The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-29
DR.. BROWNS INTEGRITY.
Officers and Trustees Express
Confidence in Their Pas
tor.
Reports of the Board of Inquiry
and Trustees to Be Submitted
This Evening.

The officers of his church gave express
sion to tentative belief in DIR. Browns
integrity last evening. 1--WE will not
credit vague and damaging destinations
until they are proven before a competent
tribunal, they said. A mpetent tribu-
nal they construe to be either an eccle-
the power TO judicially establish the inno-
cence or guilt OF the much-accused pastor.
The officers and trustees met last even
ing pursuant to call for general con-
sultation." This call was issued several
days ago, its immediate purpose being to
consider the finances of the church. which.
during its trouble, have been in anything
but satisfactory state. Wealthy mem
berS of the board of trustees have
refused to make up the deficit
caused by the numerous Withdrawals of
subscriptions since the Brown-Davidson
case has been matter of public comment.
These pillars of the church had more than
once made good such deficits, common
enough during the dissensions that have
agitated the First Congregational Church
since the opening of the Heron contro-
versy. But the wellspring of generosity
has been checked OF late, and it be-
came necessary to discuss the stu
alton. No matter what the fate
OF the pastor whose latter days OF
ministry were SO turbulent, it was essen
tial that the church avoid shipwreck if it's
pilot did go down. There were rumors
that the cholr's salary was in arrears and
that there were other embarrassing debts.
The primary object of the meeting.
therefore, was to consider the financial sit
uation. John T. Merrill read statement
showing that the church was in arrears
$1,000. The discussion of this phase of the
dlfhcultles OF the storm tossed church was
indefinitely postponed for there was
| an interruption in the form of
effective visit. When DR.. Brown came
| from the study and wendell his way toward
Geary street 1t was with trium plant air
For the present IN the eyes of few at
least he was vindicated.
1t was not long before the officers fol-
lowed their leader and the study or Office,
which had been the scene of so amicable
an arrangement, was in darkness. The
session, like all that preceded it, was of
the star-chamber order. The first of the
trustees who made his exit referred the
waiting reporters to the secretary
Deacon j. Howard Barnard to the scribe
OF the occasion surrendered the following:
At the meeting of the officers of the church
and the trustees OF the First Congregational
Society held January %, 1896, the following
preamble and resolution were unanimously
adopted:
conduct have been made against c.. O. Brown,
DID, by irresponsible persons and without
any proof as to their credibility; now be it
ResolUed That this body expresses full and
entire confidence in Rev. C. o. Brown meg
rlty and good moral character, and will not
credit vague and damaging insinuations until
they are proved before competent tribunal.
But few were absent, hence the resolu-
tons may be regarded as an expression of
the sentiment Of those in authority.
There were present at the NEE ting
Trustees Henry L. Dodge, w. F. Whittier,
John f. Merrill, W. j. Dalton, Edward
Coleman, G. A. Frank, and Deacons D.
Gilbert Dexter, ]. ]. Vasconcellos, T. II.
Hatch, a. ]. Dewing, ]. H. Barnard,
George A. Westgage and w. Christensen.
No action was taken concerning DR..
Brown officiating as pastor during the in
term between this suspension of iudg-
ment" and the trial of Mrs. Davidson.
the matter may come up for discussion
this evening at prayer-meeting, when the
report of the committee on INQUIRY and
that of the officers and trustees will be
submitted.