The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-14
JUDGES WHO WILL
TRY DR. BROWN.
The Bay Association at
Last Takes Definite
Action.
DEACONS ARE TO MEET.
The Ministers Appointed Will
Represent No One but
Themselves.
WHAT SECRETARY MCCOY KNOWS
Mrs. Graham Says Mrs. Davidson
Spoke of Her Lapse of Memory
Six Months Ago.

Mark Straus and Captain Cook, two lay
men, who are constant attendants at the
Congregational meetings, were there dur
ing the early part of the proceedings, but
understanding that their presence was not
desired, they withdrew.
The meeting was held in the charel of
the Plymouth Congregational Church, Rev.
Nation Willett of East Oakland acting as
moderator. Thirty-four ministers were
present.
The morning session was devoted to bust
ness. Several of the ministers entered the
chapel some time after the opening of the
afternoon session, as they were closeted
with DR.. c. Q. Brown, in an upstairs room
Of the church. Among them were: Pro-
fessor Lloyd, Rev. J. X. Mclean of Oak
land. Rev. II. II. Wykoff and Rev. w. D.
Williams
When the above gentlemen had con-
Guided their deliberations they entered
the session, accompanied by DIR. brown,
who took the floor and addressed the
association on the slurs which had been
cast upon his good name by the press of
the City.
He neither denied nor affirmed the &C
cusations, but in closing his remarks he
requested the Bay Association to appoint
a committee to investigate the alleged
charges.
Professor Lloyd moved that committee
of three be appointed to comply with DR..
Browns request. The motion was carried
by show of hands, there being no dis
sent.
DR.. Mclean moved the appointment of
the following ministers: Rev. W. D. Will
liams, DID, Rev. w. c. Pond, DID, and
Rev. II. H. Wykoff
1t is worthy of remark at this time that
the Bay Association as an organization
has not the slightest jurisdiction over the
present case. They have no official ex-
istence so far as the church is concerned,
hence any act Of theirs, whether con-
demnatory or otherwise, must be purely
private affair.
The charge against DIR. Brown of i'm
moral conduct is subject to investigation,
first by his church and then by the Bay
Conference. This last is possible only
when requested by the congregation of the
alleged offender.
After the conclusion of the meeting a
number Of the members requested the
scribe TO strike out the word Investigate"
and substitute a milder term.
DR.. Williams, the chairman of the COM
mittee, when questioned afterward on the
subject, stated that Or. Browns request
satisfaction as otherwise the association
would have been forced to take the initia-
tive and demand an investigation. He
further stated that the committee had no
desire to antedate the inquiry to be held
by members of the First Congregational
Church, and that, therefore, il was highly
improbable that any real action would be
taken by them for some days to come.
A great doubt exists in the minds of
many OF the Congregational ministers as
TO the real usefulness OF the committee. 1t
has been given full power to act ard to
report back to the association, but as the
association has absolutely no jurisdiction
the usefulness of this course is not very
apparent.
as it simply a mutual admiration bust.
nessP' asked one pastor in puzzled tones,
as he discussed the committees mission
after the close of the session. Another
pastor thought it looked like d SOD to
Cerberus, but the majority of those pres
ent thought that the investigation would
IN some vague manner serve a good end.
Rev. W. Tubbs said that the report OF the
committee would simplify matters for the
Bay Conference, body composed OF minis |
tiers and laymen, whose duty it will be to
try the Brown alleged scandals in case
matters are pushed to extremities.
1t IS stated that If Dr. Brown had de- |
sired TO have an Official and duly authorized |
investigation he should first have de- |
manded 1t at the hands of his church, and |
should then have sent out letters asking
for meeting of the Bay Conference, AS |
matters stand the Bay Conference NAV
not meet Tor some months.
DR.. Brown has given the committee ap-
pointed by the Bay Association to under |
stand that he will make complete state
ment of all the charges brought against
him, provided his attorneys will consent.
Both Mr.. Lloyd and eX-Judge Louderback.
10 11oEr, hot =
cial to their clients interest to permit any
explanation until otter the final trial of
Mrs. Davidson.
AS TO Miss Overman, it is not probable
that she will consent to explain away the
unpleasant things which have been said
about her until DR.. Brown or his attorneys
grant permission.
The deacons of the First Congregational
Church have given out that an investiga-
ton of DR.. Browns alleged misconduct
Will be inaugurated Wednesday night. 1t
is highly probable that the investigation,
if ordered at all, will be held behind
closed doors, il being cared that the evil
dence, favorabl or otherwise to Dr. Brown,
might influence the jury in the trial OF
Mrs. Davidson. The hearing might also
bring into prominence few names which
have heretofore been suppressed. As Is
well known, a majority of the deacons are |
warm personal friends of DR.. Brown, d. |
Gilbert Dexter being first cousin or the |
pastors wife. This fact is argued by many |
as one of the reasons why a secret investi- |
cation is desired.
The remarkable theory offered by Mrs. |
Davidson on the witness-stand concerning |
that all-important ten years of her life |
from 1873 to 1887, which she claims is a |
perfect blank, cropped up again Yesterday. |
According to the statement OF Mrs. era
ham, roomer at the Delaware House, on |
Market street, Mrs. Davidson told the |
same story to her at least six months be-
tore the present trouble.
81 called at Mrs. Davidson's parlors one
afternoon about six months age" said
MIS- Graham yesterday. 81 was not at all
Wen at the time. While talking on this
line she said TO me:
Ihere ls a period of ten or fifteen
years OF my life that is perfect blank to
me; during that time was subject to
rush of blood to my head. which lncapaci-
lated me for either business or social Lie.