The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINS LINEA." TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1902. THE LATE DR JOSEPH PARKER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11796, 2 December 1902, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINS LINEA." TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1902. THE LATE DR JOSEPH PARKER.

By the death of Dr. Joseph Parker the Empire has sustained a loss, Christendom is the poorer, and the Nonconformity has loisb one of its greatest champions. For half a century he was an able preacher of the Gospel, and for a. generation his name has been a household word as a. leader of religious thought. He was born iii Hexham, i.tti the banks of the Tyne—"no mean city." It* abbey ift 1200 years old, and centuries ago it had its bishop and cowledi monks. In this historic village Dr. Parker spent his youth, being* indeed, a "Tyne chylde." His father was a Dissenter, and was a deacon of the Congregational Church, was a builder by trade, and came of a. sturdy Northumbrian stock. To the home of Dr. Parker's boyhood there came the champions of religious and political freedom, Radicals and Democrats!, Dissenters and Nonconformists—men like Raynea- Stephens (the Chartist), Thotmas Cooper, George Dawson. Edlwardi Miall, and Frederic Douglas (the famed anti-slavery orators. These and kindred spirits were visitors to his home. He listened to their public lectures and private conversations, and he became an. :ardent champion of freedom. He formed Mendships with the greatest men of the realm. A strong friendship existed between him and Mr. Gladstone. When Dr. Parkeir wrote his famous "Job's Comforters, or Scientific Sympathy," Mr. Gladstone dleclared it to be one of the finest pieces of satire ever written in the English language, and at once ordered twenty-five eolpies to give to his friends. Our readers may ask how did the son of an obscure Nortiumibriun mason become one of the greatest men in the Empire—a. man whose opinions have been respected by Royalty, and to whom the nation has turned to at the time of any great national crisis ito heai* his words of advice; and we reply that his power lay in his earnestness and ability. Dr. Parker was a Northerner. He had al* the tenacity, dieterminatioai, dogmatism, and grit for which, men of the North are famed. He had a strong, body; to use his oAvn words, "A constitution like a tiger"; a massive head andi shaggy locks, a deep, strong voice, -whichi sometimes rolled like the roar of a lion round the City Temple; great brain power, was an excellent speaker, and spoke with an assertive-ness which conveyed the impression to bis hearers that he thoroughly believed in what* he was advocating. His style was often highly dramatic, and certainly deeply impressive. His mannerisms were nwst marked, but were inseparably connected! with his nature. He was an excellent! writer. Few men have written so many books. From fifity to sixty volumes nave come from his pen, many of them very large books. His ''People's BibT-e"—twenty-six volumes—is his gifcafcest work, but which is his best

book it would be impossible to say. Some day probably some admirer will collect out of his books the best parts, and publish them as the cream of Dr. Parker's works. It is certain that, hundreds of preachers have been stimulated by reading his works. Ha has also been a man of war. He has stood upon the platform and" defended Christianity against its assailants. When a young man he successfully debuted with the famous Mr. G. J. Hulyoake upon the truths of Christianity. In all liis platform utterances his wit, satire, and evangelical teaching have been great helps to him. He has ever been a bold man. No matter how great the evils which confronted1 him., he boldly, with the courage of a lion, attacked them. When the Kaiser visited the Sultan, and afterwards referred to the Ru-.er df Turkey as his "friend," it will be remembered by our readers how we were informed by ithe cables that at a crowded meeting in the City Temple he denounced the Kaiser for owning as his friend the man who had caused thousands of men, women, and children to be murdered in Armenia. When King Edward became an amateur brewer and turned on the tap for the Royal brew at Burton, Dr. Parker, whilst declaring his loyalty, denounced the Ring for performing such an act as King of England. Repeatedly has he sent his "messages" to Royalty and to the ruler's of the day. His boldness has contributed to his success. Then power of thought has been another source of his popularity. He was a thinker, as his works show conclusively. He was a man oi great personal magnetism. He also believed in himself. Whilst humble and charitable, he certainly was not wanting in self-appreciatioii. When fifteen years of age he left school to work as a mason for his father, on condition that he be not employed by any other man. If ha ceased to -work for his father he was to be his own master. At 22 years of age he wrote to* the Rev. John Campbell, minister at Whitefields Tabernacle, and one of the greatest preachers of the day, and asked him if he could find him work as.a preacher. Think of the courage and conceit required to do this. He was employed as second preacher at the Tabernacle, and forty-six years later he laid the foundation stone of the new Whitefieldfe Tabernacle. At 23 years of age he went to Bandbury, and remained for five years as minister, during which time he had seven invitations to change his sphere of service. When 28 years of age he was invited to the famous and historic Cavendish Street Church in Manchester, but he refused the invitation, a>s at Banbury they had built a new church and had contracted a debt of £700, and he was determined to stay until the debt was paid. The invitation was renewed, and the Cavendish •Street Church offered to pay the £700 debt off the Banbury Church is they would part with their minister. For eleven years he remained minister of Cavendish Street Church, preaching the Gospel to .millionaires?. When he became minister one deacon was a member of Parliament, another was a Knight, another was the senior surgeon of the city, aoidl another had declined to stand as a candidate for a borough w^iich was at his disposal. Eight other deacons drove their caniages. For eleven years he preached to a fashionable congregation, which filled the church. In 1869 he went to his present pastorate in London. Within five years the present famous City Temple Svas built, and1 for 33 years he occupied! its pulpit. Not only on a Sunday, but far more than 33 yearn he has conducted a Thursday noonday service for business men. Each Thui-sday the Church has been crowded1, scores, often hundreds, of ministers attending to hear this "Prince of Preachers." It will probably be difficult to find a successor who* will be able to carry on thia service succesfully. Many are the stories told' of Dr. Parker—his wit and «atire, his sparklingl repartee. His wife was a good-looking lady, but he was certainly not over good-looking-. A man passing them walking together s&idi to a friend, "There goes Beauty and the Beast." "Thank you," replied the Doctor, "but I do mot thank you for calling my wife a beast." When he left his horn© to become a minister in London his father upon the station platform gave him three pounds. The son knowing that his father- could not wtfl afford the. money gave him back thirty shillings, saying that he would repay his father. When the Doctor was minister of the City Temple his father failed in business. Dr. Parker sent to his father's creditors and paid all his* debts. And now his voice is still in death. A great man in Israel has fallen. Within a few~ days two .great ileaders of Nonconformity.have passed away in the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes and Div Parker. In the coming .struggle over the education question, they will be milled, but nonconformity is now so strong and has su many leaders that the.conflict wilr doubtless be carried on to a successful issue br the Nonconformists.