The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-17

While in school at Campbell uni
verSity at Holton, where he received
his first theological training Mr.. Wark
was a member Of the baseball team
athletic sports and was known as the
athletic preacher. While pursuing
his studies in this college he held a
charge at Reserve and after his grad
uation was assigned a charge at Sill
yer Lake. being transferred from that
place to Topeka six years ago.
He filed the pulpit of the Walnut
Grove church in South Topeka for
two years and was then granted
two years leave Of absence during
which time he completed course In
theology in Boston university. At
the next meeting of the Kansas con-
ference he was reassigned to the Wal
nut Grove church in this city.
The church is a small one and To-
Gated in an outlying district, yet
during the pastorate OF Mr.. Wark 1t
has grown in membership steadily
and many of the uptown devotees Of
Methodism find time each Sunday to
hear at least one sermon by the
athletic preacher Soon after he
was assigned to this charge two years
ago he organized the Walnut Grove
Baseball club and the success of the
church and the baseball club have
gone hand in hand since that time.
He himself played first base and filed
the position so creditably as to be the
idol of the boys in the community.
Since the Introduction of baseball
in South Topeka by the pastor of the
Walnut Grove church there has been
a. large increase in the attendance
from among the young men and
women of that section of the city and
the church has shown a wonderful
growth of young timber. DR.. Wark is
yet a young man, being barely 32
years of age, and the assignment made
at the conference which has just
closed is an especially high tribute to
a man of this age. For numerous
reasons the charge at Leavenworth
has always been considered a difficult
one even by the older ministers of the
conference and many of them have
dreaded this assignment for fear that
a failure would mar their church
work.
This is not the case with Mr.. Wark,
who welcomes the change as a posi-
| bility of increasing his usefulness and
who has no fear of failure. 1--WE will
| leave Topeka Thursday or Friday"
said he. "for I am anxious to get into
my new charge, and I will preach my
| first sermon in Leavenworth Sunday
morning at the First Methodist
| church.
and especially baseball as an adjunct
| to church work?" was asked.
1.-The success of my charge in South
| Topeka has convinced me- said the
| athletic preacher that the adoption
| of baseball as a means of recreation
has been wonderfully beneficial, in this
| instance at any rate. I am fond OF
| outdoor life and interested in athletics
| of all kinds and I find that in my ca
pacity as the first baseman of our team
have an opportunity of meetins
| many fine young men who are outside
| of the church.
| "Our membership has shown a nice
| increase since We organized our bal
| club and that from among the youns
| men of our section of the city and Ii
my ball playing capacity I am able tt
meet many young men I could meet in
no other way. I think that I am saft
| in saying that the Walnut Grove church
will show a larger membership Of
young people than any other church
in the city OF like membership.
| "Of course 1 am opposed to Sunday
| baseball and I find that if the young
| folks have an opportunity to enjoy bal
| games at the proper time and under
| proper conditions that they are much
| less liable to patronize Sunday games
| think that our baseball club has done
much for the success of our church and
| I favor the game as do all other ath-
letics as means of reaching ou1
young men and women under the most
favorable circumstances
| Mr.. Wark after graduating at Camp.
bell university attended Washburr
four years and graduated. DIR. Warh
is married but has no children.
j. A. Stave1y, formerly pastor of the
North Topeka Methodist church was
named as presiding elder of the Atchi.
son district as the successor of DR.
James w. Alderman who was relieved