A SULPHUROUS SERMON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 44

A SULPHUROUS SERMON.

<PR PARKER" S FULMINATIONS.

"GOD DAMN THE SULTAN!"

(Feom Our Own Cohhespondent.| LONDON, April 28.

Quile tlie most fulminatory and sulphurous sermon, I should think, that ever was deli\ered in a London place of worship was that with which the tercentenary of Oliver Cromwell's birth was celebrated on Tuesday lasl at the City Temple by the Rev. Dr Parker

Anywhere else it would simply have made the hail 1 of every member of the congregation stand on end. At the City Temple, however, a wide latitude is allowed, and, as will he observed in the sequel, " cheers " and "laughter" and " hisses ' are recognised as freely permissible during the course of the 6ermons. The celebration was organised by the National Council of the Evangelical Free Churches, and Dr Clifford and many other well-known Nonconforrcmt rpinisters were on the platform.

Dr Parker took for his text the words of Ezra, chapter ix, verse 3, in which the prophet mourns over the misdoings of the people " And when I heard this thing, T rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonished." Ezra (said Dr Parkei) was a Cromwell of the ancient time; a right valiant and most desperate man, who would havo a hard time of it if he lived now. — (Laughter.) It is easy and comforting to think that all Cromwells lived long ago. Today we have lost so seriously the genius of indignation. Wo do not like strong language and strong action.— (Laughter.) We celebrate Cromwell bebt by spreading the principles of Cromwellism. It is n.n awful thing to celebrate a, name without catching the mantle and the spiidt of the man. I want living Cromwells, living righteousness, living obedience to the law of God, and fearless speaking. When the coachman of the Prince shall play at cards it shall be ill ; but when the Prince himself is taken in the act then lot the country mourn. We look to prinooa for noble deeds, for high example?. If I find my Prince or my Premier on th.c race ground I don't like it. — (Cheers.)

Dr Parker made a long and most impressively suggestive pause after the word "Prince," and the gap was filled by terrific applause. The Prince of Wales evidently will yet have to reckon with the " Nonconformist conscience." "I know," continued the preacher, " what is said about breeding fine animals ; about differentiating botween tho essence and (he accident, and about those wicked people who turn racing into an occasion for gambling. I havo heard all those pleas. They are all nonsense. TVe want free spepeh and frank speech. "When I heard that a Nonconformist got rich and went into the Cabinet, and turned his back on his father and his mother, so far as education and principles were concerned, and turned his back also upon the Nonconformist Church that washed him, and clothed him, and fed him, and gave him his Sn>t chance in life, and then went over to the side that had done nothing for him but persecute him — I rent my garment and my mantle. I would not have him to preside at a meeting of the Liberation Society. — (Cheers.) I cannot stand up as God's minister with a man who presides over deliberations in which his soul takes no part. I believe that we, may have to get rid of some people. — (Laughter.) I don't want to

Ibe your popular preacher. I, want this ' preacher, popular or unpopular, to be fear* less, independent, gracious, and inflexible in justice." Then Dr Parker turned to a fresh grievance. And here he reached a climax of emphatic denouncement. " "When," he said, " I heard that the Kaiser had gone to the East and had, in an after dinner speech, used tltf words 'My friend, the Sultan,' I was as tonished. I could have sat down in humiliation and terror, to think of- the Great Assassin — an insult to civilisation 1 He who haa outraged every Christiaji Bentiment and defeated concerted Europe may be the Kaiser'a frjend; but he is not yours, I. think, not mine. — (Cheers.) Down with such speaking I Let the voice of the prophet be heard in this matter. I claim no friendship with the man, who has drenched the land with blood, cut up men, women, and children with the sword, ripped up the womb, bayoneted the babe, and done all manner of fiendish things. , Speaking of the Sultan, not personally, but as ' the Great Assassin,' in the name of God, I say, ' God damn the Sultan.' " — (Loud cheers.) I think I am warranted in characterising that remark as pretty sulphurous? At least ! it verged upon the brimstonal. And "it ' was not only what he said- — it was the nasty way lie said it!" For the rev. doctor simply bellowed his fierce denunciation and the congregation bellowed their applause at him iti return. Will Turkey make this a casua belli? Or will the Sultan's "friend," the Kaiser? I suppose not. Dr Parker, however, had not finished yet. Far from it. He started on a new tack, and one of the sort to stir up his listeners into frenzy. Jt did! He said : " The other day I got a bill for a , graye — the deepest grave I ever dug; and 1 when I read one word on the top of it I was astonished. That one word was ' Unconsecrated.' — (Cries of "Shame.") Aye, shame 1 Shame again, I say! — (Cheers.) The woman who was laid there was one whose brain never entertained an ignoble thought, whose heart ! never had a selfish desire, and whose hand. i -was never stretched forth except in help and ! love TJnconsecrated ! Shame ! The whole ! earth cries 'Shame!' — (Cheers.) These are j not things to be passed over lightly. It may mean nothing to some people, but it" meant much to me. It meant vitriol poured upon a gaping red wound. — (Cheers.) Don't tell me that the word is merely a technical term. It is a knavish trick ; it is a Popish device ; it is a detestable blasphemy. — (Cheers.) When, J read that word I vowed that I would be more faithful to the Nonconformity which \ J has made England a possible country to live '•in. — (Cheers.) I am prepared to pay the . price. Let these pews be empty, let my I stipend go down to a crust of bread and a i spoonful of water, and let my church go from me ; but I shall be a richer man without those who do not sympathise with me in this | deep conviction."

And as a final fulmination, Dr Parker fired forth thus : "I can respect an honest Papist, I can respect an honest Puritan, bufc I cannot respect a man who tries to be both at the same time, and who takes Protestant money for Popish work. Let us beware al=<o of our own Nonconformity. There may be a Nonconformist ritualism, a Dissenting sacerdotalism. I havo been before the people for fifty years, and- 1 have learned to trust the pooplo. The people are the best guardians of our institutions and our liberty." — (Cheers.) The sermon has created an immense sensntion, and elicited much comment, largely ad^ erse.