Case Of Rev. Brown

Chicago, Oct. 26. - The question as to Jtev. C. O. Brown's conduct toward Miss Maule Overman and Mrs. M. A. Stockti n, while the clergyman was living ir. San Francisco, is being inquired Into ïor the tenth time wíthin twp years. The trial opened at the Young Mc::'s Christian asscciation hall, the issue being the appeal of Rev. Brownfrom the decisión of the Bay conference of the Congregational church, which read him out of the pulpit April 21, 1896, for his alleged unministerial conduct. There was some delay in the arrSval of the various interested parties and the morning wore along before any ministers appeared. The Rev. Dr. Brown was late, and the Californians, Dr. McLean, the Rev. G. B. Hatch and th? Rev. C. R. Brown, were also slow in making an appearaiu-e. Dr. Bradiey and Dr. Hollister, both cf Grand Rapids, Mich., were the first ministers to enter the hall. WUat !)r. HoK ster Sai d. "We will not do much for a few hours," said Dr. Hollister, "exeepting to orgranize as a body and make a few preliminary inquines. I really dun't know whether the trial will be public, limited to the minirtry or open only to ministers and leaders of the church. As Dr. Brown has said, the trial is largely an investigation of the Bay conference's methods in suspending him." The ministers began to assemble at 10:20 o'clock. Among the delegates who first reached the scène, besides a number of laymen, were the following: Dr. Bradley, Grand Rapids; Dr. Hollister, Grand Rapids; Dr. Martin, Detroit; Dr. Wallace, Chicago; Dr. Waterman, Chicago; Dr. Burnham, St. Louis; Dr. Blanchard, Aurora. Dr. Brown with his counselor, J. A. Adams, carne in with a brisk step and smiling face. "I think this council," said he, "will eet me right. The conference seems, as far as I can ascertain, determined on justice, while every circumstance since my troubles in San Francisco has been in my favor." Pastor of a Cliicago Church, The defendant is now pastor of the Green Street church in this city. After the suspension he appealed to a mutual council to determine whether his dismissal was secured by unprecedented and improper methods as charged. Thig was granted. The council is composed of flve members of churches selected by Rev. Mr. Brown, five by the Bay conference, and the eleventh appointed by two disinterested pastors. The defendant claims his troubles are directly traceable to Dr. J. K. McLean, president of the Facinc seminary, wnore ■views on Christian socialism he opposed. He says he was instrumental in preventing the Bay conference f.rom indorsing the theories of Professor Herron, a leading exponent of the cult. For this interference, Dr. MeLean never forgave Rev. Brown, according to the latter. About the same time a woman named Davidson tried to blackmail Rev. Brown, he says. Contrary to the advice of the pólice, the clergyman prosecuted her, and thus brought upon himself an inquiry into his conduct by a councll of Congregational ministers, and an exoneration. Suspended Without Trial. ■Then," said llr. Brown, "the Eay conference suspended me without trial, charge, specification or witness; and the trial now is an action brought by me against the Bay conference to corapel them to do me justice." The minister claims to be in posseaeion of reliable information that the Davidson woman was an ex-inmate of a Massachusetts workhouse and an adventuress. Later the names of a Mra M. A. Stockton and Miss Martha Overman were dragged into the clergyman's affairs. The finding of the Bay conference exonerated the defe-ndant of some of tin most serious charges, but intimated that the evidence established the fact that Dr. Brown had paid Mrs. Davidson $500 and agreed to pay her $35 a month to insure the silence of a Mrs. Badden. Dr. Brown approved of leaving the deliberations of the council open to the public, but it was derided not to allow this.