William Allan Clark Founder of the San Francisco Ecclesias

California

On a Sunday morning in 1849, the first light of dawn chased the darkness from the stone buildings that lined the streets of Aberdeen, Scotland. The old fishing village, nicknamed “the Granite City’, was awakening from its sleep. Soon it would be time for young William Allan Clark to go to Sunday school at the Baptist Chapel on John Street.¹Two of William’s fellow Sunday school students would remain a part of his life for many years to come because of the choice they would later make to serve God — not as Baptists, but as Christadelphians. One of them, his cousin Robert Roberts, would become an early Christadelphian pillar. The other, Lilias Smith, would become William’s wife.

In another chapel, across the street from William’s Sunday School room, prepara­tions for an upcoming lecture by Dr. John Thomas would soon be getting underway. It’s unknown whether William Clark attended the lecture, but Robert Roberts was taken by his mother to hear the address.²While Bro. Thomas did not at the time make much of an impression on 10-year-old Robert Roberts, he did influence Lilias Smith’s uncle, Charles F. Smith. Charles “subsequently left the Baptist Church and, embracing the Hope of Israel, was baptized into Christ becoming part of the early core of believers in Aberdeen.’³Bro. Smith, who was 11 years older than William Clark, was “a stalwart early preacher amongst the Christadelphians.’⁴Though it’s now hard to say how much spiritual influence Robert Roberts had on his cousin, “Bro. Charles F. Smith was one of the instruments God used to bring William Clark to a knowledge of the Gospel.’⁵

With William Clark hailing from a ship-building center like Aberdeen, it’s not surprising that a number of his ancestors were shipbuilders and seamen.⁶In fact, William’s father, David Wallace Clark, died at sea when William was only 16. Despite this tragedy, William Clark went on to make his living from the sea like his father, taking up the shipbuilding trade.⁷Even Robert Roberts had intended to make his living by going to sea (like his father and brothers) but chose not to when he became interested in religion. Like many early believers of the Truth, William’s cousin had come to know the gospel by reading Elpis Israel. Unlike others, he completed the book when he was only 13 years old. A year later, Robert Roberts was baptized in the River Nee on the outskirts of his home town of Aberdeen. Six years after that, on April 8, 1859 he married Jane Norrie in Edinburgh, Scotland.

A year and a half later, on November 1, 1860, 22-year-old William Clark married 17-year-old Lilias Smith. The bride and groom eloped because she was underage and her father didn’t approve of William. Lilias’ father, James Smith, chased after the couple to prevent the marriage, but by the time he found them it was too late to intervene.⁸The young couple took up residence at 10 Victoria Street in Govan, near Glasgow, Scotland. Four of the Clark’s ten children were born in Govan: Helen in 1861, Christina in 1864, Lilias in 1866, and Elizabeth in 1869.

Between the births of Helen and Christina, William and Lilias were baptized on March 20, 1863.⁹The baptismal date of Lilias’ mother, Helen Smith, who came to live with William and Lilias after they were married, is unknown. Sis. Smith was forced to move in with her daughter and son-in-law because James Smith left her when she became a Christadelphian.¹⁰

Rejection by those outside the faith was not the only issue faced by our early brethren during these formative years of the Truth. Doctrinal beliefs were still being sorted out and not all of the tenets of apostate Christianity had been fully cast aside by all the brethren, particularly in Scotland. The doctrines of an im­mortal soul, pre-existence of Christ, and a personal devil were held by some in Edinburgh and Glasgow. At this time Scotland was in some ways the center of the Christadelphian world as two thirds of the ecclesias in Britain prior to 1864 were in Scotland.¹¹As the editor of The Ambassador magazine, Bro. Roberts was put to an extreme test by the controversies in his native Scotland.

