DR. CLIFFORD

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1378, 2 March 1912, Page 9

DR. CLIFFORD

GOLDEN WEDDING CELEBRATIONS. Love of home is ono of the most marked traits in Dr. Clifford's character (says the "Westminster Gazette"). No greater joy has entered his life than tho fact that ho is spared to celebrate his golden wedding. Few public man have experienced a happier or more consoling home life than himself. Husband and wife are the social and mental counterpart of each other. Though Mrs. Clifford but rarely accompanies him on the platform now, she is heart and soul with him in all his, religious, sucial, and political propaganda; at times criiieisng and supplementing, but always assisting. John Clifford came to Loudon in ISSB, a young man in his twenty-second year, fresh from the small Baptist Theological College at Nottingham, lie had accepted the pastorate of Pracd Street Chapel, whose people could only afford to pay him a stipend of X'KII) per year. His acceptance of this ministry meant the relinquishment of a long-cherished desire lo proceed to Glasgow for a degree. With the work of a church that wish was made more difficult. Still, ho decided to strive for tho honour at the London University, and for eleven years —never in that time neglecting the interests of his church—he studied early and late until this Midland young man, who served at the early a;;o of ten or eleven years in a lace factory at Beeston, possessed tho degrees of B.Sc., M.A. (bsing first in his year), and LL.B., with honours in Principles of Legislation. Long before he had completed this selfimposed task Dr. Clifford had married his present wife, who was the daughter of a doctor living at Newbury. Two of her brothers entered the same profession. Miss Carter first became acquainted with her husband through her aunt, who was present in the small congregation. Though she was not then an immersed. Baptist a mutual attachment soon sprang up bo-, twecu tho two, and on February 21, IfJGO, the young minister announced his engagement, and two years later tho marriage look place, at Southampton. This was on January 11, ISG2.

"What a blessed home lifo I've had, too!" said Dr. Clifford twenty years after his marriage. "How much 1 owe to my sunny, undespairing, over-planning, everachioving wife no tongue can tell." At a later period he was giving his young' people at Westbourne Park advice "upon the selection of wives, and added: "I owe whatever, of mental and physical vigour I maintain to tho fact that I chose for my wife a 'worker at home,' ono who has not only boon the happiness and joy of her husband, but also the helper and strength of her husband." Dr. and Mrs. Clifford were married at Ens* Street Baptist Chapel, Southampton, 'by the Rev. Robert Cavcn, 8.A., who is now living in .retirement' at Leicester.