THE REV. CHARLES CLARK.
{Abridged from the Australasian Sketcher.) Long regarded as the most able and popular preacher in Melbourne, the subject of this sketch is now launching forth on a career which will speedily render his name a *‘house* hold word” throughout Australia, He lias resolved upon devoting himself on the lay and clerical platform to the true education of the people. Mr Clark was burn in London oh the 19 th April, 1838, and entered upon his studies for the ministry in the Baptist College, Nottingham, when twenty years of age. tn the year 1862 he took charge of the North Parade Baptist Church, Halifax, subsequently removing to Maze Pond, London. The last church to which he was called was thatot Broad Mead, Bristol, which the elo. quence of Robert Hall had rendered famous. Since the death of that great paster-'the Church where he ministered had declined until, at the time when Mr Clark took charge of it, the attendance had become positively insignificant. ‘A few months effected such a transformation that the building was found utterly inadequate to hold the crowds tnat flocked into it, and the committee were compelled to resort to the expedient of restncting admission to the holdere of tickets la the year 1868 Mr Clark received an invitation from this side of the globe to take charge of the church in Albert street, considerable correspondence he accopied the charge, and arrived in Melbourne on the Btb of April, 1869. He entered upon his duties on the following Sunday, and from that day forth there has been no doubt as to his position in the ranks of Melbourne pulpit orators. Week after week the atfcraotion of his name filled the Albert street edifice to overflowing, and visitors to this city came coregaid his eloquent discourses as among the choicest of the treats which the metropolis of Victoria had to offer; • Clark bad not long been resident in iMelbourne before he made it manifest that his culture and tastes were not restric'od within the bounds of sacerdotalism. For- the benefit of the funds of his church and on behalf of charities, he delivered readings from the works of Dickens and a lecture on old English Christmas carols, which greatly extended his fame among the general public; As a reciter and lecturer he sprang at once to the foremost position in ihe com* tr unity—a position which has never since been challenged. With a liberally as muniHcent in its results as it has been catholic in its direction, Mr Clark for years in this and the neighboring Colonies gave np his platform services to the cause of charity. Among the principal of his efforts|in this way maybe mentioned hia deliverance of a lecture on “Oliver Goldsmith,” at the Mo: bourne Town Hall, in November, 1871, on‘behalf of the Caxton Fund, and two lectures on Charles Dickens and the Christmas carols at the beginning of 1873 for the funds of the Albert street Church. By the latter two alone over L6OO was realised.
Daring the last year Mr Clark has turned his inimitable lecturing ability to profitable account, thus pioneering the way to the es> tablishment of a paying lecture platform in these Colonies. In so doing, he is indoubt, edly earning the thanks of all right-thinking men, and especially of those whose mission it is to gain their living by brain work. The lecture platform in Australia can become credi sable and capable only by being rendered remunerative. So long as the setvices of lecturers are given gratuitously, the public are apt to rate them as worth just what they receive. Mr Clark has at last made a stand against this system with results alike profitable to himself ani the community.
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Evening Star, Issue 3762, 15 March 1875, Page 2
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625THE REV. CHARLES CLARK. Evening Star, Issue 3762, 15 March 1875, Page 2
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