The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-15
a Man Whom His Church Delights to
Honor.

TO the Editor: The name of Hon Wal
ter clark is now prominently before the
people of North Carolina for the posi-
ton Of Chief Justice of our Supreme
Court. His friends are pressing his
claims purely on account of his intrinsic
merit; his eminent legal ability, his
sterling elements of character; his
scholarship, and his long efficient service
and abundant labors, both as a public
servant and private citizen. Nothing
has been asked for him because of his
church relations or his UNCONVENTIONAL
convictions.
1t is right and proper for denomina-
tional lines to be obliberated when we
come TO select men to serve all the peo-
pie in high official station, but since an
opponent Of Judge Clark has, in a news
paper article, referred to his church con-
nections in doubtful if not a mis-
leading way, it cannot be considered i'm
proper for one who has known him per-
sonally for twenty-five years and is
familiar with his record as a church
member to give the public a simple
statement of facts in regard to his stand
ING dIhOHS IHOoc with NHOul lie HAS DceH
intimately associated as protested
Christian from his boyhood up to the
present, and who have had ample oppor-
tunity of studying his character and
spirit.
1t is no exaggeration to say that Wal
ter Clark is a man his church delights
to honor, as the following facts abund-
antly show. He descended from an an
cestry prominent as Methodists from an
early date. His mothers family was
among the first Methodists in North
Carolina and has continued to the present
prominent and influential.
He himself joined the church when a
boy sixteen years old, and has since been
a consistent and loyal member. No other
layman in our State has been so honorcd
or called to serve in so many conspicu-
Gus and responsible places. In the long
list of noble men who have served with
marked ability in the councils of the
church no name stands higher in the
estimation of ourtchief pastors and lead
ing laymen than. that of Walter Clark.
Hardly had be reached manhood before
he was called into service by his pastors
and brethren to speak on important pub
III OCCdoiOuS upOu NItdI luCotlOHo. MdHs
times has he been elected as a lay
delegate to our district and annual con-
ferences. aad ne was always placed upon
the most important committees and upon
these rendered the most valuable service.
He was selected to deliver the addrss
of welcome at Centennial of Methodism
held in Raleigh in, 1876. This meeting was
attended by three bishops, a large num-
Der of distinguished representatives, and
was a most memorable occasion in our
history. He was the one lay delegate
sent from the North Carolina Conference
to the Eccumemeal Conference which
met in London in 1881, which was com
posed of delegates from world wide
Methodism.
Up to 1890 all Of North Carolina east
of the Roanoke river was in the Vir-
ginia Conference, and all the counties
west of Burke were in the Holston Con-
ference. 1t was desired by North Caro-
lima Methodsts to obtain possession of
these portions of our territory in order
TO make two North Carolina Conferences
Mainly for this purpose Judge Clark was
sent as a delegate to the General Con-
ference that met in st. Louis, Mo-, in
iO1V' ASAi 6Niy IhlOu6h ChOi - tNAA 'AS
counties in Western North Carolina and
the country lying between the Roanoke
and Chowan rivers were ceded to the
North Carolina Conference, which was
then divided into two The Virginians,
however, were strong enough to keep
their hold on the five pastorates east of
the Chowan. To obtain the cession Of
that desirable territory, Judge Clark was
again called into service and by unani-
nous vote of the Wilmington Conference,
was sent as a delegate to the Memphis
General Conference in 1894 The efforts
of himself and others were again sue
cessful and the long cherished wish Of
North Carolina Methodsts was gratifed
and all the territory III the State was
taken into the two conferences.
DR.. j. ]. Lafferty, at that time the able
editor of the Richmond Christian Advo-
cate, attributed this transfer of terri
tory mainly to the influence OF Judge
Clark.
In the wear 1894 the General Conference
elected a board of nine member to adjust
the relations of the Southern with the
Northern Methodist church. On this
board were three bishops, three doctors
or divinity and three lawyers. Judge
Clark was one of them. The Methodist
Episcopal Church appointed like COM
mission, and a joint meeting was. held
in Washington city in 1898 and erected
some important adjustments between the
churches At the General conference
held in Baltimore that year ne was Sc
lected q member of the board. 1t held a
second meeting in Baltimore In March
1on@ ,,ban furtbar pr0greSS was made
in adjusting satisfactorily the relations
between the two largest bodies of Metho-
dists.
At the recent General Conference held
in Dallas, Tex, this board was con-
tinued. The church has no higher honor
it can bestow upon a layman than to
make him a member of such board
and there is no position known to us that
comes with it greater dignity or so much
responsibility.
1,,gIrx Nl1r "