The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-16
WHAT SOUTHERN METHODIST THINKS OF
THEODORE PARKER

The Rev. J. +. Edwards, of Virginia, fur
nisheE to the Richmond Christian Advocate an
interesting account of recent visit to Boston.
He went to hear Theodore Parker preach, and
gives the following lively sketch of him, which,
considering the wide disparity in theological
and political views between the writer and Mr..
Parker, will be regarded as liberal and candid:
"Then We went little before 10 O'Clock to
the Musical Hail. TO hear Theodore Parker
The Hall will seat $500 persons. By half past
10, we suppose, there were from 700 to 1000
persons present They came in, as persons
ordinarily with us, would 90 into a concert
room. Not few had secular newspapers,
which they sat and read till the services COM
menced. There were bows of recognition across
the Hall, and everybody seemed to be quite at
ease. The sexton set a vase of beautiful, fresh
flowers on the speakers desk. The organist
came in, and threw open the doors of an instru.
ment of tremendous power. Presently, grave,
serious looking man, of medium size, slightly
bald, and sprinkled with gray hairs, came in
ascended the platform, laid his manuscript on
the desk, and took the Hymn Book, or Psalm
Book, or book of some sort. 1t was Theodore
Parker He read Psalm of Thanksgiving.
1t was sung by choir with the organ, in an
organ shook the great Hall, like mighty thun-
der. After the Psalm was ended, Mr.. Parker
offered deeply impressive and eloquent prayer
to the great God, in which there was not the
slightest reference to Mediator. He called
God our father and our MOTHER and the
strain of Thanksgiving for mercies temporal was
unsurpassed by anything we have ever heard.
His discourse was an Independence Discourse.
He announced no text. His theme was, Amer
lea and her Opportunities 1t was marked by
great originality; and many passages in that
discourse would compare most favorably with
the finest things in the annals of oratory.
There was nothing fippant-no attempt at
display; but his whole manner was marked by
the greatest solemnity, gravity, and earnestness.
His feelings were frequently excited-tears
came to his eyes. and his voice trembled with
deep, unaffected emotion. But who ever heard
such ideas? He thanked God that in Boston
all religions and creeds and sects were toler-
ated. BE thanked God that club OF Atheists
could assemble, and enjoy the rights OF con
sc;ence and none dare modest them He
thanked God that there was Mormon temple
in Boston, But, mercy on us, how he did show
ND sthe peculiar institution! This great coun.
try of ours said he, presents magn icen'
and beautiful landscape-when seen In the
distance. We have vast foreground OF ocean.
Almost every indentation on our extended coast
is marked by a growing commercial city, with
its halls of learning, temples of justice, and
churches of religious worship, with their LOFTY
spires, the finger of mans devotion, pointing to
heaven. In the background there are villages
and hamlets embosomed in trees, and fruitful
fields, and broad streams that gush out from
our mountains, and traverse the whole land,
bearing the agricultural products of the thriving
country to the sounding seas there are bound
less forests, widespread prairies, and roaring
cataracts beautiful landscape, seen in the