The San Francisco call., 1896-04-30
Mercy Prevailed Over Dis
position to Expel the
Minister.
BOTH FACTIONS RELIEVED.
It Is Expected That the Late Pastor
Will Transfer His LaborS to
Iowa.

Charles Oliver Brown, DID,, he who was
unfrocked by the Bay Conference ten DAYS
ago, is no longer pastor. In fact, he is
gentleman of leisure and Micaw ber-like is
waiting for something to turn up. He
rendered his resignation last night and it
was unanimously accepted.
This condition of affairs is due to little
surprise which the reverend gentleman,
through the connivance of his stanch lieu
tenant, Deacon l. H. Morse, sprung at the
business meeting of the First Congrega-
tional Church last night. Brown evidently
knew where he stood, for when the matter
of accepting his resignation was voted on
his friends according to Moderator
Morse, came to his rescue by voting down
the proposition, the unfrocked minister
having twenty votes to spare.
1t was apparently well laid and neatly
planned scheme. Brown entered the lec-
ture-room seemingly full of confidence,
though his face showed that the strain
was more than skin deep. After a song or
two Pastor Brown requested Deacon Morse
to take the chair. This gentleman made a
few remarks covering Congregationalism
in general
Then Brown sprung his little surprise.
He rendered his resignation. And in a
beautiful fearless tremor which he knows
so well how to introduce pleaded with his
people to accept 1t. But the people were
evidently posted. They would have none
of it. Then Brown, with characteristic
graciousness, told his listeners that a way
had Just come to him out of the difficulty
The Dubuque Association had offered him
place in the fold and all that he had to
do was to accept it. He stated further
that he had all along been willing to &C
cede to the wishes of the church, but that
he had felt it to be his duty to stand by
those who had upheld him.
Then Brown told the people that he
would have resigned long ago but for the
fact that the senior deacon, 1. H. Morse,
had urged him not to do so. He had
placed himself entirely in the hands of
this gentleman, believing then and now
that whatever he did was prompted by
the purest motives. Then Brown rhapso-
died good deal. ending with an appar-
emily fervent appeal that his resignation
be unanimously accepted.
Whether his talk had the desired effect
or Deacon Morse had prearranged the
whole sequence of events Is of course un-
known, but anyway some 200 or 300 people
ness to accede to the pastors wish. When
the noes were called one or two of his
earnest lady admirers boldly stood up,
but when they found they were hopeIessly
in the minority they Topped into their
seats with eyes brimmiag over.
Deacon Dexter at this luncture intro
duced resolution, strongly censuring the
Bay Conference for its unwarranted act in
unfrOokinu pacfor Ho-d1,, la
the deacon finished reading the lengthy
document when the gentleman most in
terested sprang to his feet and offered a
substitute, the effect of which was that the
Bay Conference go over the whole ground
again. The resolution did not say that
the verdict of the conference was unjust,
but rather nasty, and for that reason the
matter should be taken up once more.
Included in this was statement 10 the
effect that Brown had no way of making
livelihood except in the ministry, and that
If he were relieved of the censure he would
have no difficulty in obtaining another
church.
This was a diplomatic move on the part
of the reverend gentleman, for when Morse
put the motion hardly score opposed it.
The parsons friends claimed the result
as plR victory, ana a1ter the ADJOURN
ment they gathered around him in great
numbers and mingled their tears with his
smiles. For the pastor smiles at all times.
whether IN the agony of defea. or in the
triumph OF victory.
Long before the opening hour great
crowds gathered at the Mason-street en-
trance. AT 7:30 o'clock Sexton Pike
opened the big gate and wild rush fol-
lowed.
The crowd only got as far as the door.
however, tor Brown had his guards on
hand to prevent any but church members
from entering. Deacon Morse had ap-
pointed several of his followers to stand
guard at the first and second DOORS
Every person was requested to give his
name at the first door and at the
second entrance the man stood with the
church register containing the names ana
addresses of every member OF the con-
gregation.
Last nights struggle practically ended