The San Francisco call., 1898-04-22
Woes of Pastor Brown Told by a Church
 Officer.
MethOdists Expect a Warm Time at the Next Con-
 ference.
Officers and Pastor Differ in Nearly Every Branch of
 Work.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call

OahlanQ OInCe san FranCiScO Call,
 sos Broadway, April 21
 The membership of the little Methodist church on Thirty-fourth street can be expressed with less than three figures, but to use the language of one of the church officers the state of war now ex- isung there cannot be fully described in less than three columns of a newspaper. The pastor, Rev. MT. Brown, who came from Winnemucca, has a hard task on his hands which it is almost safe to say he cannot perform. Judging from the stories freely poured out from both sides of the light, it would be an easier matter comparatively to mix fire and water than to harmonize the church.
 Charles Armstrong, treasurer of the Sunday-school and who holds other of fees in the church, says the pastor is a splendid preacher, a pointed orator, an energetic young man and a fairly per- sistept borrower. When he came to the church MT Brown, according to Mir. Arm strong, listened unadVisedly to an old scandal that, like a ghost. has haunted the church for over three years, but which never materialized. Rev. J. Van Every. a former pastor of the church, resigned about three years ago for req sons which have been VariOusly stated. Whether lie did wrong at that time or not is now a matter of indifference. No charges were preferred against him in conference and. with his resignation, it was hoped that the affair was at an end. This hope, however, had no foundation, for after q time MT. Van Every returned, and is now the most generous financial packer and treasurer of the church. He has stated that If any legitimate griev- auce against him existed in the past he is heartily sorry and according to MT Armstrong has shown a truly Christian spirit and an earnest desire for the vel 1are of the church.
 \ petition from the official board was sent to Rev. John Kirby, presiding elder of the conference, asking him N author ize Pastor Brown to confer with his Ofi- Cials in matters relating to the church. The officials did not approve of MT. Browns independent manner of doing business. Elder Kirby informed the church board that he had it in his mind several times to remove MT. Brown and had told him that he must take counsel with his officers.
 Another petition was sent to the con ference representing the Brown side of the case. According to MT. Armstrong $ views. something very like politics en- tered into the controversy. for he states that on the Brown petition were the names or people and children who were not in any way connected with the church. The quarterly conference Of the district will meet in about three weeks and then it is expected that some thing will happen.
 one little incident related by MT. Arm strong tends to show very clearly the feeling in the church. "A few days ago., said he, ''the pastor came to me and asked me to loan him dollar. ac- commodated him. and little while after ward he came back and wanted to bor- TOW S5. What do you come to me for? I asked; you should go to some of those who approve of your course and not to me whom you are constantly opposing. The other people,. said the pastor, have no money. and it is well known that you are looked upon as the capitalist of the cOngre gauon, whereUpOn l gave him S5. VI