A son's portrait of Dr. Francis E. Clark.

Front matter

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OF v

DR. FRANCIS E. CLARK

Foreword

HEN Francis E. Clark passed away in 1927 certain publishers approached his oldest son with the suggestion that he prepare with utmost speed

a timely and “ popular ” life of the founder of Christian Endeavor. To Eugene this program did not appeal. His innate conservatism shrank from rushing through such a biography, which might have commanded a good sale but would hardly have been a lasting memorial to his father. He thought it over and decided to prepare in his own way and at his own pace a dignified volume which should tell the story of this immensely full life. He did not aim in the very least at dramatic effect nor even at smooth “ literary ” quality, but rather at painting a simple portrait. He used very fully the personal family letters of Francis E. Clark written at various times throughout his life and with no thought in any of them that they would ever be published. ‘These letters range from boyhood efforts to the mature expression of Dr. Clark in his later life and they were written from every part of the world. All of them have that intrinsic worth of intimacy and unstudied family companionship which was so strong a feature of his character. So ina sense this volume is an unconscious selfportrait.

The author’s desire to avoid even the faintest appearance of the spectacular led him to adopt a sobriety of literary expression which might seem too grave were it not vitalvii

Vill FOREWORD ized, as the author himself intended, by Dr. Clark’s own sprightly and intimate letters. When Eugene Clark died his mother and his brother hastened to add the few touches necessary to complete the manuscript. To us it stands as a monument of both subject and author, of both father and son. To the public we hope it may give a satisfying and enduring picture of a man who saw a great chance to serve his day and generation and accepted the chance in full measure, pressed down and running over.

HarriET A. CLARK SYDNEY A. CLARK