The record-union., 1897-10-30

BROWN DID NOT
WIN A VICTORY.
He Still Stands Suspended From
the Ministry,
The Bay Conference Declared to be Iasti-
fled in Its Action.
He May, However, Remain Pastor
of the Green-street Church at
Chicago, Provided the Church
Cares to Have Him, and May
Also Remain a Member of the
Chicago Association, as Long
as the Association Cares to
Welcome Him Into the Fold.

CHICAGO, Oct. 29.-Rev. Charles o.
Brown, D. D., still stands suspended
from the ministry. The Bay Confer
ence was declared to-day by mutual
council of the Congregational Church
to be justified in its action in suspend
ing him. AT the same time the finding
of the council vindicates him of the
original serious charge, and urges that
the conference and the minister strive
to adjust their differences.
The vital point of the finding reads
as follows:
1--WE find that, while the Bay Confer
ence in it's action fell into some irreg
ularities of procedure, we are still led
upon the whole to justify said action
of the Bay Conference in suspending
DR.. c. o. Brown, D. D., on the ground
of charges seriously affecting his min
isterial standing"
This clause reads: "On the ground of
unministerial conduct when the reso-
luton was adopted about midnight last
night. The partial copy of the reso-
lutions given out to-day had it so, but
the council then went into executive
session again, and the friends of Dr.
Brown-notably DIR. Wallace : fought
for a milder wording. The discussion
lasted into the afternoon, and then the
change in wording was made.
The verdict is a victory for the Bay
Conference, with a palliative for DIR.
Brown. His position lat the present
time is a 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 re-
main as pastor of the Green-street
Church, Chicago, as long as the church
member of the Chicago Association as
long as the association cares to well
come him into the fold No steps were
ordered taken to notify the Chicago AS
sociation of the action sto-day, and it
will remain officially ignorant of it un-
til somebody cares to bring the matter
to it's attention.
DR.. 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 opened
with a long preamble rehearsing the
calling of the council, its plan of meet
ing and the proceedings. Then come
the following findings:
"First-We find that the result of the
San Francisco Council declares that the
evidence before it does not sustain the
charge preferred.
''Second-We find that while the Bay
Conference in it's action fell into some
irregularities of procedure, we are still
led, upon the whole, to justify said
action of the Bay Conference in sus-
pending Rev. c. o. Brown, D. D, on
the ground of charges seriously af-
fecting his ministerial standing.
"Third-But we hope and advise that,
in view of the excellent ministerial ser
vice of Rev. C. o. Brown and the 3uf-
fering endured by him, the Bay Confer
ence and Rev. C. o. Brown together
may find some way of securing the re-
lief by council or otherwise of the dis
abilities resting upon him by the action
of the Bay Conference"
The Charges seriously affecting his
ministerial standing are those of pay
ment of hush-money to Mrs. Davidson,
threatening of a witness against him
and conniving at the absence of wit
ness.
The findings were read this afternoon
at the New England Congregational
Church. A subcommittee 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 followed.
When the doors were again thrown
open Dr. Brown and his prosecutors
ranged themselves along the walls,
and the Assistant Moderator, Rev.
Nemehiah Boynton of Detroit, who pre-
sided, spoke He announced that there
We're but three things on the order of
business: The reading of the finding,
prayer and adjournment.
Rev. Dan E. Bradley of Grand Rap
ids, the Scribe, read the findings Mr.
Boynton then led the meeting in pray
er, and announced that the conference
had dissolved
The aged DR. Mclean, who is re-
garded as DR.. Browns chief adversary,
said that he was satisfied. THE YER
dict was just said he. I'VE will do
all in our power to come to an amicable
arrangement and understanding With
Brother Brown
DR.. Brown met defeat without a wink
He sat alone in the rear of the assem-
bly-room when Scribe Bradley an
nounced the verdict. Dr. Brown ex-
pressed his disappointment that the
council had dispersed. He did not de-
mand relief from the charge of adul-
terry, he said, as the Bay Conference
had done that, but he wished to be
free from the ministerial disability
in which he now finds himself.
The result of the councils action will
likely lead to the rejection of his ap-
plication for a membership in the Chi
cago Congregational Ministerial Asso-
citation, and a breach in the member
ship of the Green-street Church. of
which DIR. Brown is now pastor
An impressive part of the final sas-
sion of the council was the prayer de-
livered by DIR. Boynton, who presided
In his appeal DR.. Boynton prayed foe
pure manhood and womanhood, 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.