The San Francisco call., 1896-02-03
THE COMMITTEE POWER.
Ministers Of the Bay Association
Establish Their Authority in
the Case,

The committee representing the Bay AS
oci alton, in spite of the fact that it form
ally adjourned last Monday night, will in
all probability ask DR.. Brown to furnish.
them with such proofs of his innocence as
he might possess. This action is due to
the fact that the committee has Just dis
covered that it has certain powers which,
under the circumstances. cannot be over
looked, even if it does force DR.. Brown to
go against the advice of his attorneys.
On January Ii Rev. DR.. Brown asked the
Bay Association to appoint a commit
tee to investigate the charges that had
been made against the moral side of his
life. The request was promptly acceded
to, and on the following Wednesday night
the reverend gentleman spoke to his con-
gregation as follows:
I have asked the Bay Association, which has
not the same ministerial membership as the
Bay Conference, TO appoint committee whose
character Will be above suspicion to canvass
the evidence and to do that in connection
with the standing committee of this church
and to make report to the public. which they
Will be asked to accept till the close of this
case in court.
This have done without the slightest hint
from any one that there a demand for it
from any mem Der of this church. Some words
have been reported to me that some one had
has approached me with any demand that
there shall be an investigation. l under
stand the temper OF my people, and know
that these reports are untrue and an injustice
to you.
know what my rights are In the case and
shall proceed in this matter on the full limits
OF my rights as do now in placing the matter
In the hands of the standing committee ap-
pointed when no passions ha0 been aroused in
the chnrch-in asking that they shall take
charge of the documents ana statements that
affect my reputation, and give forth to the
community such a statement as they NAV
deem proper TO make public withholding such
portions rs might be improperly used.
The joint com mittee, or board of in
quiry, as it was called, held four meet
ings, finally deciding that the Bay Asso-
clatlon committee was not intrusted with
any authority TO act in the matter The
standing committee then expressed conf
dence in the integrity of their pastor and
asked the public at large to suspend iudg-
ment until after the Davidson trial. With
this resolution, which was published in
THE CALL of January 28, the Joint commit
tee was formally dissolved.
1t appears now, however, that the Bay
Association committee did not fully under
stand nor appreciate their rights in the
premises. When it came to getting di-
rectly at the facts in the case. according to
a member of the Bay Association, DR..
Brown questioned their right to go that far.
| The minutes of the meeting on January
Ii tell different story from this, however
| The record was written by the secretary,
Rev. w. II. Tubb, during the session, be-
cause, as he stated yesterday, he antici-
! pated just such misunderstanding as has
now come up. That section of the minutes
bearing directly on the latitude of the
committee reads as follows:
Rev. C. o. Brown, DID,, addressed the asso-
citation, closing with request that commit
tee be appointed to investigate the matter now
in the courts involving his ministerial career
On motion of Rev. j. K. Mclean, d. d. Rev.
w. ID. Williams, Rev. W. c. Pond and Rev
III. Wikoff were elected to serve as said COM
mittee.
81 can appreciate misunderstanding
on the part of the committee" said Rev.
Mr.. Tubb Yesterday, Though this does not
in any sense alter the fact that they still
have an official existence. l anticipated
just some such trouble as this, and so took
the preeaurion to write the minutes as the
meeting progressed. The committee can
not dissolve until it has fulfilled the mis-
sion for which il was appointed.
''Dr. Brown asked for an investigation.
and the committee has full power to act
IN fact, they can ca. only do their duty by go
ing ahead. They have full right to de-
mand of DR.. Brown such evidence as be
might possess which bears on the case and
they cannot adjourn until this has been
done. a few days ago DIR. Williams asked
for copy of the minutes which | fur
nished him. Whether he has brought this
matter before his associates or simply al
lowed it to drop / am not prepared to saw.
eff l was DIR. Brown would do one
of two things, would demand instantly
thorough investigation or else would
call everything off and continue to brazen
the thing out to the end. His policy is