The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-16

Has been n Leading Quaker Light for
ear I'm This Country.

RiSt1AlOND, ln1., sept. l0.-Ine conduct
or the local Quakers toward DIR. Dougan
Clark because he allowed himself to be
oaptised still continues to be much talked
about and the position that the Richmond
Yearly Meeting will take toward the mat
ter when 1t convenes on Sept. 26 is awaited
with interest. AS to what that action will
be no one has ventured a guess, and those
Of prominence in the church will not COM
NIT themselves on the point. IL is very
probable. however, that DIR. Clark will be
relieved OF his duties at Earlham College,
as so far there have been no pupils en-
rolled under him. and he has no work
Whatever except to meet the senior class
once a week in scripture. If the students
of the college will not take work under
him, to continue him in the position would
be suicidal to the interests of the biblical
institute, which has just now become one
OF the chief features of the school.
1t cannot but seem strange to the pub
lie that such a man as DR.. Clark, aged,
learned and who has devoted the best OF
his time to the work of the Quaker
church, should be so unceremoniously
dropped by men who have been his life
long friends, and who nave looked up to
him as one of the best men in the de-
nomination. The following sketch of his
life. written in 1893. will serve, to show the
high esteem he has been held in in the
past:
DIR. Dougan Clark was born in Randolph
county, North Carolina, May IL, 1928. In
1887 New Garden Boarding School. now
Guilford College. was established, and at
the opening Of the institution Dougan
Clark's parents were called to the super
intendency, where they remained six years.
At the age of eighteen he entered Friends
Boarding School. at Providence. r. L.,
where he spent two years. During this
period he began his career as teacher at
Westport. in Massachusetts. where he
taught four months. He then returned to
the scenes of his early life at New Garden
and taught two years. In 1850 he entered
Haverford College, from which place he
graduated in 1852. and in the same year
married Sarah J; Bates, of Hanover coun-
~, Virginia. He again went to North
Carolina and remained three years. He
attended a course of medical lectures at
the University of Maryland in Baltimore.
The following year he removed to Indiana
and practiced his profession for eight
that he spent the winter of 1S60-61 at Phil
adelphia. and received the degree of doctor
OF medicine from the University of Penn
sylvania with the class of 1861. Two years
were spent in indianapolis as a practicing
physician. In 1866 he was called TO the
chair of Greek and Latin in Earlham Col
@NSNs q OotliO NC Dlltu " Il col -
when he resigned and removed to Rich
mond. He was recorded as a minister of
the gospel in 1863. and Immediately entered
on that work.
His preaching marked an epoch in the
spiritual progress of Indiana Yearly Meet
ing, and wherever he was heard he became
popular.
The years from 1876 to 1879 were spent in
travel. Great Britain, Ireland and France
were visited Shortly after his return he
went TO Cleveland, and remained as pastor
of the Friends Church for thirteen months.
From the beginning of 1882 to the end of
1888 he was editor of the Gospel Expositor,
a periodical especially devoted to the pro-
mitigation of holiness. The following year
he was again elected professor of Latin and
Greek in Earlham College, but with the es-
tablshment OF the biblical institute in 1855
DR.. Clark was promoted to the leadership
of the new department, a position which he
has held up to this time. A successful
been sanctioned by that infallible Etest-
fruits; a Bible student, combining deep
spirituality with literary acumen, he la
bors, transfuSing year by year some of his
own vigorous personality into his pupils.
Nor is he revered only by the students of
his own department. His chapel talks and
occasional sermons elicit the interest, and
are for the edification, of all the college
community. A series Of talks on prayer
and. another on the Specification of the diff
ferent books of the New Testament and
the divine wisdom manifested in their ar
rangement, have been particularly instruc-
tive. a recent sermon on the "Atonement"
cleared ODScuTlly Dy It's exposition OIL this
doctrine and convinced by its logic. His
services In vacations have been in con-
slant demand, and at conventions by the
inquirers he has expounded the way of God
most perfectly.
One other phase of his work remains to
be mentioned-the products of his pen.
While travelling in England he wrote and
published a book entitled offices Of the
Holy Spirit" and subsequently another Of
great practical value, which has BEEN high
ly commended by evangelists, instructions
to Christian Converts" and a third. Holy
Ghost. Dispensation.' The first and second
named have been translated into Spanish
by the Quaker missionaries in Mexico, and
all are going in ministration further than
his voice or personal presence can reach.
He has also been a frequent contributor 10
various periodicals, chiefly those devoted to
the doctrine and experience of holiness.
A number of years ago DR.. Clark was at
Philadelphia. and a lady friend there gave
him $500 for starting the biblical institute.
The first year $40 was added TO the $500,
and that was all he received for teaching.
because he was associated with Updegraff,
hence an article was drawn up for him TO
sign to the effect that he would not reach
baptism, and he has always had this gag
in his mouth. Three years ago, at the
church here. $40 was raised for him: two
years ago $50, and last year $40, all that
that could be raised in one of the wealth.
est denominations in the city. His salary
all told. for both teaching and preaching.
is stated on good authority. never preached
a sermon on baptism. and doubtless never
would have done so.