The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-23


as a minister ana will be ostracised By
his fellow clergymen, until he car
prove his innocence Of the charges o.
ungentlemanly and unministerial con-
duct preferred against him. After al
exciting all day and night session the
Bay conference, composed of Congre.
gational ministers and laymep. voted
80 to 32-to suspend DR.. Brown until he
mad proved his innocence.
The proceedings were intensely excit-
ing and many bitter words were
spoken. When the vote was an
nounced, Valentine Brown, son of DR..
Brown, attempted to assault Rev. DR..
Mclean, the aged moderator of the
council which first tried the disgraced
minister.
IT WAS BITTER.
DIR. Brown and his friends bitterly
fought the Introduction of the resolu-
tions suspending him, but without Sue
cess. The sentiment of the conference
seemed to be in marked contrast to
that of the council which a few weeks
ago practically acquitted him of the
charges preferred by Mrs. Davidson.
Several members of the conference had
also participated in the proceedings of
the council, and they expressed them
selves as dissatisfied with the council S
verdict and in favor of the resolu-
ton TO suspend.
DR.. Mclean took an active part
against Brown in the proceedings of
the conference. He delivered a severe
arraignment of the accused pastor in
which he said:
Il went into the council, of which
l had the honor to be the moderator,
with the thought that DIR. Brown would
be acquitted of the charges against
him. AS the trial went on,
A SICKENING FEELING
crept into my heart, and as the evil
dence continued it grew and grew and
grew, until 1T seemed circled about my
heart like some black and damning
serpent. The council was not called
to judge of the innocence or of the
guilt of DR.. Brown. 1t was formed to
inquire into the charges and to report
to the church. We found that the
grosser charges were not substanti-
aIted by the evidence. Nor were they
disproved by the evidence.
There were many doubts generated
there; not by our actions, but by the
evidence of DR.. Brown, and by the
disappearance of the witness who
could have thrown considerable light
on the subjects. The findings of the
council left three grave doubts The
disappearance of Mrs. Tunnel certain
ly looked as if lit had been connived
at in the house of DR.. Brown. We
gave him the
BENEFIT OF EVERY DOUBT
and extended the mantle of charity as
far as possible.
The findings of the council have
been before the public for a month.
They leave a grave doubt of suspicion
on DR.. Brown, and that is what was
intended. The members of the council
said that doubt overhung their minds
regarding the payment Of money to
Mrs. Davidson. When an entirely dis
credited woman went to him and de-
thousands of dollars from him
he could not give it, but when she re-
turned as the harbinger of the glad
news that the other woman would
remain silent for $500, the money was
quickly paid-to obtain evidence, so
DR.. Brown said
nell when he could not afford il. Did
not this look as if there were some
thing that he was afraid would come
to the light OF day?''
The council gave him the benefit Of
the doubt, mixed with charity. The
ministers extended too much mercy.
Their findings were garnished with
TOO many pearls, and the pearls were
thrown where it has been said pearls
should never be thrown. The thanks
we received for our work has been
in this respect
DR.. Brown made an eloquent appeal
to the conference to be guided by the !
verdict OF the council which he con- |
tended was an acquittal, and closed |
with the following words:
1 ask my brethren again that some |
ming more in the nature of testimony
be adduced before 1 am condemned. I !
would rather have you bind my hands
behind my back and have six men in |
In adjoining room ready to shoot than
o have You pass this judgment against
ne.
IN THE NAME OF GOD,
say to you, dear brothers, don't
shoot"
The audience was then dismissed and
he resolution was adopted by vote
# 49 to 30. The moderator announced
he suspension of Dr. Brown. but con-
erence was adjourned
In a short time d. and Mrs. Brown
we're surrounded by a number of
riends in the church who made loud
romises of support in the future.
Nearly all the delegates had retired
Then suddenly there was an exciting
ceene in the church. While the Rev.
{. X. Mclean, the moderator of the
ate council, was talking to a friend.
'alentine Brown, DR.. Browns son,
ushed UP to DR.. Mclean and said:
How care you vote against my
ather? I'll put hole through you.'
DIR. Mclean waved his hand gently
nd replied: Take this little boy
way"
Young Brown was not to be siIenced
lie clenched his fist and drawing back
is arm, was about to strike DR.. Nc
can In the face when q man grappled
nth young Brown and held his arm
asst. DR.. Brown at this time came I'D
nd took his son away.
BROWN HAS NO PLANS.
DR.. Brown has made the following
]atement:
ave spent the best part of my life
the ministry. l am now getting
retty well along in years, and of
purse, am too old to think of begin
ng q life in any other calling. /
ave. been fighting for my home and
le honor of my profession. The Bay
inference say practically that 1 have
Ut cleared myself of the charges
yainst me. In reply, l say 1 have
'ne the best 1 can. do not know
NV any man can repudiate such seri-
is charges rs those preferred against
e more thoroughly than have done
have asked my accusers to state the
me and places of various sins attri-
lted no me. They failed utterly to do
is They have declared me guilty
Ithout furnishing any definite evil
nee of my guilt.