Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-12
PASTOR FOUND
NOT GUILTY OF
HERESY CHARGE
DAUGHTER MAKES ELOQUENT
APPEAL TO COUNCIL
URGES THAT HER FATHER BE
CONVICTED OR ACQUITTED
Rev. Edward n. Brookes Reads Full
Statement of His Belief and Ver-
dict Is Unanimously in
His Favor

Brookes, daughter of Rev. Edward H.
Brookes, pastor of the Figueroa Street
Baptist church, last night cleared her
father Of the charge of heresy before
council of Baptist ministers ana
delegates from leading churches of
the city. The council had drifted into
dry routine and had virtually agreed
to adjournment without settling the
heresy question, when Miss Brookes
broke through the restraints imposed
upon members of the church, and in
an argument well put and eloquent
pleaded for a full and fair hearing for
her father.
"These charges" she said, as she
held up a clipping from Chicago pa
per, "have been published widely, and
they place my father in q wrong light.
You owe it to the church throughout
Southern California, and not alone TO
him, to decide this matter. Ii ne is a
hereto, every Christian should see TO
1t that he is put out OF the cnurcn.
But If he is not, how can he follow
his calling if it goes out that tne
charges are still against him, as IL
will? I appeal to you, members of the
council, to hear my fathers profession
of faith, which he is too modest him-
self to urge upon you, and TO decloe
definitely whether or no he is mere
tic"
The council had spent two hours
threshing out the problem OF Wnetner
or not Pastor Brookes and Deacon
Cromwell had had words over tne
church bylaws. A motion to refer
the whole matter back to the church
had met with general approval and
was about to be put When MISS
Brookes earnestly asked that her
father be either cleared or convicted.
The council halted and called for
specific presentation OF the cnargeS'
Several names of members OF the
church were called, but each refused
to act as a witness against the pastor.
The charge of heresy, formulated in
letter to the pastor from the deacons
and clerk of the church, in which he
was asked to resign, was a broad one
accusing him of violation of faith In
BAPTIST doctrine without naming any
particular instances. Deacons Calf
and Cromwell whose signatures mead
ed the letter, were both unable u bt
| present and a letter from the former
Rev. Ira H. Cain, was also entirely
general Deacon Edward ID. Wooilan
was called to the stand. but referreo
the chairman to Mrs. Henrietta Jones'
who came forward with definite state
ments.
TT was in sermon Mr.. Brookes
nr6aC0GQ
said. "He told us he did not believe
in God as a person sitting up above;
that he did not believe in devil or
in hell. He preached evolution. NOW
/ believe in the first chapters OF Gene>
sis and that the earth was made In
six days. don't think that the re-
ligion of our fathers and grandfatners
ought to be changed. believe that IL
is wrong to say that what was right
1I,,tt In /
''What you think is not on trial,
interposed Dr.. Roseberry, the chair
man. "Tell us what Brother Brookes
has said that is not In accord WIN
Baptist faith"
dWell, / think that's ALL said Mrs
Jones. Her statements were corrobo-
rated by her daughter, Miss Henrietta
Affirms His Faith
After some discussion Mr.. Brookes
was asked to read the statement OF
his belief which he had written out
fully. In this he did not vary from
the fundamental doctrines of the Bap-
fist church, in which he strongly af-
firmed his faith. The atonement. the
new birth, regeneration and other
principles he took UP affirmatively, as
well as hell, future punishment ana
the devil, and he declared that the
Bible was to him all GOOD DOCKS IN
one.
II would not belittle the fundamental
principles of our religion" said Mr.
Brookes, 'but would view them In the
light of the twentieth century. While
the fundamental doctrines are very
dear to me 1 am deeply interested IN
everyday life and its problems. Christ
came not only to save indlvloual per.
sons. but 1 feel that he is here to save
society. 1 believe the great law OF
Christ should be applied in all activity.
If he were here today he would rebuke
us for allowing an economic system TO
prevail which substitutes the rule of
gold for the golden rule"
After taking up the distinctly re-
ligious phase OF ms posltlon, MT. MI
Rrookes turned to the veiled charges
of Socialism which had been brought
up earlier in the evening, saying that
he stood with Benjamin Kidd in favor
ing equality of opportunity, and with
many other ministers of the gospel IN
urging a more practical application OF
brotherhood in daily life.
A short discussion by members or the
council followed, and several doctrinal
questions were fired at Mr.. Brookes,
which he met successfully. Rev. r. r..
Brown assistant pastor of Temple
BAPTIST church, urged broad view in
regard to an attitude on social prob
lens.
"The time is coming when more of us
will have to be classified as favoring
some of the things our brother has out
lined" he said. while l may not
agree with him on all things, there are
others which l heartily favor"
A motion was finally put against the
charge of heresy, but this was not
deemed emphatic enough, and another,
worded to entirely disprove the charges,
was unanimously carried. The feeling
of the council was that the matter had
grown up from personal differences of
opinion, and committee was chosen
consisting of DR.. t. C. Roseberry of 1911
South Hoover street, chairman; Rev.
Francis w. Reynolds, superintendent of
the Baptist City mission, and Rev. f..
q. Cressey, pastor Of the East Los An
geles Baptist church, which will en-
deavor to restore harmonious relations
in the Figueroa Street church.
~ DR.. Roseberry presided at the meet
ing and Rev. F. w. Reynolds acted as
clerk. The decons' side Of the case was
conducted by Rev. William F. Ireland,
who is not a member of the congrega-