Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-17
cONFEssEs HE WAS WRONG
Returns the Fee That Was Given
Him by the President of the
Steel Trust and Is
Forgiven.

NEW YORK, May II-begSlnS iofSNe-
ness of his congregation for wedding WIZ
liam Ellis Corey to Mabelle Gilman. and
announcing that he had returned the fee
given to him by the president of the steel
trust. the Rev. John L. Clark, pastor of
the Bushwick Avenue Congregational
Church, Brooklyn. last night surprised the
members of the prudential committee and
was assured of its forgiveness and charity
In most remarkable letter to the COM
mittee Mr. Clark confessed that he had
misused the office of the Christian minis
try, and declared he had done SO merely
because he had not reflected as he should
have done before deciding to offlciate. In
an equally remarkable resolution adopted
by the members of the committee refer
ence was made to ''our abhorrence OF the
use of the Christian ministry in sanction
ing such a wedding"
Mr.. Clark will remain as pastor of the
Bushwick Avenue Church. What caused
his sudden change in attitude in the mat
ter of the much-discussed wedding eere-
mony was not learned He was not pres
ent at the meeting.
Women members of the church, while not
defending his action, championed him and
personally pleaded with the members OF
the committee not to accept his resigna-
ton. They went through the church dis
trict during the afternoon sounding MEM
bers of the congregation on the matter
and urging all to give their support to
Mr. Clark in his unfortunate predicament
DR.. Clark's Letter.
Following is the letter sent by Mr.. Clark
to the prudential committee, which met at
7:8O o'clock, and remained in session until
1880 o'clock: ..,as.ia. 5s.... -
MY professional conduct as q Congre-
gational minister In performing the we'd
ding ceremony at the Hotel Gotham on
May II having been challenged. I desire
to say that upon reflection I am com
WINGED that without intention / did q great
wrong to my office as a Congregational
minister, to my church and to the Chris
tian conception Of the marriage relation.
II most sincerely regret having used my
ecclesiastical office to sanction the we'd
ding, and beg pardon Of my church and
denomination for having unwittingly and
without due examination and refection
been induced to omciate. ] will hImbly
receive any censure which may be visited
upon me, for realize increasingly the
gravity of my transgression.
IT have returned the fee which was given
to me, and ask for such charitable judg-
ment as Christian forbearance may af-
ford.
'If this great error, which was not with
evil intent. can be condoned, I most sol
EMMY promise that In future all the use OF
my ecclesiastical Office shall be strictly
within the principle of practice Of my de-
nomination With profound regret and hui
initiation, I am,
Yours earnestly.
JOHN LEWIS CLARK"
Regret and Pardon.
The prudential committee then adopted
the following resolution:
1.-THE prudential committee Of the Bush
wick Avenue Congregational Church hav-
ing received the statement from our min
lister. the Rev. John Lewis Clark. records
it's sorrow at the situation in which he,
finds himself in having of11ciated without
due examination and reflection at this we'd
ding on May IA.
I'VE record our adherence of the use OF
the Office Of the Christian ministry In sane
tioning such a wedding and our gratitude
that our minister now sees with increasing
clearness the gravity of the transgression
of moral and Christian principles involved.
1--WE accept his Interpretation of his ac-
ton as without evil intent, as careless,
without due examination and reflection.
and, believing in his Integrity as a man
and righteous purpose as Christian min
lister, We recommend to the church that in.
view of his statement no action be taken,
that the offense be condoned and that we
share with him his burden and chagrin,
striving by mutually bearing each others
burden to exercise that spirit of forgive
ness and to cultivate that spirit Of love
which our religion enjoins.
I'VE recommend that the minister and the
people turn again to the work of this
church with chastened hearts, redeeming
as far as possible the situation by earnest
ness, watchfulness and devoted service"
The following names were affixed to the
resolution: William Shell, senior deacon;
Thomas L. Carmier, treasurer; C. w.