The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-19

the letters missive, and If that is to be adopted
as the OASIS OF your proceedings, l protest
against them.
Scribe Hatch-By the same accident that in
serted the word "charges in the letters
mlsslve the word got into these minutes. 1t
was used informally. 1t was thought that some
one would make charges or offer information
ana that these matter would be proper to refer
to a committee.
DR.. McLean-We are discussing a matter OF
an uhofhclal body. The proper time TO raise
the point is when an attempt is made to ap-
point the committee.
DR.. Pond-The idea was to have the COM
mlttee place before the council
DIT; BroWn-If that clause is withdrawn
shall Withdraw my objection. But have one
more inquiry to make and that is to inquire OF
the Rev. Dr. Pond, who becomes now one of
my jurors, whether he has been approached by
a certain person with evidence and u statement
cused.
his appointment as q juror in this matter?
Dr. Brown-It covered the period while the
1olnt committee appointed 10 Investigate this
matter was in session. think have the right
TO raise the question whether his mind has
been biased.
DR.. Pond-My mind has not been biased by
anybody. A number OF persons have expressed
their opinions to me that DR.. Brown was limo
cent and others that he was guilty. But moth
ing was ever said TO me that l would allow to
weigh on my mind moment.
Dr. Brown-Did Mrs. Cooper call on you with
evidence?
DR.. Pond-She called and conversed with me
about the matter.
DR.. Brown-Did she express any opinion as
to my guilt or innocence?
DR.. Pond-Yes, that you were guilty. l did
not weigh the evidence.
DR.. Brown want to say to DR.. Pond that
am perfectly satisfied. | was accused by one of
the representatives of the press OF being in
strumental in securing the meeting of yester-
day Tor my own purposes.
DR.. McLean-I think that 1t is due to DR..
Brown and to the council to say, if the ques-
ton should be raised as to what agency he had
IN the selection OF the council and what in
iuence he had in the construction of the let
ters-missive, that he had no voice in the one
or the other. The statement has been made
that he selected the council and framed the
lettersmissive. The council judges it would
be proper to have other questions asked and
have the matter settled.
Attorney Woodhams-I think / am author
lied to speak on that question as the represen-
tative OF the church. l have conversed with
the deacons IN regard TO this matter, and de-
sire to say that | have prepared q statement in
these rumors that DR.. Brown had influenced
the appointment of the council and the fash
Joining of the letters-missve.
DR.. MeLesn-The consultation held yester-
day was not III any way to PREJUDICE anything
that should come before it, when it should
have legal existence, but to formulate a course
OF procedure as g large maiority of the men,
Ders had never before been called upon for this
kind OF work.
AT this point Attorney Woodlands was
asked to present the records of the church
providing for and authorizing the council,
which he did. He also filed a copy of the
resolution empowering him to represent
the church before the council
On the moderator asking for the next
matter TO be acted upon DR.. Pond made
motion that the scope of the letter-missive
be interpreted by Mr.. Woodlands as he
understood it.
DIR. Mooar-I presume I would be willing to
vote for the substance of the resolution but I
oDJect TO the form in which it is stated. 1t is
stated as though the letter-missive would he
interpreted by Mr.. Woodlands We would like
to hear what he has to say on the matter. but
1T IS the province of the council to interpret
u ehe le5'er-Inisslye as 1T thinks proper and
should not like to be restricted by his inter-
probation.
Mr. Woodlands do not wish to place any
Testrlcuon on the action of the council. /
should prefer 10 give my Interpretation first
ana then let the council bind itself.
After some further discussion the mat
ter was laid on the table, ana then Rev.
Mr.. Jenny made the following notion:
| move that we hear Mr.. Woodlands on the
letter-missive, leaving to our own determine
ton, what the scope of the investigation
shall be.
The motion received a unanimous vote.
Mr. Woodlands would like to present at
$500 L
prepared. | think it is necessary to present
the entire statement to cover the matter under
discussion.
A motion to this effect was made and
carried and Mr.. Woodlands then read the
following statement:
Gentlemen of the Council: AS the dulv
elected representative of the officers and nenn..
Ders or the First Congregational Church of
san francisco | desire to make the following
genera statement concerning the matters that
1t Is thought ought to come before Won for CON
slderaton and determinations
hour Investigations and conclusions viii
Dear upon certain alleged charges, accusations
OF rulnors Affecting the good name, Integrity,
pastor OF this church, the Rev. Charles o.
Brown, ID, and the case assumes an import
ahoe Iar beyond the usual incidents reuuir-
ing the converting of a council, not merely on
account OF the prominence and long record OF
usefulness OF the pastor attacked as minister
OF inc gospel and the celebrity of the church
aHecteo but especially on account of the varied
nature and character OF and multitudinous
incidents connected with and surrounding the
A.leeeu charges, accusations or rumors, and
Tue unusual fact that one OF the principaIs q
professedly pious woman, now awaits trial be-
lore our superior Court upon the serious
chAIge OF eXtortion and the levying of black
mall upon the pastor of this church.
Inc direct charges, so far as any charges can
De SAID to exist, have reference to Two cases or
incidents and are not made to this church or
any OF us oflcers, but to the general pu bile
PAitiH Palig through the medium OF the
puolle prints. They first emanated from one
MIS-. NJ a. Davidson, now in custody, as above
s SUM- on t9e charge OF extortion and black
mai, and who is said to have been in Gus todv
iof considerable length of time in the East
tor a criminal offense
10 be able to put before you the nature of
these so-called charges it is necessary, as YOU
VIII see, TO quote largely from Mrs. Davidson's
purported words on these matters.
Inc frsi case or incident to arise was the So
called Overman case, with reference to which
MIS-. Davidson is reported in one of our daily