The Morris County chronicle., 1907-05-21
COREY PASTOR RETURNS FEE
The Rev. ]. |. Clark Apologies For
Marrying Magnate to Actress
Admits to Church Committee His
"Great Wrong" and Humbly
Begs Their Forgiveness.

New York City. public
ly that he had done 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
long and heated discussion, re-
solved to recommend to the congrega-
tion to condone the pastors offense.
AT the same time they issued 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 pastorate, 1t is said, by the
women of the congregation, who rail-
lied to his support and conducted a
vigorous campaign in his behalf.
They are said to have won majority
of the trustees and deacons over to
letting Pastor Clark down with an
apology and a stinging rebuke
Pastor Clark's apology and admis-
sion of wrongdoing as officially given
out by the Prudential Committee at
the close of their session is as fol-
lows:
"To the Prudential Committee of
Bushwick Avenue Congrega-
tional Church
"Gentlemen-My professional con-
duct as Congregational minister in
performing a wedding ceremony at
Hotel Gotham, May IA, having been
challenged, desire to say that upon
reflection / am convinced chat with
out intention / did a great wrong to
my office as Congregational minis
ter, to my church and to the Chris
tian conception of the marriage rela-
tion.
II most sincerely regret having
used my ecclesiastical office to sane
tion this wedding, and l beg pardon
of my church and denomination for
having, unwittingly and without due
examination and reflection, been in
duced to officiate.
II will humbly receive any censure
which may be visited upon me, for I
realize increasingly the gravity of
my transgression. | have returned
the fee which was given me, and ask
for such charitable Judgment as
Christian forebearance may afford.
If this great error, which was not
with evil intent, can be condoned,
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-
tion.
with profound regret and humil-
iation, / am yours earnestly, a
"(Signed) JOHN LEWIS CLARh."
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 lam
guage about Mr.. Clark, although he
did not mention MIN by name. He
referred to Mr.. Clark as zone of our
clergymen from Brooklyn who at the
witching hour of midnight so far for
got himself and prostituted his sacred
Office as to try to put the sanction of
God on union begotten in filth
ness" He said: at has fallen upon
his own head, as it should.