The San Francisco call., 1896-02-19

,;dr. Tarklnson-Ihe committee should reject
az Shafges on the same line except one, and
should not bring in half q dozen different
charges charging the same act.
D5. Brown-l wish TO object to one word
made use OF by DR.. Pond. Ii a report is brought
IL 1t will come in with the presumption of its
being capable OF substantiation.
Dr. Hoyt-I think that this committee VIII
put IN very energetic protest against stand
ing as bar to the bringing OF charges? am
stranger here and how can know the cherac-
Ter OF the people who make the charges am
sure that this committee viii hesitate to fold
and put away evidence and then take
the chances of being misunderstood. If we
receive charges and simply present
the charges il is all right. But If we are sup
posed TO hold ont certain evidence and be
responsible fOr doing so l certainly would not
be party 10 such proceeding. would ike
that oar committee be instructed to present
only such charges as they think have some
good testimony to support them.
Dr. Rader-Some OF the committee object to
the clause which makes it necessary TO do sift-
ing. 1t would place US in a better position
with the public for us to hand in all the evil
dence and let the council judge of it,
Or. Brown-ln its present form the resolu-
ton would permit any person to hide his or
her personality. l think it would be unfair TO
allow any person 20 smite me without my
knowing who is performing the act. Task that
the persons making charges should come be-
fore the council to Substantiate them.
After it was shown by argument that
the resolution implied such conditions as
mentioned by DR.. Brown it was adopted.
Mr.. Wnliams-I would move that all eharges
p
son making them.
This motion was carried, and then il
was decided that the council hold daily
sessions from P. N. to 80 p. NJ and from
7:30 TO $3.50 P. NJ.
Chairman Hoyt of the committee on
charges announced that the committee
would meet this morning in the office of
DR., Brown in the church between 9A. NJ.
ana IL A. NJ. to receive any charges that
may be ready for presentation.
AT TINS point DR.. Brown called the atten-
ton OF the council to the fact that 1t had
not yet defined his status before that body.
On the motion of Mr.. Parkinson il was
decided that DR.. Brown have the same
rights before the council as those accorded
10 any defendant who appears before d
civil court as his own counsel, in so far as
the council can take cognizance of his
standing.
DR.. Mooar-They who make the charges
should have the same rights, SO that there
will be no inference that we are unfair.
Dr, FondEl don't think We ought to restrict
sanctifed sense enough to know how 10 act in
any emergency that comes up.
DR.. Scudder-Does this give DR.. Brown the
right to croSS-eXamine witnesses and witnesses
the right TO cross-examine Dr. Brown?
Dr. McLean-If DR.. Brown makes statement
II would be subject 10 crosse examination the
same as that of a witness. Dr. Brown viii GER
tslnly be willing to be cross-examined and the
witnesses should also be willing TO be cross
examined.
Dr.. Brown-The council has spent the day
thus lar In laying down rules along which the
SanC14Heu common sense OF the couucil shhl4
run. You have th1S lar been occupied IN
placing restrictions on the council ! fen TO
see the wisdom in stopping thus al time
when IL may result in my favor. should be
the first TO claim that those who appear against
me should have the same right as l nave.
never heard OF any trial where the defend
ant had not the right 10 cross-eXamine the
witnesses. No one but | can properly cross
examine the witnesses, as 10 one knows them
as l do and the nature and peculiaritIes of the
charges that are likely TO be made.
The motion under discussion was carried
DR.. Mooar-Imoye now that equivalent rights
be given TO every person who through this
committee brings charges against DR.. Brown.
This motion was also carried.
DR.. McLean-I suppose before any charges
are brought before the council they should be
placed before DR.. Brown, that he may under
stand before hearing them before the council
what the charges are That is common before
all courts, civil and ecclesiastical.
Nh. Parklnson-Any person who brings writ
ten charges against DR.. Brown should be re-
quired 10 present two coDies-one for the COM
mittee and one for the defendant.
This motion was carried without dissent
Dr. Brown may be able to give you little
help. l am fully prepared 10 meet all the
charges which have thus fer been published in
the newspapers. would like TO say word
with regard 10 a statement that has been N ade,
probably without authority, in one of the
newspapers for these statements made with
out authority are sometimes correct 1t has
been said that the course OF procedure in the
civil courts viii be reversed, and that the de-
fenSe viii practically be put on the stand first
and the prose cution be allowed to close with a
grand finale. l think that the plan OF intro
ducing evidence should be laid down here this
evening.
1t was finally decided that the course of
procedure should be the same as that in
vogue in councils of this kind, and that
Messrs. Woodlands and Parkinson be
asked TO meet with the committee this
morning to mark out and define the order
in which the case shall be conducted, and
that the decision of this committee shall
be reported to the council at the opening
of the session to-day
A reading of the minutes was called for
previous to adjournment and exception
was taken TO them. DR.. Mooar wanted a
correction of the rule adopted by which
the inquiry was to be limited to immoral
conduct. He thought it should cover
conduct inconsistent with good ministe-
rial standing" A motion to so extend the
scope was adopted unanimously.
Dr. Scudder moved that the couucil-at-
large should decide what evidence was and
was not admissible. In other words, that
the committee of three should report to
the council all the charges or evidence
brought before il, This also was adopted.
DR.. Brown called attention TO the pro-
vision under which charges were TO be
made and entertained by the council He
said that DR.. Mooar' S motion specified that
the charges must be made by Irresponsible"
parties. That word was not IN the motion
as reported in the minutes, and he thought
it very important that it be inserted-the
word responsible"
The moderator called upon Dr. Mooar
and he said:
Yes, did use the word responsible. 1 mean
that they should sppear-that their charges
and testimony should be signed so as to make
them responsible.
This correction was made, and then Dr.
Brown asked the privilege OF the floor
for "just moment" he said, "before ad-
journment'-and it was granted. He
said:
believe stand now in position that has
no precedent in the history of the trials of
discipline of the Congregational church. In
all ordinary trials in this church the defend
ant is charged with something definite, and is
accorded the right to hear the charge and
meet it. l come before you heTe-a cou
ell of my brothers in the church, having
no feeling against me-and / find that
the doors are thrown open to receive and hear
every slanderer and every individual who may
mi IN Erpak mi to