The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
MUST EXPLAIN OR GO.
DR.. w. D. Williams and Rev. William
r. Raeder's Views on the
Scandal,
Classification or dismissal"

Classification or dismissal"
These words by prominent divine in dis
cussing the position of DR.. Brown give the
key to the situation as viewed by the
Congregational ministry of the City and
State.
DR.. Browns clerical brethren are follow
ng the example of the greatest of min
listers in refusing to pass Judgment. They
declare that they will not, Individually or
collectively, express or even entertain be-
lief in his guilt until the close of the legal
investigation. They express sympathy
with him if innocent, and pity for him if
guilty. In either event they consider the
case an unfortunate one for the cause of
Christianity and the standing of the
church.
DR.. W. D. Williams, pastor of Plymouth
church and one of the pillars of Congre-
gationallsm in the State, was seen by a
CALL reporter at the close of yesterday
mornings service.
al am loath to discuss the case" he said
gravely, "for my position in the matter is a
somewhat peculiar one. If the First Con-
gregational Church fails to take action at
the close of the Brown Davidson trial it
may deyolve upon Plymouth Church, &C.
cording to Congregational polity, to call a
council to consider the matter.
81 trust things will not come to that
pass. I have known DR.. Brown for twenty
years and believe that his failings are
rather in the line of vaulting ambition and
a quick temper than of the lapse from
virtue of which he is accused. | have
never had any doubt of his integrity and
always believed his life had been an up-
right one.
q do not believe that if he comes out of
the trial with the shadow still resting
upo uhim he will force US to demand
an explanation of the appearance of evil.
He Will either furnish such explanation or
withdraw from fellowship with his church
and his brethren in the ministry Sup
posing that in the course of the trial the
charges are not refuted, as we all hope
they will be, and he applies to the Bay
Association for credentials, then, appre-
bend, will come the tug-of-war.
But remember that the charges are by
no means proven against him. 1t would
appear that they are made by bad women,
and that fact is in his favor
DR.. Williams, who is one of the most
popular pastors in the City, and one whose
integrity has never been called into cues
ton, has attended the trial. Rev. Will
liam R. RAIDER, the pastor of the Third
Congregational Church, has also been seen
giving close attention to the progress of
the case. He, too, is a friend of DR..
Brown
~ don't know what to think. am
plunged into darkness as to the case,' he
said yesterday. my knowledge OF DIR.
Brown would lead me to believe that.
should he not be able to explain the seem
ingly eliminating circumstances, he will
do what is right. He will not bring US to
the point of necessity of dismissal by a
council.
Certainly there can be no excuse for
ecclesiastical interference until the law
has had its way. We have no right to
judge until the case is closed and DR..
Brown has had ecclesiastical hearing.
The attitude of the ministers was shown
by the resolutions adopted by the Congre-
gational Club on Monday. True, there
have been some deplorable Developments
since that time, but | am sure we are a
unit on suspension of judgment until
the proper time"
Both gentlemen referred to a congrega-
tional council held year ago for the pur-
pose of adjusting the differences between
the Americans and Armenians in the