The San Francisco call., 1896-07-09

strangely noticeable. 1t was as though a
pail of deathlike silence hae fallen upon
the assem- blage.
"During the past few months" went on
the reverend doctor, Il have passed
through time of trial the like of which
few men have known. Months ago the
doctors ordered me to take a rest, but by
making use of my will power was able to
keep ahead with my duties and have done
so until now. At length, however, I feel
myself breaking down. One of my sons
has invited me to go and rest with him,
and there intend to go.
"But there is one thing would impress
upon you. In all the tefnpestuous and
troublesome times through which we
heard me say one word against the old
First Church. / now beg of you all,
whether / return or not, to keep in the
bonds of Christian fellowship and love. /
leave you in the hands of God, knowing
that in any event you will be guided into
ways of peace and comfort. And now
that / have to say farewell / must try TO
express some of the gratitude which feel
toward those who stood by me in my hour
of direst need, but when / remember
when 1 think-I-"
The pastors voice died away, and amid
the silence low sobs commenced to make
themselves heard. Grief, of sort more
possession of the assembled worshipers,
and for awhile no one spoke. at length
Deacon Morse addressed the meeting.
"Those of US who have been near our
pastor" he said, "have noticed that he is
failing day by day. frequently he has
barely been able to finish the Sunday
services. He needs rest. Whether he will
again be seen among US God knows. We
hope to have him for our father and friend
ff,n frr,rr
we shall see our hope realized or not lies
in the secret of devine providence. We
can only say our love and our prayers will
always follow him."
Young and old then offered fearful
words of affectionate and reyerent fare
we'll. The situation was becoming
strained and painful to all present. The
"sweet sorrow" of parting seemed to have
more of sorrow than of sweetness, and
the pastor sought to end the agony by
giving the people his blessing and dismis-
sing the meeting. But fo- upward of an
hour the fearful crowd fingered.
DIR. Brown declined politely but posi-
lively to say anything as to his future
movements. Deacon Morse, however.
was more communicative.
1--WE all consider this determination of
DR.. Brown in the light of a great Driya-
tion," he remarked. "At the same time.
any one can realize that the man is at
present a physical wreck owing to the
nervous prostration which has seized upon
HIM. Rest alone can save save him. He
will in all probability leave the City before
Sunday. Whether he will return and
when is question, but we all hope he
will.
ga strangely distorted report was circu-
lated this evening as to the doctors al
legged inability to secure pass to CHICAGO.
DR.. Brown did not ask for pass at all. I
made application for one without asking
him for permission to do so. Mr.. Fill.
more simply told me lie could not give me
one, and that was the end of the m after.
II anticipate that the independent
Church will continue in existence irre-
spective of DR.. Browns retaining pastoral
charge over it. The average attendance
at the services has been about 500. even in
this present season of outings, while the
subscriptions, donations and collections
have been generous. The independent
Church is financially solvent beyond all
cavil As to future services, announce
ment will be made in Saturdays papers -
Other members took a similar view of
things, and references to the council and
its personnel were frequent and spirited.
one venerable participant in the trial be-
ing characterized as "the Pope of Califor-
nian Congregationalism for seven years
past.
The general impression seems to be that
in case DR.. Brown decides 10 resume his
pastoral work in this City he will encoun-
ter no difficulty in gathering a devoted
flock about him.