Bro. Clark was clearly on his cousin’s side in the battle against false doctrine. By 1866, 28-year-old William Clark was the Recording Secretary of one of the Glasgow, Scotland ecclesias. There were at that time 60-80 people in the Glasgow area who claimed to be true believers but most of them held false beliefs. Bro. Clark sent the following letter to Bro. Roberts in response to an earlier letter in The Ambassador that claimed that there were none who held the truth in Glasgow.

“In the ‘Intelligence’ of last month’s Ambassador, there appeared the following statement: — ‘There is no meeting at present in Glasgow, who hold the truth unadulterated by the commandments of men.’ Now, for the truth’s sake, and the information of all true Christadelphians, who may at any time visit this city, I beg to say that there is a meeting, held every alternate Sunday at my house (10, Victoria Street, Govan) and on the intervening Sundays at the house of Brother Fleming, 251, Parliamentary Road. As to our faith, we have received it principally by the aid of Dr. Thomas’s writings, and they have not (nor could have) any connection with such a meeting as that referred to last month, where they are every Sunday discussing which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and where they hold all sorts of foolish doctrines, including that of immortal­soulism, seducing spirits, personal devil, two salvations, pre-existence of Christ, salvation without baptism, &c. There are not many of us, but in this matter we happen, in a certain sense, to be perfect, as we just num­ber seven. We are endeavouring to keep our little light on an eminence, and are determined to stand as faithful witnesses, at whatever cost. Your brother, &c., William Clark .’¹²

The doctrinal controversy in Edinburgh and Glasgow continued. This debate caused the paths of three future early California Christadelphians to cross in Scotland in 1867 when William Clark, Robert Strathearn, and Helen Shiells all attended a gathering in Edinburgh. The gathering was convened to “discuss current controversies and share fellowship” and Bro. Strathearn was one of the speakers.¹³By 1874 all of these stalwart believers were in California; William Clark in San Francisco and Robert Strathearn and Helen Shiells in Santa Barbara. Bros. Clark and Strathearn were the leading brethren in their new California ecclesias.

A year after the gathering in Edinburgh, the Glasgow ecclesia was approached by others in the city wishing to join with them. Bro. Clark responded with the fol­lowing letter (published in the 1868 Christadelphian) that represents the strength of the belief he had in keeping the Truth:

“Dear Sir . — I received your letter and laid your proposal before the brethren with whom I associated, and we unanimously decline having to do with the proposed scheme of unity. The truth rightly understood and affectionately believed, is the only basis from which edification and comfort can be developed. We cannot recognize and fellowship individu­als, who are either ignorant or perverters of some of the first principles of the oracles of God, for, in so doing, we should be acting a cruel and wicked part to them in propping them up in a false position, which, in all likelihood they would only come to know when it was too late. Our desire is to be found faithful and true witnesses for God’s truth. There are many in Glasgow professing to believe the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Anointed; and if there be disunion among them, it arises from the fact that they either do not know the truth, or that it has no hold upon the affections: in either case, the result is death. Taking your letter in connection with a short article which appeared in this month’s Ambassador, it appears to us that you are one of those whose toleration goes the length of fellowshipping one who denies the only hope of Christ’s brethren, viz., the resurrection of the dead.

Were it even possible to patch up a union of all who profess to know the truth, they would have no affinity, like the legs and feet of Nebuchadnez­zar’s image. We are not against union among the remnant of the woman’s seed now scattered in the wilderness, but shall be right glad to welcome among us any who have taken the promises of God to their heart, as their only hope and portion forever. But we have no idea of constituting ourselves churches, after the pattern of the apostacy. You will perceive at once that there is no affinity between us upon this subject; and two cannot walk together unless they be agreed.

I am yours, on behalf of the Christadelphians, meeting at 280, George Street, Glasgow, William Clark, Sec.’

