Evening star., 1903-07-13
REMOVAL DEMANDED
CRITICISM OF DIR. CLARK, HEAD
OF THE RNDEAvoRERS
The Charge Preferred Not Regarded
Seriously by Local G. E.
Leader.

The Baltimore Sun this morning states
that Rev. ]. c. Hogan. pastor of Emman-
uel Meeting House of that city. at the
services yesterday morning presented to
his congregation a petition urging the re-
moval of Rev. DR.. Francis E. Clark from
the presidency of the Christian Endeavor
Society According to the Baltimore news
paper, the petition charges DR. Clark with
incompetency. sanctioning an immoral So
cial system and bearing false witness. 1t
was stated that a copy of the petition had
been sent to the delegates of the Christian
Endeavor convention in session at Denver,
Col.
The document recites that since the pas
tor, the officers and the congregation Of
Emmanuel Meeting House cannot con-
Endeavor Society under its present lead
ership the different state delegations to
the twenty-frst international Christian
Endeavor convention are requested to do
all In their power to remove Rev. F. E.
Clark from the presidency of the society.
The reasons for this request, given in
brief. are:
First, incompetency Second, Dr. Clark.
1t is alleged, gives sanction and support to
immoral social systems, to which Christ 9
social teachings are directly opposed.
Third. bearing false witness against fel-
low men, reference being made to an
article in the Christian Endeavor World,
in which, it is stated, DR.. Clark classed
socialism with anarchy
The petition closes with the statement
that any minister guilty as charged ought
to be deposed from Office, and DR.. Clark is
asked to resign at once.
Mr.. Pickens' Views
Mr. James NJ Pickens first vice presi-
dent of the District Christian Endeavor
Union, and formerly its president, when
interviewed with regard to the charges by
a reporter for The Star today, said that
he had received no intimation of such a
petition until his attention was called to
the article by the reporter. 1t Is evident
ly not a very well organized movement.
said Mr. PickenS, "inaSmuch as the Dis
trict of Columbia union is classed as a
state organization, and nothing has been
received here with regard to the matter
Mr.. Pickens went on to say that a num-
ber of years ago DR.. Clark was assailed by
a Temperance reformer of national reputa-
tion because the president of the Endeavor
Society declined to pledge the organization
politically to the prohibition party. Dr.
Clark, he said, is frequently approached by
parties desrious of forwarding their move
ments under the auspices of the c. E So
ciety, and when, in his judgment, he can
not grant the requests of the so-calied re-
formers they occasionally cenSure him.
"A prominent member of the board of
trustees of the united society" said Mr..
Pickens, tells me that Dr. Clark has man
aged the affairs or the society WITH rare
tact and ability. He has endeavored at all
times to steer the society clear of entangle-
ments which would compromise its position
or cause internal strife, and yet he has Will
ingy fostered various movements which the
society could sanction with propriety. The
society has assduously avoided political af-
filations. 1t is no easy matter to dlrect the
organization, since there are so many de-
nominations represented in its membership.
Matter of Conjecture.
Il am under the impression that this pc
ttion from Baltimore has been called forth
because of DR.. Clarks refusal to officially
sanction some. reform in which the pastor
of this particular church and the members
were especially interested. However,
have no accurate knowledge of the matter
and can only conjecture as to the origin of
the petition.
The article referred to in the Christian
Endeavor World, will be seen by refer
ence to the date mentioned, was published
about the time of President Mckinley s
assassination Mr.. Pickens stated he felt
sure that DR.. Clark referred to the violent
forms of socialism and not to that phase Of
the movement defined by the Encyclopedia
Britannica.