The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-29
Principal of the San Francisco Scam
daI Asks Restoration OF HIS Priv
iIeGes as Preacher.
He REVIEWS THE CHARGES
AND BEGs THE COURT NOT TO SEND
HIM TO A MANAGES GRAVE.
His Opponents ExcOriated in Bitter
Terms-ProbabiIity that the Doc
tor VIII Be Reinstated.

CHICAGO, Oct 2S.--In a voice shaken by
emotion, in words of deepest eloquence
with an appeal to the hearts of his min
isterial brethren. with a plea for his wife,
which made the tears come to her eyes, DR.
Charles O. Brown ended to-day his earnest
almost desperate prayer to his brethren IN
conference to give him back what they
could of his ministerial standing. The
council in session at the New England Con-
gregational Church thereupon took Reese
and later began in secret session to de-
lberate on the famous case of the former
San Francisco pastor. The members began
8 long and heated discussion as to whether
DR.. Brown should be reinstated In the min
istry 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 driven out OF
one church after another and out of the
ministry. He had been lighting for year
and a half for what was as dear as his
life-his reputation. At last he had APP
pealed 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 arose to make the effort of a
lifetime to keep at least little ground
under his feet. For over two hours he used
surcasm, Illustration, apostrophe, denial,
denunciation-every known form of argu-
ment. He arraigned his accusers bitterly:
he questioned their motives; he attacked
their logic; he strove to excite sympathy FOR
his position. mixing at times prayer and In
vective. His voice was rich and earnest;
his gestures emphatic.
At last he led up to his peroration, telling
the story of DR.. Barrows's case in Cali
fornia, where similar charges drove the man
accused into a maniacs grave. The speak
ers 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 General Associa-
ton said: Its He!" There was "a
moment of complete silence. Now" DR..
Brown resumed, impressively, II want you
to declare that of me before / 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 little woman has
been an example of fidelity through all OF
this. Think how she must feel
Mrs. Brown. the only woman in the room,
bowed her head and wept
Dr.. Little the moderator here broke in.
He reminded DR.. Brown that he was going
OulSlu6 the rules OF procedure.
Il have done,' said the latter. II am
sorry If have transgressed, but that is, all
I have to say"
Rev. c. r. Brown, representing the Bay
Conference, said few words on the other
side and then the recess was taken and the
deliberations resumed
DR.. Brown commenced his address by
ridiculing those of the other side and cali
ing their argument an array of sophistries
and innuendoes. He scored his namesake.
G. R Brown, as coming across the CONT
nent, three thousand miles, Ito spring into
controversy year past with the zeal of
neophyte and the persistency of vet
DR.. j. A. Mclean. the leader of the otber
SIDE was treated as treacherous enemy
Notwithstanding his sweet assurances of
friendship, said DR.. Brown, 1t was notorl-
Gus that he was my bitterest enemy''
There We're many more such singing SEN
fences as these. at times the recipients of
THESE attentions could not sit quiet under
them. They rose to retort and there were
several spirited controversies The speaker
then went into review of his side of the
case. he explained indirectly-direct ex-
plantations being ruled out of order-that he
nao PAID hush money to Mrs. Davidson not
ized the consequences of the scandal on an
innocent man. He dismissed as pueriIe the
charge OF being unable to explain satis-
xactorlly Matte Overmans letters IT was
urged the San Francisco council had hello
the evidence was not sufficient to convict
him Of the charge brought against him;
therefore, as the letters bore on this alone
they now had no discriminating power ut
Is SAID that l connived at the absence of
Mrs. Tunnel" he shouted II deny it,"
DIR. Brown then declared at length that
puonc sentiment in San Francisco was not
against him sufficiently to make his removal
from the ministry imperative, Twice he
pointed mis- fnger at the three men oppos-
Ing him before the conference, accused them
of double-dealing, and of fostering uniusr
suspicious. I'D rather you'd have Shot
me- ne SAID In terrible tones, than do what
you did to me-" There was sheer In his
voice as he added: And now you are try
platitudes" 0'
DIR. Mclean jumped to his feet and there
was passage at arms DR.. Brown resumed
shortly. 1t was not long before he was i'm
the midst OF dramatic prayer. 20 Thou
Nazarene," he said, pointing his right hand
above him. uplifting his face. and speaking
in a voice of deepest earnestness "yyhos,s
feet nave trod the thorny paths / beseech
thee 10 smite from the minds Of this conn
Gil that suspicion always rises from some
cause This led to the thrilling peroration
given above.