THE REV. CHARLES CLARK.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 22, 2 January 1878, Page 3

THE REV. CHARLES CLARK.

A correspondent- to the Wellington . "Post" having challenged the right ofi Mr Charles Clark to the/ title .-, 6f ' "Reverend," thefpiopiilar lecturer, m Monday's issue pf the same paper, pubHshed the following reply :--- T.,, 7 Sib,^— While attacks %pon me wereconfined to the columns __! a licensed victuallers' and theatrical journal, with the; business of whose "professional'; subscribers my opera- . tions mays be supposed to conflict, I have held my peace ; out, after reading' a letter • m the "Post" of /Friday evening, I feel' justifiedin saying a few words.' / i ■ £ „yy yAs to-my right , to retain under present' circumstances tbej;itle of " reverend," I beg to submit that, according to recent judicial ruling^in England, tlie title is/one/or/cbur- ... , tesy/ :and inpt;pf legal force at all,, This is the'style under ?which \lny name was jfrettyy ' familiar to_th'e cplpiial publid f or years be- r fore I commenced lecturing, and,therefore it is simply reasonable that I' should be advertised m a way. that will enable people tp identify me. ; -^ ■ * ••"".■-' - .^7" ; /i . .; ; - I find that officers in~_ler Majesty's service who s-U-out-are. universally. accorded. the specific title of theirrank as a matter of social courtesy. Ministers too, who are engaged in -j scholastic; workj : /though they have no cure, and seldom or never preach, retain unchallenged the title by which thoy have been known-.- -;;•/' I beg once for all to/ state that I have not formally renounced the ministerial office, a_' r my frequent' preaching during my : present tour m this country will. prove, and. l distinctly look forward to the resumption ,of regular and stated pulpit functions. ' Your correspondent' states tbitt'", the epithet 'reverend' means worthy of respect." It cannot be a general feeling that I, have forfeited the respect of my fellow creatures, or I should/ not to-day have received 1 an invitation to /occupy the most,, prominent pulpit m Wellington to-morrow ''evening. 7 .■■-■■■•■*:■■■■-■.'■..', ./;/ During my recent visit to America I was privileged to preach m churches whose pastors are/ men of 'high standing in 'their res- . pective denominations,; and if it be thought that such courtesy; was . extended to a stranger, of whose ' antecedents they knew little, I may add that during the' months I. spent m England If was publicly receivedwith, a special welcome by ministers of various denominations; who have known me all' my life, and, have/ the best means of judging my oharacter. 7 . / . . ■ I cannot feel that my present work is unworthy'of the ministerial: profession. . I claim the position of a public teacher, and decline to admit that the pulpit is the only place where a minister may "please men to their edificatipn." , I jave ' heajid of certain " reverend "fellows or colleges whose occupation m li te was editing heathen poets of.

very questionable morality, and submit that ; my work is at lea9t as good as theirs. Proof is not .wanting that the sentiments ,of jour correspondent do not win universal approval ; for I have received several spon-, taneous communications, verbally, and by letlcr, expressing s'rong dissent from his criticism. From the letter oF a wellrkii.>wri doctor, a member of, a leading chriri-h of this city, I site the following;— "Ui-lieve me, you are rendering to ?6»-iety infiniv s*er•rice by your lectures. -Thwe is ac-jiacity for cull ure au-.ongsf the rQughoSt people of. of these colonies which once awakened, would do more for their moral elevation than dozens of sermons. Teach the people : to. read good books, and tlie religious character of our race will assert it self to the detriment of the interests of the publican. Tour* present occupation is a truly reverend one, but certain persons sayVhat their jealous hearts suggest." As to my attempted service of "God ! and _4ammon," I presume lam not more .■' sordid than other people. Sydney Smith's phrase concerning " the great prizes of the Church" is familiar enough, arid I never heard of an English bishop refusing a see because the salary was too large ; though some rather sharp things have been said about the glaring inequalities which starve a curate, "while a bishop lives m a palace and enjoys a princely income. — I am, &c, Chabies Clack.