Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-17
PASTOR IS SORRY
ABOUT THE NUPTIALS
Rev. Clark Writes His Congregation a
Penitent Letter, Begging Forgive
ness for Performing the Ceremony.

Gange. George w. Packard. George c, Gill.
| w. 8. Pomeroy, W..R- Wilson and George
Darten.
Pastor Not to Be Seen.
Mr.. Clark would not be seen in his home.
and no one of his friends could explain his
sudden change of front. Wednesday, after
| the Rev. DR.. Nehemiah Boynton, pas
tor OF the Clinton Avenue Congregational
Church and moderator of the conference,
had censured him for his conduct, he de-
Tended his action He declared he was sat-
isf1ed that the ceremony was the result Of
love match. and that he felt he was per-
forming perfectly proper function in
marrying the steel trust president and the
former actress.
upon him. His intimate friends tried to
point out to him what they described as
gross error, but to all the pleadings, 1t
was said. the minister was Indifferent His
action of last night, in hunbly begging
forgiveness and confessing he had COM
mitted gross error Of judgment, caused
surprise that bordered on CONSERVATION.
Fully believing the resignation of Dr.
of the congregation headed by Mrs. George
&. Gill started out early yesterday after
noon to visit all the members Of the church
and enlist their efforts in a movement to
keep DR.. Clark In the pulpit.
Learning that special meeting Of the
prudential committee had been called for
last night they saw the members as well
as the trustees and members Of the board
OF deacons, all Of whom were to sit in
Judgment on the case. 1t was 7:3O o'clock
IN the evening when the full committee
was called to. order. and for three hours
the case was discussed. No one in the
meeting defended the conduct of the min
lister. All agreed he had erred grievousy
and had brought unpleasant reflection op
his church as well as on the ministry.
The severe censure Of the Rev. Dr. Boyn-
ton was read and discussed, and there were
some members of the committee it was re-
ported, who were disinclined to forgive and
argued that the resignation of the pastor
would be the proper elimination OF the
whole affair.
While the meeting was under way a
messenger, with DR.. Clarks letter, ar
sion. There were many words Of sympathy
with him. and practically all the members
OF the committee agreed that inasmuch
as he confessed his sins and begged to
nave them condoned 1t was the Christian
duty Of the ministry to stand by him.
There was difference of opinion as to
the wisdom Of making public the letter
from ID Dr. Clark and the resolution adopted
financial secretary OF the church. declared
It would be the policy Of wisdom to keep
the whole affair secret. He was argued
ous OF >. TINS belief. however, and It was de-
All the members Of the committee were
entoined to secrecy, however, regarding
the words that passed in committee and
tney all ooeyed the injunction faithfully.
Pastors on Corey Marriage.
PITTsBURG. Pa, May 17-Prominent
Plttsburg ministers yesterday expressed
themselves In no unmeasured terms re-
garding the action Of the Rev. Dr. John I.
Clark of Brooklyn, who married w. Ellis
/ Of itself came in for condemnation by the
Rev. DIR. G. w. Biodgett of the North Ave-.
nue. Methodist Episcopal Church. who said:
think the Corey case is worse than the
Thaw case or the Hart1e case. for 1t openly
attacks and def1es public morals. Corey
ought to go back to Paris, where he be-
longs, and 1--we with his new WIFE, There
was nothing against corey's first wife, and
that 10 precisely where the horror and scan.
DIAL OF the whole affair become obvious
He became criminal at heart and
that according to sociologists, is worse
the true conjugal love of his first wife,
who was an admirable woman, and he
broke up the happiness Of his family. The
really talented actresses Of high standing
tresses. as rule. are not so good"
The Rev. J. T. McCrory, pastor Of the
Third United Presbyterian Church of Pitts
that under no church law could Mr.. Corey
have been rightfully married again: that
he himself had not been divorced; that his
wife had divorced him: that while she
AA6As ACiIiotiJp SOEey uLu6eII 6QOulQ nave
been, in the eyes Of church law, the same
as man yet married.
TOLEDO. Ohio. May 17.-whether or not
the Congregational Association OF Ohio.
which is assembled In convention here, viii
take any official action of the Corey Gilman
wedding is not definitely known at this
time. Indications are that an effort will be
made to bring the action OF the Rev. DR..
Clark In marrying them before this conysn-
ton.
One of the strongest statements came
from the Rev. Dan r. Bradley of the Pill
grim Church of Cleveland. He said:
II consider DIR. Clark's act a grievous
error. 1t was an immoral marriage. That
Is the shortest way can put it, I have no
objection to marrying divorced persons
but not persons of the reputation of CO.
rey and Miss Gilman. know Clark You