been painful.
While this condemnation is very severe
1t is no more severe than the findings
OF the council warrant.
DR.. L. l.. Worts almost created SEN
sation. He said that he did not know
whether or not DR.. Brown was guilty,
but that he was ready to extend to him
his hand and help him prove his inno-
cence if he asserted it. DR.. Worts con-
tinued, as he picked up the Bible:
Here is the Book of Revelation. If DR..
Brown is an innocent man let him step
on this holy book, lift the other to
heaven and tell us he is innocent. Twill
believe him, and will extend to him my
right hand in clasp Of brotherly love.
am sure we all WILL
Every eye was turned in the direction
of the accused pastor, but not muscle
of his face changed to show what his
feelings were. 1t was trying ordeal
for him, but the suspense lasted only q
moment, and then the speaker went on
as follows:
"If Dr. Brown has made "a mistake
let him confess 1t, and I am sure he will
be forgiven. His brothers will pick
him up and help him into the right path
One or two speakers followed, and a
recess was then taken until 1880 o'clock
in the evening.
At the evening session, after consider
able discussion, DR.. Brown took the
stand and made an eloquent plea. He
said:
I'VE are nearing the close of a re-
nlarkable debate, the issue OF which
would have You remember in the solem-
nifty of this hour are life and death.
We hold divided opinions on matters.
am not here to imqugn the motive OF
any brother whose voice haSbeen raised
on this platform, but I have wondered
II some of them, had been in my place,
would have liked me to speak as they
have done. ! shall take up the findings
of the council and then will take up the
resolution.
"The utmost that this conference can
do is to leave the verdict where the
council left It, and to leave to the cura-
tive effect of time to heal up the bruises
1t has created. I fail to see the pro-
priety Of my brother from the Plymouth
church coming here now to try and In
duce this Bay conference to find me
guilty, which he failed to do when clos
eted in the council. When you tonight
have cast your vote, whether you con-
denim or acQuit, you will have blotted out
out the distinction between Congrega-
uonalism and Presbyterianism, and you
Will have established precedent un-
ri ~ lea Tryr-- -