California

Two years later, in 1870, William and Lilias Clark began their journey to California by immigrating to Waterloo, Iowa where another daughter, Eveline, was born in 1871. By this time the Glasgow ecclesia had grown to 19 members. Like the early Glasgow meeting, the ecclesia in Waterloo numbered a “perfect” seven members in 1870. ¹⁴Soon the small ecclesia began to grow and William Clark sent notice of four baptisms to The Christadelphian magazine in 1872. The Clarks had moved to Waterloo because their Christadelphian friends, the Bickley’s, had emigrated there previously. The Clarks would soon leave Iowa because they didn’t like the cold weather.¹⁵

In his search for a warmer climate, William Clark visited San Francisco for several months in 1873.¹⁶He had moved to Seattle by this time and was working there as a shipbuilder.¹⁷He moved to San Francisco in 1873, where his first son, Willie, was born soon after. The following year he opened the Pacific Spring and Mattress Company, which blossomed into a thriving enterprise as noted in a book about San Francisco area businesses (written a few years later).

“The manufacture of mattresses, bed-springs, as well as upholstery and kindred industries, has become largely developed in San Francisco. The Pacific Spring and Mattress Company carries on a factory which deserves special notice. It was first established in 1874 by W.A.Clark and Henry Black, who then confined themselves to making mattresses and bed-springs; but as their business gradually expanded, they added to it upholstering, furniture of all kinds, and camp equipage. The establish­ment manufactures a number of Clark’s own inventions. It is located at Sixteenth and Harrison streets and employs 100 hands. The store and warehouse occupy four floors and the basement of a large brick building at 762 Mission Street. The volume of production and trade has become the largest of its class on the Pacific coast.”¹⁸

In 1879 Bro. Clark wrote to Robert Roberts to order some books and inform him that he was starting an ecclesia in San Francisco.

“You have not heard from me for a long time. Waterloo, Iowa, was the last point, I think, I wrote from after leaving Glasgow. I want the books so that we can form a meeting here, on a small scale for our mutual ben­efit and consideration, and the showing of our light to the surrounding darkness. Here the field is wide and testimony for the truth nothing. We hope before long there will be.”¹⁹

Before long there were two more children in the growing family. The birth of Grace in 1880 and Dave in 1882, may have prompted the Clark’s to move to a larger house in nearby Berkeley. The success of Bro. Clark’s Pacific Spring and Mattress Company was evidenced by the size of the house the Clarks purchased in 1884. The brand-new 15 bedroom Victorian on Dwight Way in Berkeley measured over 6,000 sq. ft. The Clark family lived in this home until 1895. The house is still standing today and is in very good shape. The Clark’s last child, Jack, was born in this home in 1887.

Though his business was booming, Bro. Clark did not forget the truly important things in a believer’s life. He was more than willing to en­tertain visiting brethren at his business as the following entry in the 1893 Christadelphian testifies:

“San Francisco (Cal.).—Al­though doing business in San Francisco, we hold our meet­ings at Berkeley, where I reside. We have had public lectures at the Oldfellow’s Hall lately, and expect good results. Indications are that we may have to rent the hall permanently. Any of the brethren coming to San Francisco can always count upon a hearty welcome. My address is 762, Mission Street, S. F. — W. A. Clark.”

1893 was also the year that the Clark’s daughter, Lily, moved to Rochester, New York to marry Bro. L.T. Wade. William and Lilias stopped in Rochester on their way to a vacation in Scotland in 1894 and Bro. Clark was asked to give six lectures. The verdict of Bro. J.D. Tomlin was that “Brother Clarke showed himself to be a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. There was quite an attendance of aliens to hear the lectures.”²⁰Bro. and Sis. Wade would make San Francisco their home the following year.²¹

In 1896 Bro. Clark gave a lecture in San Francisco to a few interested strangers.²²He was the leading speaker in the San Francisco ecclesia as Bro. James Cheetham mentions in the 1898 Christadelphian: “We are still endeavouring to keep the light burning. Brother W. A. Clark lectures every Sunday morning, after which we have breaking of bread. Our brother is giving us at present a series of lectures on the Apocalypse. They are very interesting and profitable to each one of us.”

