The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-26
DIR. G. 0. Brown Who Was In
VOIVed in the Scandal
That Stirred Up the Pacific
Coast Recently,
CONFESSES 1T ALL
After Having Been Acquitted
by the Church
And Given Another Passionate
in Chicago.

San Francisco, Jan. 26.-The Rev. G.
o. Brown who appeared before the Bay
conference of the Congregational
church unexpectedly yesterday and
confessed that a part of the charges
made against him a year or two ago
were true, says he will not run away
from the consequences of his confes-
sion. He said he would stay here till
his friends had time to decide whether
or not they would receive or cut him.
The ex-minister of one of the largest
churches in San Francisco is quite will
ing to talk of his disgrace, with a few
exceptions. and these involve the de-
tails of his downfall.
I have made my confession" said
he There it is, and I have nothing
further to say. have erred and have
repented- I will not enter into the de-
tails of my misfortunes, nor will I dis
cuss what I mean by confessing to a
small part of the charges.
Life was very sweet to me-" said
he, referring to his eastern pastorate.
4 had thousands of friends in the east
and they looked in my face and they
say they could not believe the stories
circulated about me and the stories
were not all true. I had everything to
i've for. had the confidence and es-
TEEN OF my congregation. I was book
churches in the east. That shows con
hdence and esteem the people had in
me and yet duty compelled me to come
out to San Francisco. [ cannot px-
plain, but L felt that I must come. 1t
was not a hasty or impulsive step I
TOOK, IN making my confession [ had
Iought against it, for life was sweet
ana Ine success and friendship were
dear to me. I had decided that
would telegraph, or write, or do some
thIng before the conference met, but it
vas not until Wednesday that I felt
thaI must come in person. Then I
Wrote note to my wife telling her
had gone on lecture tour and started
west 1t was a strange coincidence
that met no one on the train who
knew me. 1 have made the Journey
across the continent Is times and this Is
the nrst time never met any one 1
knew / was a stranger to every one
/ made no effort to conceal nv iden+i-
" arrived at the hotel in Oakland
IN the evening and went to my room. I
remained very quiet because I knew
Nv nat was coming and did not wish tO
put the hotel manager to any incon-
Venlence, and moreover 1 knew if if
were known that I was here the meet
ing OF the Bay conference would be at
Iended by hundreds of people. I wish
ed to avoid this.
do not know what the future will
bring to me, but do know this. that |
shau preach the gospel till 1 die if I
have to preach it on the street corners
l shall stay here until 1 know what nv
former friends will do, and 1 am ready
calls FORTH II
At the meeting of the conference. DR.
Brown expressed the deepest cOntritiOn
Tor his backsliding, resigned himself to
fate, was chastened and drODDed ont of
the Congressional ministry shook hands
with the chasteners and ended by de-
claring that he was glad of it ali.
DR.. Brown said:
a small part of the accusations
aimed at me was true For anv v1,r0n~
which had done 1 sought forgiveness
both of God and man l had turned 1t-
terly and with adherence from it long
before was publicly accused No act
ION but my own now taken cOuId de-
prIVe me either of my pulpit or anv
fellowship in Chicago. I confess to +To
DUBUQUE and Chicago associations that
dld them grieVOus wrong in acceptine o
fellowship of the one and seeking thai
OF the other. 1 herewith request that
my name be dropped from the roll of
the church association
DR.. Brown read the confession to tho
Bay conference and in every tone of I7js
voice there was tremulous pleading for
mercy.
After the conference had rendered its
decision of expulsion, he said:
1t IS all for the best. I suppose vet
at is hard for me to bear"
The Brown scandal which has had
many qualifications, first attracted gen
eral attention about the end of 1Sq5
when Mrs. Mary A. Davidson was ar
rested on a charge of extOrtion made bv
DR. Brown, pastor of the fashiOna b1a
First Congregational church in san
Francisco. She was a woman in +ba
church, though not a member The es-
sential allegation was that he had Civ
en- her $500 to keep quiet about an al
legged intimacy with Miss Overman of
Tacoma, Wn., who had visited at
Browns house.
After an exciting trial Mrs Davidson
was acquitted. The inference from the
testimony being that Brown was gull
ty, the Congregational council investi-
gated him. Brown made a hard fight
and the hearing was even more reDlete
with sensational incidents than the
Davidson trial had been. The investi-
cation resulted in a partial acuuittal
but so much nOtoriety had attend
ed that affair that Browns continued
tenure of the pastOrate was in1Dra cfi-
cable and he was dismissed after much
bitterness had been engendered be-
tween his supporters and his oppo-
nents.
The next development was a cOpSes-
sion by Miss Overman which Brown de-
nounced as false and which was not
generally believed
Brown secured a Chicago charge and
then appealed to the Bav confarenCe p ~ of
California for a re-Opening of his casa
Ih1S was denied and Brown aDpealeC7 To
the mutual conference of the Con "a =
uonal church. After a review of 4be
case dubious finding was returned
the Bay conference being upheld. brt
mas assumed various other aspects a +
different times, and Browns troubles
have been exceedingly numerous.
Weather Indications.
Chicago, Jan. 26-For. Kansas. Eot-