The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-12

Investigation OF the Accused Clergy
man 20 BE Thorough.


san Francisco. Feb. 1.-THE ministers
who VIII SIT as judges ia the council Of
churches summoned TO try Rev DR..
Brown have decided upon the policy which
VIII mark the trial. Dr. Brown viii NOT
only he tried upon those charges which
are generally known. bat he VIII be asked
to answer any charges which. in the prog
ress Of the investigation. may be made.
IL Is known that DIR. Brown attempted 70
influence the action OF the deacons not
oniF tn the choice OF the churches which
should constitute the council. but IN tire
csizrac tsrlzation OF the charges them
selves. He exerted every energy 70 secure
the admission OF churches south Of Te-
hachapi. and also TO eliminate from the
invitations 10 the churches the phrase
certain charges" Ia bota efforts be was
unsuccessful
Mrs. sarah b Cooper, having been made
The object Of attack by The friends of DR..
Brown, has become naturally the leader
Of his opponents. she has asserted time
and again that she held ln reserve a wit
ness who would prove concluslyely the
guilt OF the accused pastor. Something of
the personality OF this witness and some
thing Of the testimony which the person
viii give have been learned.
The FIRST important development yester-
day occurred at the meeting OF several of
the ministers WHO will try DR. Brown At
dag Club Of Congregational ministers
those gentlemen who have secome mem
beers OF the council because they are pas
tors OF the churches ami @ho have been
invited held an informF.s session in one OF
tho paxlors OF the y 3. :. \. The letters
fnissive or invitStt9r1 70 the churches
were discussed 81 lafgth. An endearOr
was made 70 cc-s.rue these letters 50 far
as they ha3 reference 10 the scope of the
inquiry. Ii Was decided In the first place
that the aeaccns OF the First Congrega-
tlonal church meant without the slightest
qnestio4 70 ask for the fullest inquiry.
This fYtwest f@a sion Ii was decided, should
not only include the consideration Of any
evidence in reference 10 the charges made
by Mrs. Davidson. the Stockton episode
and the affair in which Miss ovsrman is
involved. but also any other charges which
any other person should desire 20 make.
II was TIE opinion OF those present that
any person. either the accused pastor OF a
witness. should be given the right 70 be
represented hy attorneys This means
that Mrs. Cooper. a wei as Or. Brown.
viii he represented by au attorney. The
cler gyFnen Wal demand from the. repre-
sentatives Of the First Congregational
church and D.. Brown himself tho mean
inss OF the letters nlissive which have
been sent TO the various churches. They
ara assured that these letters place no re-
strlctions upon the inquiry. and on that
assurance they will proceed.
IL IS not generally known that the dea-
cons Of the First Congregational church
snent several hours In fra ming the letters
nissive 10 the various churches. When
the original draft was made Rev Or.
brown objected 10 the phrase, certain
charges" He preferred - have the accu-
sationS against him characterized as
ssr,tr,4ors. but the deaconS insisted upon
making che word charges" and 50 Il was
sent out % the churches. Dr.. Brown also
asked that the Southern Congregational
church 81 the state he invited 20 take part
in the council. Tie was particularly anx-
ions 70 have Rev. Dr Day. Of Los An
reles. as 4 meusber of The tribunal. bat
the Geacous again resisted his appeal and
chose no church south Of Tehachapi-