The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-30
Bay Conference Was Justified In Sus-
pending the San Francisco
Preacher from the Ministry.
MUTUAL CONCESSIONS URGED
by WHICH THE SMIRCHED PASTOR
MAY REGAIN HIS PRIVILEGES.
DIR. Brown Not Barred from Preach
ing to His Chicago Congregation
How He Took His Defeat.


the ministry. Bay Conference was declared
to-day, by the Mutual Council of the Con-
gregational Church, to be justified in it's
action suspending him. AT the same time
the finding of the council vindicates him Of
the original serious charge and urges that
the coIlfere nee md the minister strive to
adjust their differences. The vital point of
the finding reads as follows:
1--WE find that while Bay Conference in its
action fell into some irregularities of pro-
cedure, we are still led upon the whole,
to justify said action of Bay Conference
in suspending Rev. c. o. Brown. d. D., on
the ground of charges seriously affecting
his ministerial standing.
This clause read, ION the ground Of I'M
ministerial conduct when the resolution
was adopted. about midnight last night.
The partial copy Of the resolutions given
out to-day had it. But the council then
went into executive session again, and the
friends of DIR. Brown-notably DR.. Wallace
fought for a milder wording. The dis
cussion lasted into the afternoon, and then
the change in wording was made.
The verdict is victory for the Bay Con-
ference, with a palliative" for Dr. Brown.
His position at the present time is
strange one. He is suspended from the
Bay Conference on the Pacific coast. This
finding has been justified by the appellate
body His ministerial standing is affected.
Still he may remain as pastor of the Green
street Church, Chicago, as long as the
church cares TO have him. He may remain
a member of the Chicago Association as
long as the association cares to welcome
him into the fold. No steps were ordered
taken to notify the Chicago Association of
the action to-day, and it will remain Of
ficially ignorant of it until somebody cares
to bring the matter to its attention MIR.
Brown proposes to keep right on with his
work in the Green-street Church until he
is forced to drop it.
The finding of the council opens with
long preamble rehearsing the calling of the
council, it's place of meeting and the pro-
ceedings. Then come the following find
ngs:
"First-We find the result of the San
Francisco Council declares that the evil
dence before it does not sustain the charge
preferred.
ence in its action fell into some irregulari-
ties of procedure we are still led, upon the
whole, to justify said action of the Bay
Conference in suspending Rev. c. o.
Brown, ID. D., on the ground of charges
seriously affecting his ministerial standing.
Fhird-But we hope and advise that, in
Rev. c. o. Brown, and the suffering en-
dured by him. the Bay Conference and Rev
c: o. Brown together may find some way
OF securing the relief by council or other
wise of the disabilities resting upon him
by the action of the Bay Conference"
The charges seriously affecting his min
isterial standing are those of payment of
hush money to Mrs Davidson, threatening
of a witness against him, and conniving at
the absence of a witness. The findings
were read this afternoon at the New Eng
land Congregational Church. A subcom-
mittee drew up the preamble during the
morning and then the council went into
executive. session to adopt the resolution
as a whole.
The discussion as to the wording fol-
lowed. When the doors were again thrown
open Dr. Brown and his prosecutors ranged
themselves along the wall and the assistant
moderator, Rev. Nehemiah BOynton, of De-
troit. who presided, spoke. He announced
there were but three things on the order
of business for the opening meeting: The
ment. Rev. Dan E. Bradley, of Grand Rap
ids, the scribe read the findings Mr.
Boynton then led the meeting in prayer,
ana announced that the conference had
dissolved.
The aged DR.. Mclean, who is regarded
as DIR. Browns chief adversary said that
he was satisfied. THE verdict was just"
said he I'VE will do all in our power to
come to an amicable arrangement and un-
Outstanding with Brother Brown"
DR.. Brown met defeat without q wink
He sat alone in the rear of the assembly
room when Scribe Bradley announced the
verdict. He closed his eyes when Assistant
Moderator Boynton closed the council with
prayer. But he expressed his disappoint-
ment when the council had dispersed. He
did not demand relief of the charge OF
adultery. he said, as the Bay Conference
had done that to his satisfaction. but ne
wished to be free from the ministerial in
ability in which he now finds himself The
result of the councils action to-day will
most likely lead to the rejection of his APP
plcation for membership in the Chicago
Congregational Ministerial Association and
a breach in the membership of the Green
street Church, of which Dr. Brown is now
pastor.
An impressive part of the final session or
the council was the prayer delivered by DR.
Boynton, who presided in the absence OF
Moderator Little. In his appeal Or. Boyn-
ton prayed for purer manhood and woman
hood and that the blessings of heaven be
upon all those interested in the work of the
council which he said concerned the whole
Congregational Church.
Il think l shall have to drive a dray or
become reporter on newspaper" said
while waiting for the return of the final
verdict in the lobby of the church. When
seen after the dissolution of the council he
said: This does not disqualify me to re,
main pastor Of the Green-street Church. Ii
is now in order, l suppose, for the Bay
Conference to take the step as suggested in
the last section of the finding. l shall be
only too willing to accept any reasonable
overture the Bay Conference is willing TO
make to me- But l may say that my
perience with Congregational council YER
diets is that they are almost as hard TO
interpret as constitutional law
Rev. DR.. Brown admitted that the finding
of the council would precpitate a discus
sion of his right to become a member of the
Chicago Ministerial Association. 1t is
Conference and is still member thus pre-
venting him becoming a member of any
other conference in the church.
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