The San Francisco call., 1897-10-28
DR.. c. r. Brown of Oakland
on the Stand Against
His NameSake.
SAYS DEPOSITION WAS A
NECESSITY.
Lively Wrangle in Which the Dis
credited Minister Asserts
His r CHS.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

OCh. %t--1 ucIc HdS ItiElN
large audience OF Congregational minis
ters and laymen present at the second
days session of the inquiry in to the
charges against Rev. Q. o. Brown, made
by the Bay Conference of San Francisco
Brown. accompanied by his wife and son,
came early to the church and shook hands
with every body, including his adver saries
OF the Bay Conference.
When the moderator DR.. Little of Bos-
ton, called the meeting to order each
minister sank into his seat and the gath
ering became a session of grave and earnest
pastors.
DR.. Little declared that the first thing
in order would be the Bay Conference's
presen tation of its case. While the Cali
fornians were con- sulting DR.. Brown arose
and remarked that he would reserve the
right to object to certain paragraphs in
the Bay Conferences findings. He de-
nouuced these paragraphs as perhdious
and untruthful. The Bay Conference peo-
pie came back with similar adjectives, and
for few minutes the reverend gentlemen,
with the soitest tones and the gravest of
behavior. showered charges of "perfidy''
and malice" upon one another.
speaker of the Bay Conference, took the
stand against his namesake. he stated
frankly that he had every reason to be-
lieve the Bay Conference had done rightly
by the accused minister, and that the lat
ter's suspension was not, as he had
claimed, causeless and without investiga-
ton. DR.. Brown concluded by declaring
that the action of the Bay Conference was
imperatively necessary.
DR.. Hatch, another of the Califor mans,
pleasantly remarked that he and his
friends had been called dogs, hypocrites.
liars, drunkards and serpents in the grass.
alphabetically, DR.. Hatch" inter-
rGpted DR.. Brown.
well, then, We have been hypotheti-
cally called these things resumed DR..
Hatch. He then said he went TO the Bay
Conferences as friend and ally OF the
accused minister, and was actually forced
to believe the charges made against him.
DR.. Mclean was the next speaker. Dis
claiming any personal hostility TO DR.
Brown, he said the scandals affecting that
minister had seemed overwhelmingly
strong in their character. The speaker
declared DR.. Browns suspension was JUS
titled by the following reasons:
That DR.. Brown had paid $500 to es-
cape public notorie:y in the case; that he
had failed to explain discriminating let
ters, and that he had paid witness 10
leave San Francisco at the time of the
original investigation"
NO, no." exclaimed DR.. Brown.
Yes" answered the speaker
A lively wrangle followed, the Bay Con-
ference people angrily protesting that DR..
Brown had no right to interrupt the ora
tory. The moderator was uncertain what
! to say, and DR.. McLsan, Dr. Browns chief
opponent, said he wanted civility to pre-
vail.
DR.. Mclean then added fourth charge
to the three already alleged against DR..
Brown-that of using threats against a
young woman of his congregation.
Reports of the California credential
com mmittee, which were given at the find
| ings of the trial council, and, in turn.
passed the findings on to the bay con-
| ference, were read The conference, con-
tinued the speaker, had acted without q
| trial, simply because the original council
| and the credential committee had iuIly in =
vestigated and recorded the four specific
charges.
Dr. Brown, he said, had been given
| every opportunity to defend himself The
vote of the Bay Conference was 40 to 80
against DR.. Brown, and the conference
simply confirmed the judgment already
given by the San Francisco council. Dr.
Browns delay in summoning the Bay
Conference 10 a mutual council was also
commented upon.
Incidentally. the speaker said DIR.
Browns guilt in the Overman scandal
was not proven, but that charges arising
out of Dr. Browns actions toward wit.
nesses in that case were so discreditable
that full investigation was necessary. The
council. he went on, had met with a hope
of clearing Or. Brown, but as the inyesti-
CATION con tinued had been com pelled TO
admit his guilt. BY his own friends,
claimed the speaker, DR.. Brown had been
| condemned.
DIR. Mclean continued his speech in the
afternoon, and aside from frequent inter-
ruptions and objections, consumed the
greater part of the afternoon. He took up
the findings and endeavored TO explain
| what the council meant in each instance
| This action was necessary, he said, because
the findings were ambiguous, owing to
the desire of the majority of the council
| TO shield DR.. Brown as much as posi- bic
from the unkind comments of the pu u5Iic.
The findings eemed to show conclusively
that Dr.. Browns clerical brothers on the
Pacific Coa>t were far from satisfied with
the explanations he made of his conduct