The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
THE PASTOR CENSURED.
Mclean and RAIDER Give the
Defiant Minister Some
Hard Raps.
THE CONGREGATION AROUSED.
Steps Will Probably Be Taken To.
Day With View of Forcing
Brown to Resign.

Rev. William Rader-It is not clear
what DR.. Brown did before the council
met, but it is painfully certain that
since it adjourned he has done some
things which deserve unqualified con-
demnation.
Rev. Mr.. Sink. Stockton-If 1t be true
that he dictated that dispatch to The
United Press, intending to give out the
impression that he had been acquitted,
DR.. Brown Iras lost all principle.
Layman Curtis, Sacramento-At first it
was plainly apparent that Brown was
extremely antagonistic to us. He seemed
to think that we all stood in the light
of enemies.
Rev. DR.. Cruzan, Park Congrega-
tioua1 Church, San Francisco-The First
Congregational Church would have the
right to let the matter drop after filing
the findings of the council, but it would
look like ignoring not only the findings
but the charges against DR.. Brown as
we'll.
Rev. F. Flawith, Fourth Congrega-
tionaI Churchill DR.. Brown has said
l.
think he has done wrong. i certainly
would thank council if, like DR..
Brown, I had been a party to its hav-
ing been called. At any rate, what
ever DR.. Brown may do, his church
should not fail to be courteous and to
thank the council, which it had called
to settle matter pertaining to itself.
G.. G. Dodge, AIameda-I think his
remarks about the council unjust and
uncalled for, and indicated ungrateful-
ness. DIR. Brown has certainly been very
leniently dealt with.
Rev. I'll. Melville Tenney, San Jose
If our verdict has not cleared his min
isteriaI character from all taint OF sus-
picion, the facts must be blamed and
no. the council.
DIR. Mclean, 0akIand-If he really left
the church and went to The Call Office
after saying he was going home, and
gave or caused to be given any such
false report as he is said to have given,
then he has most certainly thrown him.
self liable to discipline by the Bay
Association. Any man who would give
out such false report would even do
worse to protect himself.
Pastor Brown to Secretary Mccoy
Allow me to introduce Mrs. Davidson,
one OF the best workers in my church.
DR.. Browns abortive attempt to foster
on the people of the United States false
impression of the findings of the council
meets the unqualified condemnation of
his late judges and others interested in
Congregational affairs. This dispatch will
bear repeating first on account OF its utter
falseness and the figure it will cut in Dr.
Browns future ministry. 1t reads as fol-
lows:
SAN FRANCISCO, March II.
EtThe ecclesiastical court of inquiry which has
been engaged in investigating certain charges
preferred against Rev. DR.. C. o. Brown of the
First Congregational Church of this City con-
'cluded its labor this evening at 10 O'Clock,
bringing in a unanimous verdict acquitting
the pastor on every charge against him, and
concluding with "a hope and prayer that the
sharp lessons OF recent months may be taken to
heart by him, and in consequence his future
years may be more fruitful than any in the
past, and especially that this experience has
left this loved and honored church and its
pastor with clearer understanding of their
duty to each other and to the Divine Master"
The doctor is satisfied with the decision of
the court, which could go no further in vindi-
eating him than it did. The finding will have
q material bearing on the charge of extortion
now pending against Mrs. Mary A. Davidson
When interviewed by CALL reporter
last evening regarding the extraordinary
dispatch dictated to him by DR.. Brown.
George Fraser, night editor of The United
Press, said:
"You OF course understand that The
United Press is wholly unbiased in this as
in all other cases of similar nature, and
that personally am not acquainted with
r. single member of DR.. Browns congre-
CATION nor with the pastor himself and
have no interest whatsoever in the scandal.
"In company with Mr.Nagle and another
gentleman, whose name did not catch.
DIR. Brown called upon me on Tuesday
night last at about II 80 o'clock. After an
exchange of greetings the doctor said:
Mr.. Fraser, / wish YOU would saw to
the American public through The United
Press that the ecclesiastical court of in
quiry has concluded its labors and has
found DR.. Brown innocent of every charge
preferred against him. The verdict is an
absolute vindication.'
AFTER congratalating the pastor asked
him if he would kindly indicate Just what
he desired me to say. He thereupon die.
tated the story in question precisely as it
has been published in THE CALL, being as
sisted by Mr.. Nagle, who offered sugges-
tions as to its wording. In reply to quses-
tion from me the doctor concluded:
Yes, you may say that DR.. Brown is
thoroughly satisfied with the verdict of the
council. The members of the court could
go no further in vindicating him than they
did,"
aAfter reading the story as had it to the
three gentlemen handed the typewriter
copy to DR.. Brown and Mr.. Nagle, both of
whom carefully scanned the dispatch and
read it aloud, handing it back to me with
the assurance that it was perfectly correct
and satisfactory.
"Acting in good faith sent the story
out to such of our Eastern papers as had
not already gone to press. In accordance
with the agreement between THE CALL and
The United Press the former was furnished
with copy of the dispatch. Later my at
tention was called to the apparent discrep-
ancy between the statement given me by
DR.. Brown and the copy of the verdict in
-rn