Evening star., 1954-05-22
The Humun Side Of Religion aa sssNf
Broken Straw Hat Changed
Retiring Minister S Career
By cospor Nonnes

A close baseball game. q home
run and a broken straw hat
changed the course of the Rev.
Clarence E. Wise's 45-year min
lSterial career.
Mr.. Wise, Lewis Memorial
Methodist Church pastor who is
retiring June l. was in Washing
ton the summer of 1908 serving
as supply for the Woodside
Methodist Church. A graduate
of Lycoming College (then
Dickinson Seminary. Williams
port. Pa. he intended to return
to the Central Pennsylvania
Conference for his ministry.
That fall he went with two
friends to watch the Mats play.
They were DR.. John w. SUNNI
walt, then Methodist superin-
tendent for the Washington
District, and DR.. w. w. Barnes,
then pastor Of Douglas Me-
mortal Methodist Church.
Directly behind them sat DR..
Robert M. Moore, pastor Of
Foundry Methodist Church.
The game was a tight 90
pitching battle. AS it progressed
the Foundry Church minister
became more and more excited.
1t finally went into the tenth
inning. Then a Washington
batter got his bat on the ball
Solidly and smashed it into the
bleachers for a home run.
DIR. Moore jumped to his feet
with excitement and brought his
hands down on Mr.. Wise's straw
hat and broke it into bits.
"WiSey," DR.. Moore yelled,
"how would you like to be my
assistant pastor?"
The young student did not
know DR.. Moore. q famous pulpit
orator. very well, but he sub
Sequently accepted the offer.
And. incidentally. he received q
new straw hat from the older
man the next day.
Mr.. Wise served as assistant at
Foundry Church from 1909 to
1911. He never did go back to
pennsylvania as a pastor, for his
entire IS years were spent in
churches at Baltimore and
Washington. Six of them, 1928
"a. were spent as East District
Superintendent of the Baltimore
Methodist Conference.
They have been satisfying and
enjoyable years, he said.
"The most satisfying fact is
that you are ministering to
people and trying to make the
world a better place to live in"
Mr.. Wise explained.
Preaching was the particular
phase he most enjoyed, and the
minister plans to do some supply
preaching during the years to
come.
Mr.. Wise, who was honored by
members of Lewis Memorial
Church last night, hasn't any
particular plans for the immedi-
ate future. He will live at 1902
Cole avenue, Takoma Park, Md,
with his son, Clarence E. Wise.
Jry who is a civilian employe
with the Defense Department.
e. ..-
Memory HOnOred.
A tribute was paid recently by
members of Lewis Memorial
Church. where Mr.. Wise has been
pastor since 1947, to his wife, who
died Unexpectedly about month
ago. Married to the young Meth.
odlSt minister in 1917, she was
quiet and loving wife who
worked effectively by his side
for 81 years.
Angels Food.
II the women of any District
churches are Stumped as to what
to cook for a church dinner, q
booklet put out by the Women
Of st. Michael and All Angels
Episcopal Mission. Langley Park,
Md. might help them.
The 102-page booklet, appro-
priately called angels Food,
gives directions that makes q
prospective diners mouth water.
The list literally goes from soup
to nuts, with a special mems
section included.
Well-DreSSed Delegate.
The women of Minnesota Ave-
nue. Christian Church saw to it
this week that their minister,
DR.. T. T. Roberts, maintained his