The Washington herald., 1907-05-17

New York May 16.-Rev. John Lewis
Clark. pastor Of the Bushwick Avenue
Congregational Church. admitted tonight
to the trustees and deacons Of the church
that he had committed a great wrong in
marrying Corey and Miss Gilman. and
that he had returned Coreys fee. The fee
was said to have been I.g0.
Rev. Mr.. Clark. after admitting that he
had done wrong. begged the indulgence Of
the church. and the trustees then con-
sented to coudone his offeuse and share
with him "the humiliation and chagrin,'
as they put it ia the statement given out
by them.
The pastors confession was contained
in letter sent TO the trustees and dated
May Is. The letter was addressed "To the
Prudential Committee of the BushwicI
Avenue Congregational Church" Il was
as follows:
Gentlemen. My professional conduct
as a Congregational minister in perform
ing a wedding ceremony at Hotel Gotham
on May "A having been challenged. de-
sire to say that upon reflection and ex-
animation I am convinced that without
intention I did great wrong TO my Of
fee as a Congregational minister, to my
church, and 10 the Christian conception
Of the marriage relation.
Deeply Regrets Act.
7 most sincerely regret having used
my ecclesiastical Office TO sanction this
wedding, and I beg the pardon Of my
church and denomination for having un-
willingly and without due examination
and reflection been induced TO odiciate.
I viii humbly receive any ceusure which
may be visited upon me, for I realize in
CreasinEly the gravity of my trausgres-
sion. I have returned the fee which was
given me, and ask for such charitable
judgment as Christian forbearance may
afford
If this sreat error which was not
committed with evil intent. can be con-
dOned, 1 promise most solemnlv that in
the future all my uses of my ecclesiasti-
cal office shall be strictly within the prin-
ciples and the practices Of my denomina-
tion
with profound regret and humiliation. |
1 am, most earnestly,
JOHN LEWIS CLARK"
The committee. made up Of the trustees |
and deaCons. met NJ o'clock. and the
meeting tasted until after II. At the end
of the meeting the committee gate out
the pastors letter and the following
statement.
I'VE record our adherence Of the use
Of the office Of the Christian ministry in
the sanction Of such weddings. and our
gratitude that our minister now sees,
with increasing clearness. the gravity Of
the transgrossion of the moral and Chris |
tian principles involved
'We accept his Interpretation Of his ac- |
ti0H as without evil intent. as careless. |
and without due examination and refec- /
tiOn. and recommend to our church that. |
In view Of his statement. no action be |
taken. that the offense be cOnd0ned. and |
that we share with him the humiliation |
and chagrin, striving by mutually bearing
each others burden 10 exercise that
spirit of forgiveness and cultivate that /
spirit Of love which our religion enj0ins % |
Compromise Is Reached.
Much bitterness was manifested i'm the |
meeting, as was evidenced by the sound |
Of angry voices. which could be heard in |
the street outside the church. It was /
learned that the trouble had arisen over |
the question rs TO whether the findings
Of the committee should be made public |
or not, and that two factions had been |
formed, but that compromise had been |
reached at II o'clock, when the statement |
was given out
DR.. Clark was present at the start Of /
the meeting, but left early and did not |
return.
A campaign was carried on all day by /
the women members of the congregation /
in behalf of the minister with whom he /
IS reported % be very popular. Pract- !
Cally q h0use-tO-hOuse canvass was made. /
and it was said that this canvass had had /
its effect on the committee