The San Francisco call., 1896-03-18

Such was the verdict rendered by the
ecclesiastical council at quarter past lO
o'clock last night after long month OF
investigation. One copy was served upon
DR.. Brown and another upon Deacon
Morse, representing the congregation.
DR.. Brown received word of the verdict
or some version of it almost before 1t was
submitted. After having received the
copy he appeared at THE CALL Office and
invited congratulations on his "acqult-
tai" He then. aided by Attorney Nagle,
dictated the following dispatch to the
United Press correspondent for dissenina-
tlon throughout the country:
SAN Francisco, March IL.
The ecclesiastical court of inquiry which has
been engaged in investigating certain cnarges
First Congregational Church OF this City con-
cluded its labor this evening at 10 o'clock,
bringing in unanimous yero!ct acquiring
the pastor on every charge against MIN. ana
concluding with ga hope and prayer that the
sharp lessons of recent months may be taken to
heart by him, and in consequence MS future
years may be more fruitful than any in the
past, and especially that this experience has
left this loved and honored church and its
pastor with clearer understanding OF their
duty to each other and to the Dlvlne master.
the court, which could go no further in vindi-
eating him than it did. The finding will have
a material bearing on the charge OF extortlon
now pending against Mrs. Mary A. Davidson.
DR.. Brown also said: "The official steno-
graphic report of my evidence shows to
any who choose to investigate that I did
not say that my chief reason for paving
$500 was to secure the silence OF any Mrs.
Baddin, but, rather, to secure evidence
upon which the criminal might be dis
closed and punished. This very important
testimony the:council entirely ignores in
their report"
After the council adjourned Moderator
Mclean said: ''There is no appeal from
our verdict. Congregationalism acts on
the assumption that Christian people are
not expected to need discipline; it is only
the execution. The church takes these
findings of fact, and if the church sees fit
to 90 against these findings it Will be al
lowed to do so: but if the other Congrega-
tion churches think that the council was
not treated Justly the other churches can
withdraw from fellowship. This advice OF
the council will have no more weight than
the weight of reason in 1t.
There were eighteen members OF the
council present and two absent, Rev. |. N.
Hoyt of Sacramento and Deacon Parkin-
son of Stockton. The verdict at the head
of the article was adopted unanimously.
The cony intended for DR.. Brown was
placed in the hands of Valentine, his son,
no TAIL Will IL upStdiio W Allo lnbACl . VI
flee, where he and Lawyer Nagle and Dea-
con Morse were awaiting the verdict.
The two doors leading to the office were
then closed against the reporters and
Valley Brown stood guard inside the outer
door with the knob in his hand to prevent
the reporters from turning it. After half
hour of meditation DR.. Brown came out,
and smilingly remarking that he was
going home proceeded to THE CALL edito-
rial-rooms with the dispatch TO the United
Press as printed above.
He shook hands with his acquaintances
and requested their congratulations on
what he called his victory.
Deacon Morse, who was neither very
grave nor very gay, called the reporters
into the study and dictated the verdict to
them without comment.
The verdict of the council will be pre-
sented to the church at meeting to be
held at 7:3O this evening.