The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-24
MADIS0N'S HERESY TRIAL
THE ONLY ToPIC OF CONVERSATION
IN THE GOOD OLD TOWN.

IN THE GOOD OLD TOWN.
Opinions Pro and Con.--NIajority of the
People in Favor of Rev. Mr.. Erown--Sub-
stantial People on the oppositlon-Both
Sides Have Strong Cases-Tho Trial Oc-
ours To-day--The Charges as Preferred.
The all absorbing topic of interest and
conversation in Madison and the sur
rounding towns just at present is the
heresy trial Of Rev. w. II. Brown, the
young pastor of the Madison Congrega-
tional church, who either has some very
original ideas on theology or whose ut
teranceS are too many years ahead of
conservative old Madison to quit suit
some of the people of thas town. Which
of these views of the matter is correct
Is matter of doubt, as each one of the
factions puts Zip very strong argu-
ment to support it's assertions. The
question will, however, be decided by
the council before which Mr.. Brown will
be tried to-day.
1t seemed to the Courier" man who
visited Madison yesterday that the ma
ltves had forgotten everything else eX-
cept Mr. Browns troubles. At the de-
pot, in the postoffice, in the stores, and
In private houses it was the topic of
conversation and even on the train,
people who got aboard at the way sta
lions between this city and Madison
began on it as soon as they sat down
1t the car. One lady was heard to say,
We'll, all ] know about 1t is that it
seems to me that instead of Mr.. Brown
mastering his subjects in the pulpit,
they mastered him. On the other
hand at the depot a knot of men dis
cussing the matter asserted that the OPP
ponents of Mr.. Brown were a lot of old
'fogies' who were years behind the
times
After a. careful observation and in
quiry among the people of Madison it
would seem that an overwhelming ma
Jority is in favor of Mr.. Brown, in fact
only sixty out of over 300 members Of
the church have signed the petition
calling Cor heresy trial and great
number of these are now, it Is claimed,
sorry that they did so. One man prom
inent in Madison said yesterday that
the reason many We're opposed to Mr..
Brown was because he advocated the
payment of debts and said from the
pulpit that a Christian way of doing
business way to pay 100 cents on the
dollar. Another well known gentleman
said that the Sunday school and Chris
tian Endeavor society had prospered
as they had never before since Mr..
Brown took the charge, and he knew
personally five young men who had be-
come converted and jointcd the church
owing to Mrs. Browns good influence.
Others say some people don't seem to
like to see the crowds that go to hear
Mr.. Brown. especially in the summer
season, and say he is too popular.
On the other hand; gentleman
prominently connected with the oppo-
sition said that the charges of heresy
have been preferred by the working
members OF the church, who have
shown the most ointerest in church
work and who have been considered
most capable in judgment to manage
the affairs of the church. Among those
opposed to Mr.. Brown are six of the
oldest Sunday school teachers in the
church, a former Sunday school su-
perintendent who is leading the kick
ing" hosts, the president of the Chris
tian Endeavor society and the delegates
of the society chosen to the Boston and
New York conventions, the president
of the Woman's Board of Foreign Mis-
sions, the founder of the society of
Kings Daughters in Madison, all the
officers of the ladies missionary society,
five out of the seven presidents of the
Village improvement society since it's
formation, the senior deacon of the
church and an ex-deacon, who claims
that he could not be an officer in the
church while Mr.. Brown was pastor
In spite of this imposing array on
the opposition, however, it can but be
potent to the impartial observer that
personal feeling has much to do with
the changes and that small circle
has been opposed to Mr. Brown since
he first took the pastorate. Many per-
sons have for some time taken note
books to church and jotted down GER
tain sentences of the sermons which
they considered heretical. Several of
these sentences which have been freely
aired recently Mr. Brown declared that
he never uttered and says that in many
instances he has been grossly misre-
ported.
1t would hardly seem that the Con-
gfSgational ministers Of this city dis
agree to any great extent with Mr..
Brown as they have invited him to ad-
dress the ministers meeting at Center
church next Monday morning on '"rhe
Cross and the Kingdom
The council which will hear the case
to-day will be formed of many promi-
nent clergymen from various towns and
cities. The Rev. S. L. Blake of New
London drew up the charges against
Mr. Brown, and is counsel for the pros
ecution. Mr.. Brown will be judged by
about forty-two delegates selected from
the pastors and members of the
churches of the East Convocation and
the United, Center and Howard ave-
nue. church of New Haven. DIR. An
derson's church of Meriden, the First
church of Middletown
and Professor L. o. Brastow and F. c.
Porter of the Yale Divinity school will
also act as judges.
The charges are as follows:
l. The Rev. William II. Brown does