New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-20
EMERSON ON THEODORE PARKER.

Rev Theodore Parker were held 10 Music Hall Boston,
| on Sunday The gracious hall crowded IN every
TART and hundreds Of men and women remained stand
,e through the entire services lasting upward of two
hours. so great the desire 10 be present. that
people went to the hall as early o'clock and BY
$3.50 the hall WAS filed. Charles NJ. Ellis, Ralph
| Waldo Emerson, and Wendell Phillips were the
| speakers.
console and animate each ether by the recoec-
| ton of lis virtues. II.
81 have the feeling that every mans biography is
his ow expense He furnishes not only the facts bnt
the report that all biography is autobiography.
1t is only what be tells of himself that comes to be
known and believed. In PluIarch's Lives OF AleXaI-
der and Perces you have the secret whispers Of their
confidence 10 their lovers and trusty friends. For il
was each report of this kind that impressed those To
whom it told in manner TO secure its being told
everywhere TO the best and 10 those who speak with
authority 10 their times and therefore TO For
the political rule is cosmical rale and if man is not
strong in bis district he is not good candidate
else where
"He whose voice will not be heard here again,
eoud well afford to tell his experiences; they all
honorable 10 him. and were part OF the history OF the
civil and religious liberty of the times. Theodore Par
ker was son of the coil, charged with the energy Of
New England, strong eager, inquisitive Of kDowl-
edge, of u diligence that never tired, upright, OF
naughty independence yet the gentest of companions
man of stucy, fit for man OF the world with de-
rapidly pushing his studies SO far TO leave few men
qualified 10 sit as critics. He elected bis part Of duty,
or accepted molly that assigned him in his rare consii
tuition. Wonderful acquisition OF knowledge, rapid
wit that heard all, and welcomed all that came, by
seeing its bearing. Such the largeness Of hIs
oepton of facts and his skull to employ them, that il
looked as if he were some President OF Council TO
whom score Of telegrapbs were ever bringing in
reports; and the information would have been eX-
ceesve but for the noble ne made of il in the
interest of humanity He had strong understanding,
logical method love for fats rapid eye for their
historic relations, and skill in stripping them of ira
dtional lusters. He had sprghtly fancy, and often
amused himself with throwing his meaning into pretty
apologies; yet hardly iGscrbe to his mind the
poetic element though his scholarship had made him
reader and quoter Of little more feeling of
the poetic significance of his facts would have dis
qualified him for of his severer offices 10 his gen.
Grafton. The old religions have a charm for most
minds which it is little uncanny 70 disturb. IT'S
sometimes question shall we not leave them to de-
cav without rude sbocksl l remember that L found
come barshness in his treatment both OF Greek and
OF Hebrew antiquity, and syInpathized with the pain
Of many good people in his auditory while i ac-
Quilted him, Of course, of any wish to be hippant.
He came at a time when 10 the irresistible march OF
opinion the forms still retained by the most adj
vanced sects, showed loose and feless and he, with
something less of asctonate attachment TO the old
with more vigorous logic, rejected them. lis OBJ
jected 10 him that he scattered TOO many illusions.
Perhaps more tenderness would have been gracoful
but il is vain TO charge him with perverting the opin-
ions of the generation. The opinions OF men are
organic. Simply those came TO bin who found them.
selves expressed by him. And had they not met this
enlightened mind, in which they beheld their own opin
ions combined with zeal in of love and hu
mapity they would have suspected their opinions and
suppressed Leem, and 30 sunk into melancholy or ma
Ggnty-a feeling of loneliness and hostility 10 what
was reckoned respectable. Tia PLAIN 10 me that he
has achieved historic immortality here; that he has
30 himself in these few years into the history of
Boston, that be never be left out of your annals
1t will nobe in the acts of City Councils nor of obse
quous Mayors; nor, in the State House, the procana
lions Of Governors, with their falling vlrue-fllng
them at critical moments-that the coming generation
viii study what really befel, but in the plain lessons
of Theodore Parker in this Music Hail. in Fanenll Hail.
in Legislative Committee rooms, ttat the true tenn
per and authentic record of these days will be read
The next generation will little for the chances Of
elections that govern governors now IT VIII care little
for fine gentlemen who behaved stability but .wil read
very Diellgeny in his rough story, fortified with
act cdoes precise with aad dates, what part
was taken by each actor; who threw himself into the
Of humanity, and came TO the rescue of civiza
ton at hard pinch, and who blocked its course.
1.-The vice charged against America is the want OF
sincerity in leading men, Ii does not lie at his door,
He kept back the truth for fear 10 make
N.Y. But, on the other hand, il was complained that
he was bitter and hsrsh-that his zeal burned with
hot fame. IL is difficult in evil times 10 escape
the charge-for the faithful preacher most Of all. 1t
was bis merit, like Luther, Knox and Latimer and
John Baptist. 10 speak tart truth when that was PEE
renptOry, ard when there were few TO say il. But
his sympathy for goodness was not less energetic. One
fault he had; he overertmated his friends-I may well
say it-and sometimes vexed them with the importu-
nifty OF bis good opinion, while they knew better the
eb6 which follows uniounded prase. He capable,
it be sad, of the most unmeasured eulogies on
those he esteemed especially if he had any jealousy
that they did not stand with the Boston public
highly AS they ought His commanding meri. as a re-
former is this-that he insisted beyond all in pull
ps-I cannot think of rival-that the essence of
Christianity s its practical morals; il IL there for use,
OF il is nothing and if you combine Il with sharp
trading, or with ordinary city ambitions to glaze
municipal corruptions, private incompetence,
the cheating of Indians the robbery OF frontier ma
tione or leaving your principles at home TO follow
the high seas or in Boston a supple compalsance TO
tyrants s hypocrisy, and the truth is not 10 you;
and no love Of religious music, Of dreams of Swe-
denborg, or praise of John Wesley, or Of Jeremy
Taylor, can gave you from the Satan which you are.
His Ministry fell political crisis aso; on the
years when Southern Slavery broke over its old banks
made new and vast pretensions, and wrung from The
weakness or treachery of Northern people fatal con-
SESSIONS in the Fugitive Slave bill and the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise Two days bitter in the memory
Of Bottom the DAYS of the rendition OF Sims and Burns
made the occasion of his most remarkable dscourses.
lie Kept nothing back In terrible earnest he de-
nouneed the public crime, and meted out 10 every
Official, high and low, his due portion. BY the inces-
SAINT power OF bis statement he made and held party.
IL was bis great service 10 freedom. He took away
the reproacb Of silent consent that would otherwse
have lain against the indignant minority by uttering in
the hour and place wherein these ouirages were done
the stern protest.
"Bu. while praise this frank speaker have no
with 70 accuse the silence of Others There are men
81.