Clarke, Miner G, Dd

Clarke, Miner G., D.D., a Baptist minister, was born at Woodstock, Conn., Dec. 9,1809, and was descended from the same family stock as the Rev. John Clarke, so distinguished in the annals of the early Baptist history of Newport, R. I. He was converted in youth, graduated from the Newton Theological Institution in 1837, and was ordained at Suffield, Conn., shortly after. He was compelled by ill-health to resign his charge, but having somewhat recovered, was invited to the pastorate of the Church in Grafton, Mass. After a year and a .half of great prosperity he was again obliged to resign. His next settlement was in Norwich, Conn., where, during his six years ministry, he built up a strong, efficient church. He was now called to Springfield, Mass., where he was equally successful. Once more his health gave way, and for a time he supplied the pulpit of the First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, N. Y., and acted as financial secretary of the American and Foreign Bible Society. In 1851 he became pastor of the Tabernacle Church in Philadelphia, and had an experience similar to that which had attended his previous pastorates. In 1856 he went to Indianapolis, and there established, and for six years edited, the Witness, a denominational paper. At the end of this period he removed to Chicago, where, as financial secretary, he performed valuable service for the university in that city. Subsequently he was for a short time pastor at Evanston, near Chicago, and for four years financial secretary of the Home Mission Society at New York. He died near Geneva, I11, Sept. 19,1881. See Chicago Standard, Sept. 29, 1881; Cathcart, Baptist Encyclop. s..v. (J.C.S.)