The San Francisco call., 1896-04-23
THE BROWN CASE
IS NOT ENDED.
1t Is Possible an Appeal
Will Be Made to the
Courts.
DUTY OF THE TRUSTEES
The Pulpit Must Only Be Occu-
pied by Duly Accredited
Minister.
MRS. DAVIDSON Is PLEASED.
Rev. Flawith Thinks the Unfrocked
Gentleman Would Do Well to
Leave the State.
MRS. DAVIDSON Is PLEASED.

The suspension of DR.. Brown from the
Bay Conference until such time as he can
prove his innocence is thought TO practi
cally settle that gentleman's ministerial
career. True, he will in all probability
continue as pastor of the First Church fol
time, but it is generally admitted that
before many weeks he must go.
The pastor himself will not acknowledge
this. He declares his absolute Willingness
to rest his future in the hands OF his friends
This statement, however, seems to be based
on knowledge of power behind the
throne" rather than on rules governing
congregational affairs.
Precedent points to only one course
that is, his resignation as pastor of tine
First Congregational Church of San Fran
cisco. His expressed intention of allow.
ing his friends to decide the issue proves
concIusiveIy that he hurls defiance at the
associated churches. If the deacons and
trustees OF the First Church determine to
stand by the twice-convicted man, then il
follows that the organization over which
he presides becomes in ecclesiastical par
lance tramp"
If Brown in the "hands of his friends" is
stronger than the unqualified verdict of
the Day OOu4cI6nCe, ln6n Is OnlV a QueS-
tiOn of days, and very few at that, before
such a condition prevails.
1t is stated, however, on what appears
to be good authority that if DR.. Brown
persists in occupying the pulpit the
dissatisfied members will seek a legal
redress. The First Church was form ally
dedicated to Congregationalism many
years ago, a board of trustees being
formed to regulate its affairs. In view Of
the fact that Brown has been unfrocked
by the associated churches-that is de-
clared no longer a Congregational minis
ter-he has no legal right to speak from
the platform OF any church dedicated to
that particular form of religion.
The courts have decided this point time
and again. They have held that the power
which gave has also the power to take
away. The Bay Conference has done this
very thing. 1t declared that DR.. Brown is
unit to preach Corgrega tionalism or in
any way perform the duties devolving upon
a minister of that church. In this is in
Guided his right 10 perform the marriage
ceremony.
In view, therefore. OF Dr. Browns eccle-
siastical decapitation, it is thought that
the courts would sustain an injunction
tending to prevent his further appearance
in the pulpit of the First Church. He is
admittedly not Congregational minister;
therefore, an objection in a legal way from
one member of the First Church, which is
held in trust for Congre gationalism, would
be sustained by the courts. 1t is SAID that
ii Dr. Brown attempts to preach any time
after next Sunday the courts will be ap-
pealed to.
In the meantime those opposed to DR..
Brown are playing waiting game. They
propose that everything shall be done ac-
cording to Congregational usages. They
realize that the fight is still on, more bit
ter, if possible, than ever, and as they are
slightly in the minority il is not their pur-
pose to hazard anything by premature ac-
tion.
The petition requesting the trustees to
remove DR.. Brown received several new
signatures yesterday, largely from people
who have been influenced by the stunning
sentence of the conference. This petition
will be presented to the trustees to-mor-
row.
THE church is declining rapidly" said
Mrs. Cooper yesterday. sLast week the
Sunday school was even smaller than that
of the week before. The treasurer's report
for last Sunday week is as follows:
Primary class, 3; intermediary, %; Mr..
Eaton 8; Mr.. KimbalPs, 16; orchestra, 6 !:
teachers, 15; officers, 5; visitors, 3. Total
96. Collection, 81 SO.
This report is distressing when it is
remembered that the attendance formerly
reached the 400 mark"
The action OF Valley Brown in threaten
ing to do bodily harm to DR.. Mclean
because the latter saw proper to condemn
Dr. Brown IS generally regarded as most
cowardly. No attempt has yet been made
by the pastors friends to DENY the dis
graceful scenes which occurred in the
Market-street church Tuesday night.
Ihe 1rlends OF DE-. Drown now admit
that the verdict Of the council was a een
uine surprise to the pastor. He had mar
shaIed MS forces carefully, though he now
unoerstahos that friendly expressions of
sympathy, such as met him on ali sides
were really founded in pity rather than
faith. 1t is well understood that Deacons
Hatch and Barnard are unaiterahIv or.
posed 10 the present pastor. Even Deacdn
Dexter, In spite OF his frantic appeal to the
council, seems to nave undergone slight
revulsion of feeling since the verdict
II am not prepared to say ANYTHING ar
this time," said Dexter. az was nafur.
ally surprised at the verdict, but don't
care to say anything further than this
now"
"Will you vote to retain Dr. Brown as
pastor of the First Church ?" asked the re-
porter.
"Well, do not care TO answer that"
replied Dexter. II am looking into GER
tain matters, the result of these disclos-
ures, and until these things are made clear
to me L don't care to commit myself"
Rev. Mr.. Flawith is of the opinion that
that Dr. Brown would do himself a good
turn by leaving the State as quickly as
possible. He hints at all manner of
things, but winds up in saying nothing.
i have very strong notion of writing
to DR.. Brown that it would be well for
him to leave the State as quickly as pos
sible. WhyP Well, 1 cannot now give
my reasons for saying that, but think he
will understand"
Mr.. flawith will be remembered as one
OF Dr; Browns principal opponents during
the Herron controversy. He has also been
prominent in the fight which has finally
ehaeo IN the ministerial undoing of Brown.
highly pleased with the action of the Bay
conference. The one-time alleged black
mailer of DR.. Brown is engaged in writing
general resume of the case. It's her
purpose TO denver it to such of the public
aS care 10 isteh from the lecture platform.
fSWEET HOUR OF PRAvEp ),