The San Francisco call., 1896-02-18
Or. Brown Charged by Young
Mason With Intimidating a
Well-Known Lady.
MRS. COOPER IS CONFIDENT.
MISS OVerman Says That When Her
Story Is Told DR.. Brown Will Be
Fully INDICATED.

The ecclesiastical council called to pass
on the merits of the charges made by
Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Davidson and Mrs.
STOCKTON, alleging certain immoral acts on
the part of their pastor, Rev. Dr. C. o.
brown, VIII convene to-day at o'clock in
the Iecture-room of the First Congrega-
tional Church.
AS a matter OF fact the council began its
existence yesterday by holding an in
formal meeting in the office of Deacon
Barnard. Representatives OF the press
were expelled from the meeting, Dr. Nc
Lean saying, in explanation, that the
gathering was simply TO discuss III gen.
eral way rules governing the deliberations
OF the council. Just before the meeting
adjourned resolution was passed not to
give TO the public any OF the matters dis
cussed.
The entire council. except the delegates
from San Jose, was present when DR.. Nc
Lean, as chairman, raped for order
Deacons Barnard, Dexter, Vasconcellos
Dewing and Attorney NJ. S. Woodlands
also participated in the three hours in
formal discussion. Attorney Woodlands
outlined the case as he understood it, tell
ing of the numerous letters he had re-
ceiyed, in which the writer's made certain
grievous charges against DR.. Brown. He
wanted TO know what he should do with
such communications. The council
agreed that the evidence introduced must
be either in the form of sworn statements,
properly attested, or from the lips of the
parties directly making the charges Cen
eral iusinuatlons would not be considered
at all.
1t was also determined to deny the prin-
cipals in the scandal legal representatives.
Parties having charges to prefer against
DR.. Brown will be permitted to do so with
out prejudice. The pastor will then be
called on to rebut such accusations, siugly
or collectively, according to the wisdom
OF the council. DR.. Brown will be allowed
70 introduce witnesses il his behalf on
properly attested atidavits, should the
occasion demand it.
Just before the meeting adjourned an
effort was made by several of the most
prominent mem bers of the council To pass
resolution excluding members of the
press from the church during the delibera-
tlons OF that body In fact, the resolution
was passed by a slight majority, but one
OF the deacons moved 10 reconsider and,
alter a lengthy argument, succeeded in
defeating the measure.
The meeting of the council, be it ever
so informal, is an entirely uncongrega-
tiOnal proceeding" said a mem Der of the
First Church last night. 1T has no more
right to meet before the time called than
a jury selected to try a man FOR muir
der. Ii Dr. Brown felt so inclined. and 7
know that he does not, he could refuse to
appear before this tribunal, and, further,
demand that a new council be called The
rules OF our church are very plain on this
point. The only time a council car legally
meet in secret is defined in 'Dexter's
Manual OF Congregalionalism' (rule Z,
II a.. F,T1-
a council always, after having heard all
which 1t deems eXpedient TO hear in the Wav
OF testimony and argument, decides in private
consultation as to the nature OF the advice
which II shall give. The course usually taken
after the secret session is TO call the roll and
request each member briefly to indicate the
nature OF that advice which he thinks under
the circumstances ought to be given Com
monty then a committee is appointed TO frame
a written result which shall substantially en-
body the main conclusion reached. Their re-
port is discussed and, perhaps, amended until
IT takes such shape that, il possible, by unani-
nous vote it can be adopted.
The pastor has a right to be at every
meeting, and 1t is clearly not right for a
body selected to declare his guilt or inno-
cence of most serious charges to go into
secret session at any time. DR.. Brown is
anxious, however, to get at the bottom of
the whole affair, and consequently will
throw no obstacles in the way of an imme-
date and complete investigation"
DR.. Brown was much surprised last night
when informed of the secret session. but
said he was confident the council had
taken no action that would in any wav
affect the evidence he had to introduce to
clear his name from the foul charges made
by irresponsible parties.
Concerning the statement made in an
afternoon paper, in which DR.. Brown is
credited with having threatened a young
lady with exposure for certain alleged i'm
! cEa n a OF
him, Mrs Brown said last night:
DR.. Brown has never threatened to blacken
the name Of any Young lady, as was affirmed
in last evenings Bulletin. In fact, for more
than q year he has carefully protected that
young lady's name in a matter which, while
he himself has not allowed himself to think
evil, would be very harshly judged by criti-
cal world.
10 Join those who are bitterly opposing my hus-
band, and he simply said to her; i'll my pres
ence, that one VINO had been so charitably
treated and who was fully aware OF her obliga-
tfon, should not herself be SO uncharitable
He has no thought OF publishing her name.
On the contrary, he would do all in his power
10 protect her as in the past, unless her foolish
friends make 1t impossible.
1t is the purpose of the young lady's
friends to present this matter to the coun-
Gil, provided a way can be devised to keep
her name from the public James Mason,
who it seems is friend of the young lady,
said last night that TINS threat OF \ Dr.
Browns against an innocent and defense
less young woman was not the least OF his
sins Mr.. Mason proposes to take an ac-
tive part in the prosecution OF DR.: Brown.
''As an evidence of the manner in which
have been handled by the press since
this scandal came up" said DR.. Brown last
night, there is statement from the Sac
ramento correspondent of one OF our morn
ing dailies. The gentleman took dinner
at my house Saturday and voluntarily
offered the following:
SAN Francisco, Feb. 15. 1896.
In an interview which Correspondent
Brown, resident correspondent IN Sacramento
for the San Francisco Chronicle, sought and
insisted upon getting, and which he promised
would De put upon the telegraph wires ver-
batlm as had written it, said, in substance,
that ! became acquainted with DR.. Brown
about i've years ago, when ] was stan re-
porter on the Tacoma News, and used TO re-
port his sermons, delivered at the First Con-
gregauonal Church in that city. Also, that at
about the same Iime met Miss Matte Over
man ana her sister, who then attended Ep-
worth Methodist Episcopal Church, and who
were respected by all vino knew them. ] fur
! her said that / believed the case one of black
mail, pure and simple.
Inc interview was never published presum-