THE REV. CHARLES CLARK.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 35, 1 June 1876, Page 2

THE REV. CHARLES CLARK.

The Rev. Charles Clai'k is noted (says the Belfast correspondent of the " Warrnambool Standard ") for his pleasantness and joviality in private, and his readme ss at all times at repartee. A friend of mine has related to me how the rev. gentleman took a "rise" out of a well-known Belfastonian. On Saturday week this popular lecturer discoursed on the life of Charles Dickens in Belfast to a large audience, and after the literary entertainment had been concluded, several gentlemen dropped into the hotel where Mr. Clark was staying. In the course of conversation the Belfastonian alluded to, inquired whether it was true that the rev. gentleman would conduct services at the Wesleyan Church on the next day (Sunday). Mr. Clark mentioned that on one occasion, during conference sittings in Melbourne of the Wesleyan ministers, by special request he preached to them, but in a fortnight afterwai'ds he was suffering from illness, and requested most of those ministers to whom he had preached to fill his pulpit, and it was remarkable, but nevertheless true, that not one of thein responded. His questioner at once suggested as a reason that no response was made to his request was that few ministers in Victoria would like to occupy the pulpit of such an eloquent preacher as himself, for fear of contrast being made prejudicial to themselves. The Rev. Charles, after this delivery, rose from his chair, and with a face as solemn as a judge, made a most profound bow, and said, "Really, sir, were it not that your glass has already some whisky in it, I would ask you to take a drink !" I need not remark that immediately the whole room full of people was convulsed wi*3i laughter, much to the discomfiture of ndividual.