A CLERICAL SCANDAL.

Evening Star, Issue 3315, 4 October 1873, Page 3

A CLERICAL SCANDAL.

We have had a delicate little bit of clerical scandal. You have heard of .the Rev. Charles Clarke, have you not. He is a Baptist minister of the popular kind That is to say he is a weak imitation of Spurgeon. He affects, and maintains a highly ornate oratorical style of preaching, makes considerable use of the finest of cambric handkerchiefs, wears an unorthodox collar, fashionable cuffs, and indulges in a profusion of jewellery. In appearance he is a little attractive, without being imposing. His face being utterly nude of any hirsute appendages of any kind, gives a sort of stagy, or professional appearance, which is somewhat born out by his readiness to offer, and receive, a “shout,” either in the shape of a drink or a cigar. His voice is high pitched, and not flexible, by any means. He has a splendid memory, and considerable comic powers as an actor. In the pulpit he quotes secular poems, and is not particular whether lines be from Tennyson or Watt Whitman, from Hudibras or Milton. On the lecture platform he acts, and considering he has no accessories of dress or scenery, very effectively. His imitatiefu of a waiter at a country inn js really very excellent. Well, this popular preacher was announced to give a lecture on Charles Dickens, for the benefit of a charity in a small country town, I needn’t say which. The theatre was engaged, the reverend gentleman wan duly placarded and adver-

tised, and finally appeared. By some accident it leaked out, before the lecture, that the reverend gentleman hadbeen engaged at the moderate fee of twenty-five guineas-not so bad as an addendum to a salary of 1 1 WO per annum. In the end, about LI 15s was realised for the charity, and, as a matter of course, the Rev. Charles Clarke’s reputation as a philanthropist has not been improved. I hear that he has found it necessary to get a sort of testimonial to his character from some of his admirers ; but it is generally considered a bad case when it carnot 1 e decided on its merits, and when the clemency of the Couit has to be invoked for “previous good character.” —Australian Paper,