Los Angeles County
Biographies
REV. CHARLES
CLARK PIERCE
A powerful figure in the service of God and humanity was that of the late Rev. Charles Clark Pierce, of Los Angeles, whose death occurred on the 10th of September, 1925. For a period of twenty years in the ministry of the Baptist Church; in subsequent participation in ecclesiastical affairs; in his devoted attention to the causes of friendly and social relations between the United States and Japan, and in many other avenues of endeavor he achieved signal honor and a position of reverence and distinction.
Doctor Pierce was born in the town of Meredith, Delaware county, New York, January 24, 1858, and was a son of James Washington and Frances (Clark) Pierce. He was of authentic colonial ancestry, having descended on his maternal side from William White, who came to American shores on the Mayflower. The greater portion of Doctor Pierce’s boyhood years were passed on a farm situated near Walton, New York. He was an ambitious student and, after the public schools, he attended the Albany Teachers College, from which institution he graduated. He began teaching in the schools of New Jersey, and also taught for several years at the State Reform School on Randall’s Island, New York. With this practical training, he matriculated at Colgate University, which conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1888. During his years in this school he won high scholastic honors, having been chosen for the honorary scholarship fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa. For a long time, the call of the ministry had been strong in his heart, and so inspired he continued his studies at the Colgate Theological Seminary, from which he graduated with the Master of Arts degree in 1891. It may be mentioned in this connection that later his alma mater honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity in recognition of his accomplishments in the field of activity which he had chosen.
After his graduation from the seminary, Doctor Pierce accepted the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Oneonta, New York, and in this capacity remained for five years. Later, for a period of three years, he was pastor of the Cary Avenue Baptist Church in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and it was at the termination of this incumbency that he accepted a call to the Memorial Baptist Church of Los Angeles, California, in March, 1899. For twelve years he served this congregation with outstanding influence and efficiency. Not alone within the confines of his own church was his high ability recognized, but throughout the whole Pacific coast he became known as a real scholar, a sincere humanitarian, a brilliant speaker, and as one whose conception of the social order was remarkably clear and comprehensive. Doctor Pierce was a man of exceedingly broad vision. It was only natural that he could not consistently confine his theology and energetic efforts to one creed alone. In justice to himself and to the work he was doing he needed a larger sphere in which to move; to administer to the needs of a larger group. Accordingly, to bring this about, he resigned his pastorate at the Memorial Baptist Church.
In line with his desire to contact with the peoples of the world, Doctor Pierce became intensely interested in those of the Orient, in particular Japan. For a long time he had been closely associated with the Japanese people residing in Southern California and, in fact, for many years was vice president of the Japan Society of Southern California. In this official position he was enabled to fulfill his desire to promote better understanding and amity between the yellow and the white races. He was likewise a member of the international relations committee of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, where his experience and knowledge were much valued. In the year 1923, accompanied by Mrs. Pierce, he visited the Orient and in Japan was accorded exceptional honors and courtesy. The Mikado of that great island empire commanded that the Order of the Rising Sun be conferred on him because of his work in establishing friendship between the two nations.
During the latter years of his life Doctor Pierce became more and more interested in humanitarian work, in humanity as a whole. Also, during these years, he acted as chaplain to the firm of Pierce Brothers, Los Angeles morticians, in which concern he was associated with two of his brothers.
In Boston, Massachusetts, in the year 1891, Doctor Pierce was united in marriage to Mary R. Fitch, who was a daughter of Seymour B. and Mary (Gregory) Fitch. Mrs. Pierce is a graduate of Vassar College class of 1887. In the family of Doctor and Mrs. Pierce were twin daughters, Frances and Maria. The former is deceased, but the latter survives and is the wife of Ralph M. Warner of Los Angeles and the mother of a son, Wendell Allan. Doctor Pierce had six brothers and one sister. His brothers, H.A., W.H., Dr. M.A., F.E. and Dr. C.W. survived him, also his sister, Catherine, now the widow of Frank I. Wheat of Los Angeles. Another brother, Dr. Edward T. Pierce, who was the oldest son of his parents, was for eleven years president of the Los Angeles Normal School.
Doctor Pierce continued his highly laudable work until almost the day of his death. His last sermon was preached on August 30, 1925 and, as previously noted, he died September 10th following, leaving behind him a life’s record which is his most enduring monument.
Transcribed 7-7-12
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages
140-142, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Marilyn R. Pankey.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES