The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-29
FINAL APPEAL TO THE HIGHEST
CHURCH AUTHORITY BY THE
DIVINE.
EVERY TRICK OF oRAT0RY,
PATHOS, SARCASM, PRAYER AND
INVECTIVE, EMPLOYED BY
THE DEFENDANT.
CASE TAKEN UNDER AMUSEMENT.
Disgrace or Restoration to Minis
teFiaI Rights in the Balance
Last Plea Sensational.

CHICAGO, Oct. 2S.-In a voice shak
en- by emotion, in words of deepest elo-
quence, with an appeal to the hearts
of his ministerial brethren, with
plea for his wife which made the tears
come to her eyes, DR.. Charles o. Brown
ended today his earnest, almost des-
perate prayer to his brethren in con-
ference to give him back what they
could of his ministerial standing.
The council, in session at the New
England Congregational church, there
upon took recess, and later began in
secret session to deliberate upon the
famous case of the former San Fran
cisco pastor. The members began a
long and heated discussion as to
whether DR.. Brown should be rein
stated in the ministry, or whether
his suspension by the Bay conference
should be allowed to stand.
DR.. Brown talked several hours. 1t
was his last stand. He had been driv-
en- out of one church after another
and out of the ministry. He had been
fighting for year and a half for what
was as dear as life-hiS reputation.
At last he had appealed to the highest
tribunal of the church. His accusers
had told their story They had left
him at least under the ban of sus-
picion. He rose to make the effort
of a lifetime to keep at least a little
ground under his feet. For over two
hours he used sarcasm, illustration,
.apostrophe, denial, denunciation-eyery
known form of argument. He arraign-
ed his accusers bitterly. He ques-
toned their motives. He attacked
their logic He strove to excite SYM
pathy for his position, mixing at times
prayer and invective. His voice was
rich and earnest, and his gestures en-
phatic At last he led up to his per-
grafton by telling the story of DR..
Barrows' case in California, where SIM
liar charges drove the man accused
into a maniac's grave. The speakers
voice filled as he was relating this mar
rative.
after his DEATH" he said, raising
his voice until it rang loudly, when
it was too late for reparation, the gen.
eral association said: It's a lie.' :"
There was a moment of complete 81
lence. Now he resumed impressive
ly, 81 want you to declare that of me
before l am in my grave" Waiting a
minute for these words to take effect,
he turned and pointed at his wife, who
had been a silent listener.
Il want you to think of my wife"
he said in a choked voice. That lit
tie woman has been 81 example OF
fidelity through all of this Think how
she must feel" 5-ec
u Mrs. Brown, the only woman in the
room, bowed her head and wept.
DR.. Little, the moderator, broke in.
He reminded Dr. Brown that he was
going outside the rules of procedure.
st have DONE" said the latter. Il
am sorry if 1 have transgressed, but
that is all 1 have to say
Dr. Little explained why he interrupt
ed. Rev. G. r. Brown, representing
the Bay conference, said few words
on the other side, and then recess was
taken and the deliberations resumed.
DR.. Brown commenced his address
by ridiculing those of the other side
and calling their argument an array
of sophistries and innuendo. He scored
his namesake c. r. Brown, as coming
across the continent 5000 miles to
spring into a controversy a year past
with the zeal of a neophyte and the
persistency of a veteran. DR.. j. A.
Mclean, the leader of the other side,
was treated as a treacherous enemy
Notwithstanding his sweet assurance
of friendship said Mr.. Brown, "it was
notorious that he was my bitterest
enemy"
There were manv more Si7~h
ing sentences as these. AT times the
recipients of these attentions could
not sit quiet under them. They rose
to retort and there were several spir-
tied controversies.
The speaker then went into a review
of his side of the case. He explained
indirectly, direct explanation being
ruled out of order, that he had paid
hush money to Mrs. Davidson, not
because he was guilty, but because
he realized the consequences the scan
dial would bring upon an innocent man.
He dismissed as puerile the charge Of
being unable to explain satisfactorily
Matte Overman's letters. 1t was urg
ed the San Francisco council had held
the evidence was not sufficient to con-
Wet him of the charge brought against
him; therefore, as the letters bore on
this alone, they now had no incrim-
mating power. Dr. Brown then de-
clared at length that public sentiment
in San Francisco was not against him
sufficiently to make his removal from
the ministry imperative.
Twice he pointed his finger at the
three men opposing him before the
conference, accusing them of double
dealing and of fostering unjust sus-
picion. I'D rather you'd have shot
me-" he said in terrible tones, than
do what you did to me- There was
a sneer in his voice as he added: And
you now are trying to salve your con-
sciences by sweet platitudes.'
Mel can iIlmDo0 to his feet and
there was passage at arms. Dr.
Brown resumed shortly 1t was not
long before he was in the midst of a
dramatic prayer. 80. thou. Nazarene,' -
he said, pointing his right hand above
him. uplifting his face and speaking
in a voice of the deepest earnestness
"whose feet have trod the thorny
paths I beseach Thee to snite from
the minds of this council that sus-
picion always arises from some cause"
This led to the thrilling peroration.