The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-15
did RIGHT TO MARRY COREY
BROOKLYN PREACHER DEFENDS
HIS PANT IN THE AFFAIR.

Did Oct a Fee, He Explains. but Not Large
Enough TO BE Considered Bribery
Moreover. He Feels That Many Di-
N0rced Persons Should ReInarry.
The Rev. John Lewis Clark, pastor OF the
Bushwick Avenue Congregational Church.
Brooklyn, ism at all sorry that no consented
to perform the marriage ceremony for
William Ellis Corey and Miss Mabelle Gill
man. DR.. Clark said yesterday that the
marriage was n OF the kind made in
heaven in contradistinction to the man
made sort. He declared his belief that Mr..
Corey's first marriage wal Of the latter
variety, and he added that the amount OF
the fee had had nothing to do with his part
in the wedding.
"The fee was a modest one" he said, and
l don't believe that any one has guessed any
where near the exact sum-. II wa not a re-
markable fee. l have often received as
large Pressed as to the exact amount OF
the fee; DR.. Clark said that all he could say
about the matter was that the fee was not
81, 900, as had been suggested. "Iwould have
been willing to take 81 ,oOo,' he added, and
would not have been shocked to get it.
DR.. Clark has his own views on the di-
vorce question. He said that he believed
that great immortality would result from
the refusal OF ministers to marry divorced
persons.
Il have Often he added, been called
I'D by ministers who wanted me TO perform
a marriage ceremony OF a divorced man or
woman and had the minister making the
request assured me that it was all right INT
that the people ought to be married but
add that they themselves could not act
because they were members Of some or
ganization opposed to divorces
As to the attitude Of the Congregational
Church concerning divorces and the re-
marrying Of divorced persona. DR.. Clark
had this to say: Each Congregational
church is in a way independent. The
council Of the Church may suggest, but
unless its suggestion is ratified by the indi-
vidual church affected the suggestion is in
no way binding. / did not consult with
nv trustees or board Of deacons before
performing the ceremony for MIR. Corey
and Miss Gilman. but / know that l. have
the confidence Of my people, and l DO not
anticipate that they will be displeased with
me. There will doubtless he some criticism.
but do not expect any serious trouble.
Now, one more word about that fee.
Nothing was said TO me about a fee' ana
II any large fee had been offered prior 70
fh,. performance Of the ceremonv1 should
have considered that an effort was being
made to bribe me, and / should have re,
fused to officiate. / remember very well
a happening Of some lime ago. 4 man,
a wen known man, CAM TO me 10 ask mat
I marry him. As he was leaving my house
he stopped and pulling out a check book
wrote a check for q sum that would be a
temptation to any poor man. 'Ihats
what it will mean to you said the mar
as he showed me the check. at once be-
came suspicious, and upon investigator
| found that the man, the son Of a millionaire
| father, was a drunkard and a bad man.
I at once demanded an interview with
| the woman in the case, and finding that
| abe herself had doubts about the mar
persuaded her not to marry him. Lhen
| hin! my opinion Of his way OF life. He
| never married the woman. -.
IT would have acted in the same manner,
| said DR.. Clark, III there had been any at
tempt 10 persuade me with money TO marry
| Mr.. Corey. There was no such attempt,
and | believe that their marriage was made
under proper conditions. J. believe that
| II was a true love match and that Mr.. and
Mrs. Corey will be very happy together:
l hold as much as any man 10 me penei
that no man should sunder what God hath
| Joined together, but many a man and woman
| are Joined by man and not by God,
these / believe are entitled to be parted
by law. Continual lsagreements are d
nroof that man and not God has Joined a
oouple. + understand that ucn was the
case in Mr.. Corey's first marriage, ! be-
lieve It to have been a case OF real incom-
patability.'
DR.. Clark added that he had aNSood
| opinion of a man who when no saw that
thing were unhappy at home was gallant
enough to allow his wife TO get a divorce
| without contesting il. He may have
things said about him by people and some
NAV not think we'll OF him, y said DR.; clark,
eyes Of the Almighty
Mr.. and Mrs. Corey smiled yesterday
on the Kaiser Wilhelm III.