DR. PARKER'S OUTBURST.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8538, 9 June 1899, Page 4

DR. PARKER'S OUTBURST.

EXTRAORDINARY ADDRESS AT

THE CITY TEMPLE.

In connection witli the Cromwell Tercentenary celebrations, Dr. Parker delivered a rcmarkablo address before a crowded audience at the City Temple on April 29th. The meeting was held under the auspices of the National Council of the Evangelical Free Churches, and the hall whs packed, hundreds filling the stairways and passages. .Basing bis remarks on Ezra ix. 3, Dr Parker indulged in some jibes at the expense of princes and politicians, and proceeded : — Ezra was a Cromwell of the ancient time a right vuliant and most desperate nnvn, who would have a hard time of it if he lived now. (Laughter.) It is easy and comforting to many to think that all Cromwclls lived long ago. I WANT LIVINO CROMWKLLS, ho exclaimed, living righteousness, living obedience to the law of God, and fearless speaking. When the coacliman of the Prince shall play at cards it shall be ill ; but when the Prince himself is taken in the act then let the country mourn. We look to princes for noble deeds, for high examples. If I find my prince or my premier on the nice ground 1 don't like it. (Cheers.) Dr Parker made a long and most impressively suggestive pause aftifr 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 between the essence and the accident, and about those wicked people who turn racing into un occasion for gambling. I have heard all those pleas. They are all nonsense. We want free speech and frauk

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 Nouconformity that watched him, and clothed him, and fed him, and gave him his first chance in life, and then went over to the side that had clone nothing for himbut persecute him— l rent my garment and my mantle, and I would not have him to preside at a meeting of the Liberation Society. (Cheers.) The great Liberation idea is that the Church misrepresents tho Christ, misrepresents the purpose of the incarnation. That is my charge, my impeachment., and I cannot stand up fis God's minister with a man who presides over deliberations in which his soul takes no part. (Applause.) I believe that we may have to get rid of some people. (Laughter.) I feel that we may become fewer, and yet be stronger. (Applause.) I have lived to value quality before quantity. Many a time God's cause has been driven down, and may be driven down again this spring, and for many other springs— absolutelydriven down byan overwhelming mediocrity. (Laughter and applause.) I don't want to be your popular preacher. I want the preacher, popular or unpopular, to be fearless, independent, gracious, and inflexible in justice. (Applause.)

YOU MAY STARVE HIM,

but God will nourish his soul. (Applause.) Wheu I heard that the Kaiser had gone to the East, and had, in an after-dinner speech, used the words, "My friend the Sultan," I was astonished. (Applause.) I could have sat down in humiliation and terror. (Cheers.) He who has outraged every Christian sentiment, and defeated concerted Europe, may be the Kaiser's friend, but he is not ours, I think, not ] mine, not God's. (Applause. ) Down with such speaking. Let the voice of the people be heard in this matter. Then the Liberals may get back to power. (Laughter and Applause.) ' 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, bayonetted the babe, and done all manner of fiendish things. (Applause.) Speaking of the Sultan, not personally, but as the Great Assassin, in the name of God I say, "God, damn the Sultan." (Loud and prolonged cheers.) The other day I got a bill for a grave— the deepest grave I ever dug— [his wife's] — and when I read one word on the top of it I was astonished. That one word was " Unconsecrated." (Cries of "Shame.") Aye, shame 1 Sh»me again I say. (Cheers.) The woman who was laid there was one whose brain never entertained an ignoble thought ; whose heart nevdr had a selfish desire, and whose hand was never stretched forth except in help and love. The whole earth