The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-05-23
COREY PASTOR RETURNS FEE
The Rev. J. LcIark Apologies For
Marrying Magnate to Actress.
Admits to Church Committee His
"Great Wrong and HumbIy
Begs Their Forgiveness.

New York City.-Declaring public
IL that he had done " a great wrong"
in marrying Mabelle Gilman, the
actress, and w. E. Corey, president
Of the Steel Trust, the Rev. John
Lewis Clark, pastor of the Bushwick
Avenue Congregational Church, Of
Brooklyn, returned to Corey his we'd
ding fee, amounting, it is said, to
nearly $1,000.
In addition, Pastor Clark appeared
before the Prudential Committee of
his church, consisting of the combined
board of deacons and trustees, and
humbly apologized for his connection
with the Corey-Gilman affair.
In consequence Of his abject apol~
ogy the Prudential Committee, after
! a long and heated discussion, re-
solved to recommend to the congrega-
ton to condone the pastors ~offense.
At the same time they issued a public
statement eXcoriating the pastor and
denouncing the Corey-Gilman union
in unmeasured terms.
The Rev. Mr.. Clark was saved
from the humiliation of dismissal
from his p~astorate, it is said, by the
"O1ASh VI Tx OAS1OSdI1OA WIN raj
lied to his support and conducted a
vigorous campaign in his behalf.
They are said to have won a majority
of the trustees and deacons over to
letting Pastor Clark down with an
apology and a singing rebuke.
Pastor Clark's apology and admis-
sion Of wrongdoing Is officially given
out by the Prudential Committee at
the close of their session is as fol-
lows:
ITO the Prudential Committee of
Bushwick Avenue Congrega-
tional Church:
"Gentlemen-My professional con-
duet as a Congregational minister in
performing a wedding ceremony at
Hotel Gotham, May IA, having been
challenged, 1 desire to say that upon
reflection I am convinced that with
out intention 1 did a great wrong to
my Office as a Congregational minis
ter, to my church and to the Chris
tian conception of the marriage rela-
ton.
Il most sincerely regret having
! used my ecclesiastical Office to sane
ton this wedding, and I beg pardon
| Of my church ard denomination for
having, unwittingly and without due
4 4N 4Sl4ONIIOuS OSSI II
duced to of1iciate.
Il will humbly receive any censure
which may be visited upon me, for /
realize increasingly the gravity of
my transgression. I have returned
the fee which was given me, and ask
for such charitable Judgment as
Christian f~orebearance may afford.
eff this great error, which was not
with evil intent, can be condoned.I
promise most solemnly that in future
all my uses of my ecclesiastical Office
shall be strictly within the princi-
pies and practices of my denomina-
ton.
with profound regret and humil-
iation, 1 am yours earnestly,
" (Signed) JOHN LEWIS CLARk."
Talking to the workers of the Cos
pei Settlement at the Waldorf-As-
toria, the Rev. S. Parks Cadman, of
the Central Congregational Church,
of Brooklyn, used some strong Ian
guage about Mr.. Clark, although he
did not mention MIN by name. He
referred to Nj. Clark as lone of our
clergymen from Brooklyn who at the
witching hour of midnight so fa1 for
got himself and prostituted his sacred
office as to try to put the sanction of
God on a union begotten in filth
ness" He said: at has fallen uDon
his W head, as it should"