The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-14
Widespread Interest Caused by
the Attitude and Words of
Rev. Mr.. Law.
REPUTATION a PREACHERS ALL
The Oakland Divine'S Doctrine of
Restriction Is Condemned and
Approved.

The stand taken by the Rev. Y. Marshall
Law OF Oakland in regard TO calls from
women of his congregation, and his utter
ance on the general question OF whether
women should be allowed TO visit pastors
in their studies when no third person is
present, has awakened a great deal of in
terest, both among the laity and the
preachers, and many of the latter on both
sides of the bay have already expressed
themselves on the subject.
The Oakland clergyman who has deter
mined to fortify himself against the posi-
bility of the repetition of another Brown
Davidson scandal is not alone in his
convictions. But there are others who
condemn his declarations and the senti-
ments that seem 10 prompt them as insult
ing to the women of the congregation.
The Rev. V. Marshall Law, pastor of the
Oakland Church OF the Advent whose
stand on the question started the discus
sion, thus defends his position
No one has a right TO assume that all
bank depoSitors are lnSulted because the cash
Ter locks his vaults IN the presence OF some of
the most reliable business men of the city who
happen TO be tarTylng IN the bank when the
hour for shooting the great bolts arrives. The
said business man knows those locks are for
protection against thieves and robbers, and
the said business man instead of feeling in
suited naturally rejoices that the bolts are
massive and the safes OF caSe-hardened steel
Tor his own treasure Is also incloSed in that
safe
So when q minister notes that thieves and
robbers OF character are about, and that thew
thrive on the unsuspecting, unsophistiea ted
ness and easy approach 10 ministers and their
churches, all Tight-minded Christian men and
women ought 10 be glad when they see pre-
cautions taken before, not after, mischief is
done. God has entrusted his ministers with
precious charge, and ne must be better pleased
10 have them err IN guarding it than to lind
them careless about il, as though OF little or
nothing, worth. Let Mrs Partridge or her
friends ask dozen business men in succession
their views on this question. ! think she Will
find that they have little use for the average
pastoral call, as ordinarily conducted, and
even less use for the solitary calling of ladies
on the minister in mis- study. A business man
cannot, OF course, accuse anybody OF miSdoing
but, given his choice, ne is better pleased to
have the minister call when others are about
and he has right TO be. This is in accordance
with common social decency only, and for one
intend 10 observe II as lar as practicable.
The minister has no trouble anu fears none
from those OF his parish who are tablished in
the community II IS the lone visitor OF IN
known antecedentS and clearly "'trumped
up excuse TO call who disturbs his peace of
mind and makes MIN fear Tor his stewardship
Laws are made for the lawleSs, not the law
abiding. There Is no use in getting into a
"peppylig" about ii and trying TO see whole
sale insult in a minister's effort 10 care for the
reputation OF his flock and his church as we'll
as himself. No such insult or aspersion was
Tor moment intended, as Mrs. Partridge and
every one else must see. If those good souls
who have feelings lying about TO be stepped
on Will start society for arreSting those
mothers who allow their little girls to run the
street at al hours OF the day or night, making
such things as the recent notorious develop
ments of san Francisco possible, better ser
vice Will be done society than in showing a
disposition TO keel -hsul' a minister who in
his humble way is trying to serve his day and
generation in a common-sense, practical way.
My platform simply this: | decline TO visit
or be visited by ladies except where others
preferably male) members of the household
are known 10 be about within easy call II
this be treason to God, man OF nv brother min.
listers, let those who call this policy in question
make the most OF II. V. MARSHALL LAW,
The Rev. NJ. F. Colburn, pastor of Grace
Methodist Church, says:
1 think il is very inadmissible for woman
TO visit the church study. 1t is very liable to
bring scandal. l admit no ladies to my church
study on any pIetext whatever. / have my
ofnce hours in the house from l to in the
afternoon, and there receive members OF the
congregation as any other acquaintance would
be received There are always two ladies in
the house and the foldlng-doOrS open from the
psrloT, SO there never would be any chance OF
any lady finding herself embarrassed.
Matchmaking among certain class is very
common on ministers. \ minister's reputa.
ton is OF more cash value. than the reputation
OF q man in any other occupation.
lawyer can be a little shady and still be
considered all right as q lawyer, and there are
many doctors that are not just right
In San Francisco moro than anywhere else
there are widowettes, women who have been
married several times and are looking for an
opportunity to blackmail. My reputation is
all l have in the world, and l have tried ia
keep il by keeping the female where I could
handle her.
1t does not make any difference whether Dr.
Brown is innocent or not, this matter has
ruined him in this town.
The Rev. J. George Gibson, pastor of the
Emmanuel Baptist Church:
Don't lawyers receive ladies in their Offices
Isn't ministers study his office? do not see
why minister should not receive a woman in
his study.
There is one thing certain if a woman wants
TO catch preacher and she can't catch him in
his study she'll eaten him somewhere else We
see the priests receiving women, men and
children that come to them and nothing is
said. ! do not see why IL should not be the
same with Dr. Brown or the preacher OF any
other churcn.
Never in all my life have 1 had any expert
ence that was dreadful-outside of the Durrant
case meant; that was something out OF the
ordinary.
Society does not demand that a lawyer should
be so good man as u minister that breaches
morality all the time, and OF course any refee-
ton on a preachers morality would utterly ruin
him. while man of any other profession
could recover. Just think OF all the minis.
tiers in San Francisco and in Oakland, and the
young and unmarried men, and how many
scandals can you recall connected with them?
/ guide my own life very much to suit nv.
sell and depend upon the advice neither OF
old women nor OF OLD men in the congregation.
! think that Mrs. Davidson would have ac-
complished what she did even had Dr. Brown
not had study hours, and as Tor the suggestion
of Mrs. Stockton's having kissed him in has
study that might have happened had the call
been at his own house. When person comes
for consultation it is not expected that others
will be present.
/ think that it Will be found that when
young ladies wish to call they generally have
the good sense to come two or three at a time
The Rev. A. ]. Wells, pastor of the
Second Unitarian Church:
am utterly opposed to the motion that Mr.
Law has promulgated. 1t is entirely disre.
specttul 10 our women and daughters. It tends
TO beget degrading idea OF womanhood. II
shows want OF self-respect on the part of a
minister and that he has not confidence in
himself. The minister that cannot meet q
woman in his study in the course of average
social and religious life is certainly unworthy
OF the pulpit.
The Rev. DR.. ". d. Williams, pastor OF
Plymouth Congregational Church:
1 have always received visits in my study
and think it would be an insult to the women
of my church TO forbid them TO come here
would receive those / know and those properly
introduced, the same ! would at my own
home. do not think DR.. Brown will prohibit