New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-17
COREY MINISTER MEEK.
MAKES AFFECT 1POLOGY.


The Rev. John Lewis Clark, pastor of the
Bushwick Avenue Congregational Church,
Brooklyn no longer defies public opinion or the
storm of protest which has arisen over his
marriage of William Ellis Corey to Miss Mabelie
Gilman Tor he sent a most abiect apology to
the trustees of the church last night. in which
he said almost as many harsh things of him
self as have any of his critics. He said he
would bear in meebness and humility any CEN
sure which might b. meteG out to him for his
act. The trustees accepted his apology and
explanation, but censbred him severely before
recommending that the congregation receive
him back in all due Christian love and charity.
In his letter he said. too that he had sent back
the big fee which he received for his part in
the gittering ceremony which married the steel
man to the actress after dvorcins the wife of
his youth and the mother of his children.
His letter 10 the trustees follows;
MY professional conduct as n CONGREGATIONAL
list minister In performing a wedding ceremony
AZ the Hotel Gotham May II having been
challenged / desire To say that upon reflection
I am convinced that without intention did a
great wrong 10 my Office as a CoUgregationalist
minister. TO my faith and to my church. and "a
the Christian convention OF the marriage rela-
tion. | most sincerely regret having used my
cCclesias stica Office to sanction this wedding. and
l beg pardon Of my church and denomination for
having uuWittingly and without reflection been
induced 10 oficiatc
viii receive humbly any censure which may
be visited upon me, for | realize increasingly the
gravity OF my tranSgression have repaid the
fee which given me. and ask for such char
table indulgence rs Christian charity may at
ford
II this great error. which was not committed
with evil intent can he condoned, / promise most
soiNmnly that I'm future all MY uses Of my eccle
5iastical office shall bc strictly with the prin
Ciples ana practices Of my denomination.
Despite tho censure visited upon the clergy
mar by others who declared. among other
things. that he had sanctioned progressive
po,yEamy," his congregation stood by and up
held him for the most part. the women OF the
church especially rallying 10 his defence. In
spite of this. and that he had been indorsed
earlier i'm the day by one of the women's organ
izations i'm the church. his resignation is said to
have been given to the trustees at the same
time as his apology. Whether or not the con-
gr5Eaton viii ratfy the action of the trustees
as expressed by the credentials committee
mains 10 bc seen. and there is a strong feeling
that il VIII cause "a serious split in the congre-
cation. Had they also accepted his resgna-
ton most of the women in the congregation
say it is absolutely certain that the church
would have been split
After a long executive meeting. at which the
pastors letter was read. the committee on ere
dentals of the board Of trustees made this for
NAL statement:
The committee on credentials of the Bushwick
Avenue COnGreEa tloudl ChurCh, having received
a letter from our minister. the Rev. John Lewis
Clark. records its sorrow over the situation In
which he finds himself at having ofiCiated with
out due examination and reflection at we'd
ding ON May H. We record our abhorrenCe at
the of the office of the Christian ministry
sAnctjoninC such "a wedding and our gratitude
that minister now sees with increasing clear
ness the gravity of his transsression ~ the
moral and Christian principles involved
We accept his Interpretation of his action as
without evil intent, as careless and without due
examination and reflection and. believing i'm his
integrity as a man and righteous purpose a
Christian minister. we recommend 10 the church
that. in view of his statement, action he
taken. that his offence he condoned. and that
we share with him the humiliation and cha grin.
striving by mutually hearing each others bur
dens To exercise that spirit of forgiveness and
cultivate that spirit of love which our re-
ligion CnjOins
we recommend that minister and people turn
again 10 the work Of this church with chastened
hearts, redeeming SO iar as p"sSlb'e the Sltua-
ton by carnestness, watchiulness and devoted
service.
This was signed by William Schen senior
deacon; Thomas l. Cammeyer, treasurer; s. w.
Gauge. George w. Packard, George e, Gin, Will
lam f. Pomcray w r Wilson and George Cor
don comprising the committee.
The acceptance Of the pastors explanation
was no surprise to those In the congregation.
The storm of ccnsure has swept over the heads
of the congregation without swayng them from
their allegiance, the women of the church rally
meeting of one Of the women's societies absolved
him from blame and its members said as indi-
viduas if the board of trustees did not follow
their example that they would leave the church
with their pastor.
In speaking yesterday about the Rev. Mr.
Clark the Rev. Henry A. Stimson. pastor of the
Manhattan Congregational Church said: = Al
though | am not authorized te speak for my
brethren in the Congregational ministry. ! feel
sure that express the sentiments of many OF
them when I declare my sense of sorrow and
shame that minister bearing at the hour the
name of the Congregational ministry, oficiated
the marriage a Ia mode at the Hotel Gotham.
Talking to the workers Of the Gospel Settle
ment at the Waldorf-Astoria yesterday after
noon, the Rev s. Parks Cadman, of the Central
Congregational Church. OF Brooklyn. used some
strong language about Mr.. Clark, although he
did not mention him by name. He referred to
Mr.. Clark as zone of cergymen from Brook
lyn who at the witching hour of midnight so far
forgot himself and prostituted his sacred office
as TO try TO put the sanction of God on union
begotten in filthness." He said: 1t has fallen
upon his own head, as II should.
KANSAS DECLARED FOR TAFT.