1898 was the year that William Clark’s path again crossed that of his cousin, Robert Roberts. Bro. Roberts was in San Francisco on his way to Canada and was asked to speak at the Clark’s home in Berkeley. Bro. Clark requested that he talk about the Truth from Eden to the Return of Christ which Bro. Roberts did with great success. This was to be the last Bible class led by Bro. Roberts, as he died the next day.

Sadly, this would also be the last time that William Allan Clark’s name would be seen in the magazine that Bro. Roberts began. The same article in The Christadelphian that told of Bro. Roberts death reported that Bro. Clark spoke about his cousin at the Berekely ecclesia that Sunday.

“It was a very sad and solemn meeting we had the following Sunday. Brother W. A. Clark addressed the meeting, and spoke very highly of the work brother Roberts accomplished, a life devoted to the interest of the truth, and its most able defender against all opponents. Brother Roberts remarked in his last discourse, that he did not like fighting, but when there was something dear to him assailed from within and without, he was obliged to maintain a fighting attitude.”²³

The legacy of Bro. Clark continues to this day, however, as both the San Francisco ecclesia and the San Francisco Peninsula ecclesia are remnants of the ecclesia that he began in 1879. But perhaps an even greater legacy is the 40 brothers and sisters in California, Texas, Washington, Michigan, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington D.C. who are direct descendants of the man who left a Baptist church in Aber­deen to become one of Christ’s brethren. Half of William Clark’s ten children also became Christadelphians, but all of his Christadelphian descendants trace their roots to two of those five: Sis. Lily Clark, who married Bro. L.T. Wade in 1893, and Sis. Daisy Clark, who married George Sleeper only three days after Bro. Roberts’ unexpected death in 1898.

William Clark’s own death occurred on February 4, 1910 in Berkeley, California at age 71. A letter by his daughter, Lily Wade, contains a fitting obituary. The Wades had moved into isolation in San Luis Obispo, California where Sis. Wade wrote the following in 1920:

“Dear Sister, Your letter dated the 5th has been received with pleasure. Yes, it seems but a short time ago when we both went to the ecclesia in Oakland taking our babies with us. Many things have taken place since then. I never dreamed I was destined to live in isolation and very much alone. It was well for me I was so long sitting at my father’s feet listening to his clear reasonings, otherwise the “Way” might have been too hard for me living among strangers. The more I consider his ideas, the more I am impressed with his grasp of the essentials of the Truth. He seemed to have the necessary things so perfect. He certainly loved the Truth. No one knows better than I the many sacrifices he made for it and those who belonged to it.”²⁴

1. Robert Roberts: An Autobiography, 2003, page 3
2. Robert Roberts: An Autobiography, 2003, page 3
3. Clark Family History, Robert Sleeper, 2009
4. “The History of the Christadelphians” by Andrew R. Wilson, 1985, page 110
5. Clark Family History, Robert Sleeper, 2009
6. Personal Letter, Betty Hensley, January 15, 1993
7. Pedigree Chart of Wade Ancestors, Lucille Bowman, June 1968; Christadelphian Magazine(known as the Ambassador at the time), 1866
8. Personal Letter, Betty Hensley, September 24, 1995
9. Early History, Page 178, W. Norrie
10. Information supplied in writing by Betty Hensley, date unknown
11. “The History of the Christadelphians” by Andrew R. Wilson, 1985, page 22
12. Christadelphian Magazine (known as the Ambassador at the time), 1866
13. Christadelphian Magazine, 1867
14. Christadelphian Magazine, 1870
15. Clark Family Early History, Don Baldwin, 1983
16. Christadelphian Magazine, 1873
17. Obituary, San Francisco Call newspaper, February 6, 1910
18. The Bay of San Francisco, 1892
19. Christadelphian Magazine, 1879
20. Christadelphian Magazine, 1894
21. Christadelphian Magazine, 1895
22. Christadelphian Magazine, 1896
23. Christadelphian Magazine, 1898
24. Personal letter from Lily Wade to an unknown sister, March 8, 1920