The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-23
BROWN NOT OUT YET.
He Threatens to Preach in the
Church Next Sunday.
MANY PENSIONERS FAVOR HIM
Mrs. Davidson Says She VIII Put Him
IA Prison TOR Perjury-Mrs. Cooper
Fighting the Clergyman.

San Francisco. April 1.-THE trouble IN
the FIRST Congregational church over the
actions of its pastor. Rev DR.. c. O Brown.
does not seem to he ended with tire minis
ter's suspension last night oy the Bay con-
ference Of Congregational churches DR..
Brown has announced that he is in the
hands Of the officers Of his church. and
that he believes majority of the deaecns
and trustees ara favorable 10 him. He has
also said that he viii probably continue
70 preach in the First church, and ne VIII
probably preach next Sunday. His friends
say the decision OF the council was COM
pete surprise to him, as he had confidently
expected that the loyal friends who rallied
around him would be able TO carry favor
able vote
Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper. whom Brown
made his assistant pastor, and who has
been leading the fight against the pastor.
says that the church Is declining. and thai
the trustees must force Brown to retire.
Many prominent Congregationaiists be-
'iieve Brown viii resign without making a
further fight against the combined infiu-
ence Of many parishtoners, backed by the
influence OF the conference. Many promi-
nent and wealthy members continue TO
stand by him. however, and 1t Is not i'm
probable that he may start an independent
church in this city
Mrs. Mary A. Davidson. whose arrest by
Brown for biackmail precipifated ala ~
trouble in the church, does not attempt TO
conceal her qualification at the defeat of
the pastor She says she will place him
behind prison bars for SANDER and perjury.
and threatens other accusers with similar
punishment She IL preparing a lecture
attacking DR.. Brown.
San Francisco. April z2-DP. Brown has
made the following statement about the
verdict of the conference:
The findings Of the conference are all
such surprise TO me that feel bound in
Justice TO my friends 70 say very little at
present concerning them In fact. l am
In doubt as to the exact meaning of the
verdict OF suspension. i do not even know
II l am now a regularly ordained minis
ter, although my friends tell me that I'M
der the laws Of the state and Of Congre-
gationalism l may still fulfill all the func-
tons OF preacher OF the gospel, such as
marrying, visiting the sick and assisting
and comforting the dying.
Now that it Is all over 1 feel to a GER
tain extent relieved. Anything was pref
cradle TO the suspense l have undergone
since the beginning of my trouble. In my
heart i impugn none of the motives of
my brethren who tried and suspended me-
Sometimes II seems to me this is sort
of punishment for my Heron SINS but
possibly this is due to a great extent to
my imagination. After all / am human.
This struggle has been to me a matter
OF life or death. almost Now that IL is
all over. put myself in the hands of my
friends and will abide by the will of things
Inevitable
Inc verfict speaks for itself / cannot
exactly reconcile the present attitude Of
certain ministers of the association with
their actions In the ecclesiastical council
that heard the charges. According to
that TRIBUNAL l was acquitted OF any i'm
moral conduct. Now these same clergy
men vote TO suspend me from their minis
teriai and pastoral fellowship 1t looks as
II they were juggling with their original
verdict am now in the hands Of the
onicers or the church. II they see 1T TO
retain me as the pastor of the First Con-
gregationai church / will remain In the
pulpit II the opposite should happen. 1
VIII, OF course submit to their will and re-
tire, Thus fai believe a majority of the
board or deacons Is friendly to me Nv
friends have stood Loyalty by me in my
troubles. and. come what may. I shat,
never forget their kindress in the hour of
my trfboiation. Deacon Morse SAYS there
Is no reason why l should not occupy nv
pulpit next Sunday. II a majority Of the
BOARD OF deacons Is of the same opinion I
think viii preach there ON that day.
1 have no plans for the future. / have
nc cSsi pdil ot my llfe In the min
lstry. l am now getting pretty we'll along
IN years. and OF course l am too old to
think of beginning a life in any other
calling. have been fighting for my home
and the honor Of my profession. The Rav
conference says practically that / have
not cleared myself OF the charges against
me. In reply say have done the best
l can. 1 do not know how any man can
repudiate such serious charges as those
preferred against me more thoroughly
than l have done. have asked my ac-
cusers to state the times and places of the
various sins attributed to me- They failed
utterly 10 do this. They have declared me
guilty without furnishing any definite eyi-
dence OF my guilt. To each and all of these
imputations | have replied as hes, / knew
IL the Bay conference expects more from
me than this 1t Is asking more than is hu-
man feel that have done all in nv
power in this direction. know OF no other
step l might take that would reinstate ME
into the fellowship OF my brethren"