The San Francisco call., 1896-10-30
WASHED ITS HANDS
OF DR. BROWN
Action of the Bay Confer
ence in the Famous
=. :. Scandal.
The Matter Left in Charge of a
Committee Given Full
-, Power.
a: BREACH OF FELLOWSHIP.
Pointed ResO utions Against the Du.
buque Conference for Admitting
an Outcast.
A. BREACH OF FELLOWSHIP.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FnANosoo CALL, /


908 Broadway, Oct. 29.
The Bay Conference has practically
ended its connection with the Brown
O7erman matter and has transferred it to
as' committee. The action taken to-day
leaves all further adjudication of the
trouble between an ex-parte council and
the. Dubuque association, and leaves the
path perfectly clear fer the acceptance into
the Bay Conference OF DR.. c. o. Browns
successor at the regular Decem Der session.
Resolutions were passed after a lively
debate calling on the Dubuque association
to recede from its position In the case of
Rev, DIR. Brown, and threatening in case
ii refused to do so to. call an ex-parte
council TO pass on the famous case.
The meeting was opened by the reading
of the following prepared by Rev. f. H.
Foster, the Rev. William c. Pond, D. D.,
and the Rev. w. w. Scudder Jr., at whose
request the meeting was called:
although we have not been officially in
formed OF the fact, we are credihly assured
that the Dubuque Association OF Congrega-
tional Ministers and Churches have received
toaiis TRem bershlp ana thus attempted 10 re-
store to good standing minister, Rev. c. ..
Brown, ID, who mas been suspended from
membership with us. 1t has seemed to US that
serious questions were thus raised deeply con-
.cerning the fellowship of our churches, and
positively striking at vital points in our policy.
II has also seemed TO us1hat the discussion OF
these questions at our regular meeting I'D De-
cember might encrosch upon the time set
apart for spiritual quickening, so as to mar
greatly the best efforts OF that meeting. The
questions TO which we refer are these: ~ Can
o member of one association or conference be
ceived to another in any other way than by
orderly transfer, without breach OF fellowship
,(2) II this has been done, and thus fellowship
IA broken. Cnpht
ference TO make in the matter?
The following letter from Rev. c. o.
Brown, dated Straw berry Point, Iowa,
September %, 1885, was read:
Rev. George B. Hatch, Registrar of Boy Con-
fesence-DEAR SIR: The kindly and Christian
action OF Dubuque Association at its spring
meeting was this day reatfrmed, proffering me
fellowship, makes it. unnecessary for me
o longer to contend for my rights, which. with
out even the form Of justice, were trampled
have no expectation that those who broke
their plighted faith by breaking their eonsti-
tuition would listen to any appeal TO right the
wrong. l therefore withdraw from the con-
ference. Yours truly, CHARLES o. BROWN.
The moderator read from the Congrega-
tionalist report of the proceedings of
the Dubuque association in the Brown
case, which showed that 1t created quite a
commotion and that the vote stood q 10
IL, the. chair having finally refused to re-
cognize an appeal from its ruIlng. 1t
showed that the church having the largest
representation in the association was
headed by DR.. Browns son.
TheaRey. f. II. Foster presented a set of
resolutions regarding the action taken by
the Dubuque ASSOCIATION, declaring it
breach of fellowship and declaring such
action null and void. The matter was dis
cussed for several hours on all sides, and
several amendments were made to the
uyOrdin nf the raS0lufIOpS
The following was finally adopted as
setting forth the position OF the church
association and its members on the ques-
tionoof jurisdiction in such cases:
WaEREAs. The Dubuque Association of Con-
gregauonal Churches and Ministers has es-
sayed to receive TO its membership in good
standing a member Of this conference while
under suspension and without letters OF trans
feri therefore
Resotued, That the personal standing of the
member affected is no longer the chief matter
OF interest being eclipsed by the larger and
more general question of fellowship raised by
this action.
ResOlued, That this conference recognize the
following principles as embodying its concep-
ton of the case:
1. Every local conference or association, like
every local church, is wholly independent in
the management OF Its own affairs
q The determination of the standing of its
members is lodged in the local conference or
association.
g. Every coordinate body within the Con-
gregational fellowship is bound by the prin-
ciples of CongregaHonalism 10 respect their
right thus lodged in the local conference or
association.
4. In case of the alleged injustice. the
remedy lies in appeal TO an ecclesiastical coun-
ell and in that alone.
3. To receive q mem Der from such conference
or association into another in any way except
by orderly transfer from said conference or
association. or upon the finding OF an ecelesi-
astical council, Is TO commit breach Of fellow
Ship
RESOLVED, Therefore, that the action of the
Dubuque association in the premises is null
and void, and that the standing of the indi-
vidual in question Temains unaffected by the
said action.
These ARE to be forwarded to the Du-
'buque council, with the following expla-
nation: ca
. ResoIUed, That we request the DUBUQUE asso-
citation to consider tAis presmbled resolution
at It's earliest convenience in fraternal spirit
the spirit in which 1t is adopted and to take
such action in the matter as Will conserve the
interests OF denominational fellowship.
The following was also adopted as pre-
cautionarv measure to avoid calling the
conference together again in case the Du-
buque association refused to comply with
their requests:
ResolUed, That committee be appointed
and be given full posg err in-case the Dubuque
association does not see its way to take the
desired action, subsequently to request a
mutual council and 10 present the case of the
conference and, if fnaRy necessary-and God
forbid-to call .ex parte council
The comm fttee named to carry out the
plans of this resolu ion consists OF the
moderator, the Rev. j. A. Cruzan; the
registrar, the Rev. George B. Hatch; the
scribe, S. W. Condor; the Rev. w. w.
Scudder and the Rev. George Mooar, D.. D.
Another Valuable Acquisition.
ALAMEDA, CAL, Oct. 29.-City Libra
rian Harbourne applied last June Tor
copy of Jeypore Portfolios of Architec-
'tural Details, which were being donated
to public institutions of learning by the
Maharajah OF Jeypore. Rajputana, India.
In reply TO his application he received the
following letter:
JEYPoRE, Sept. %, 1896.
70 the Librarian Alameda, CGL-DEAR SIR:
WI reference to your application 10 the Con-
SUI ior the United States at Bombay, ana as
requested by Messrs Latham e. CO., Bombay,
SET Oh SIX parts of the Jeypore Portfolios OF
Arehitectura Details has been presen ted on
pehat Of his Highness the Maharajah OF Jey-
pore TO you ana forwarded TO Messrs. Latham
y 20, Bombay. on the 18th inst.
a, shall be glad to receive letter OF acknowl- |