Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-22
The San Francisco Clergyman Sus-
pended by the Conference.
PROCEEDINGS INTENSELY EXCITING
Attempted Assault on the Modera-
tor of the Council.
MANY BITTER WORDS SAID

SAN FRANCISCO. April 22-Rev. G. o.
Brown. pastor of the First Congregational
Church, has lost his standing as minister,
and will be OstraCised 10y his fellow clergy
men until he can prove his Innocence on
the charges of ungentlemanly and unmin-
isterial conduct preferred against him. After
an exciting all-day and night session, the
Bay conference. composed of Congregational
ministers and laymen. voted, 10 to -, to
suspend DIR. Brown until he had proved his
innocence.
The proceedings were intensely exciting
ana many bitter words were spoken.
When the vote was announced Valentine
Brown, son OF DR.. Brown, attempted to as
sauit Rev. DIR. Mclean, the aged moderator
Of the council which first tried the dis
grIcei minister.
DIR. Brown and his friends bitterly fought
the introduction of the resolutions suspend.
ing him. but without success. The serti-
Ment OF the conference seemed to he in
marked contrast TO that of the council
"A.ch few weeks ago practically acquitted
him Of the charges preferred by Mrs. David
son: Several members of the conference
had also participated in the proceedings of
the council, and they express themselves as
dissatisfied with the councils verdict and
IN favor of the resolution to suspend.
Or. Mclean took an active part against
DR. Brown in the proceedings of the con-
ference. He delivered 4 severe arraienpcnr
OF the accused pastor.
Dr. Brown made an eloquent appeal to
the conference 20 lie guided by the verdict
OF the council. which, ne contendei WAS an
acqUttal. and closed with the FOLLOWING q
wCrlS: L ask my brethren again that
something more in the nature of testimony
te adtUccd before l am condemned. 1
would rather have you bind my hands be-
hIEd my back and have six men in an td-
q har,
I&ss this Judgment against me. II the
nam. Gi Iod, say TO yoT, dear brothers,
don't shoot"
The audience was thcr dismissed and the
resolution adopted by Il vote Of ~ TO o.
1Ee MODERATOR Announced the s!Ispension
Cl I'F- Brown, and the conference closed
In d short tine Dr. and Mrs Brown were
surrounded by q number of friends in the
church, who made Iog3d promises of srrr,-
port IA ihe lHtGre- Nearly all the dele
gates had retired when suddenly there was
an exciting scene III the church
hiIr the Rev. J. n. Mclean the n1dar-
atcr Ci the late council. was talking to a
lrleni. Valentine I:rown Dr. Browns SON
rushed up to Or. Mclean, and said: How
hole through YOU"
Dr. Mclean waved his hand gently and
TeI-ird; Take tEIs Httle boy away
A"UHg Brown Vas not to he sfIenred
fe cienched his fist, and drawing. hack his
arm vas about TO strike DR.. Mclean in
IL LLcv' Wh-n man SraPpIed with young
I'lVNH ana held MS arm fast.
IT Brown at this time came I'd and
took his son away
ment. o
nave no plans for the future 1 have
spent the best part Of my life in the min
!StEE- l am now getting pretty well aIone.
m years. and, of course. | am too old to
thiHk Of le&inninS a life in any other call
ing | have been fighting for my home
ana the honor of my person. The Rav
conference say practically that l have not
cleared myself of the charges against me.
In reply | say | have done the best | can
do not know how any man can repIdiate
such serious charges as those preferred
against me more thoroughly than | have
done | have asked my .ccusers TO state time
and places of the various sins attributsd
70 me They failed utterly to do this They
have declared me guilty without furnishing
any definite evidence Of my guilt
Of all these imPutations. | have replied
as best l knew how. If the Bay confer
ence expects more from me than this they
are asking more than is human. | have
done all IN my power in this direction |
Know no other step l might take that
would reinstate me into the fellowship
of my hTe. hren."