Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-05-31
Theodore Parker.

THURSDAY, MAY 81, 1900.
Theodore Parker.
The announcement came by the last steam
er that Theodore Parker died at Florence OIL
the 10th inst. In the circle of his intimate
personal friends, and among the multitude
who admired his intellectual excellence, anC
loved his single-hearted devotion to whatso
ever things were pure and right, the intelll
gence has awakened sensations of peculiar sor-
row. Mr.. Parker was born in Lexington, Au-
gust q, 1870 He was studious from his ear
Hest years, when he commenced acquiring
that wealth of varied learning which he often
lavished upon his more elaborate dseourses,
and which was the source and secret OF no
small portion of his power. He pursued his
academical and theological studies at Harvard
University, and in 1887 made his first settle
ment at West Roxbury. In 1S41, in his SER
mon at the ordination of Rev Mr.. Shackford
of South Boston, he first uttered those senti-
ments which led to the theological controver-
sizes which marked the active years OF his life.
He began to preach in Boston in 1916, and in
February, 1916, was settled over the society
recently at the Music Hall. Oppressed by
disease he visited Europe several months ago
with the hope that change of climate and pur-
suits would contribute something to the restor-
alton of his impaired health. 1t was too late.
The golden bowl was broken. The following
reference to his DEATH from letter received
by Prof. Neuman in Londen, will be read with
interest =
Florence, May IL, 1861 have sad news to
communicate. Our dear suffering friend, The
dore Parker, died yesterday evening. Yet
there never easier end to a life but
lately full OF vigor. | saw him but three
hours before he died, lying calmly, while life
was ebbng away unconscously to himself.
He left written directions tor his funeral, linn
iting to five the persons attending him 10 the
grave, of whom am one. Many Americans
here are expressing their wish to appear as
mouners but it is thought best to abide by
his Instructions, He desired the eleven first
verses OF the Sermon on the Mount 1.-THE Bless
ings of jesus to be read over his grave; and
then plain grey stone, with his name and
age, and nothing further of inscription. Mr..
Cunningham Il Boston Unitarian minister
will read the passage. He is sincere friend
and admirer OF Parkers. We hope o get a
cast taken of MIR. Parker to-day. Mrs. Par
ker, his poor, gentle wife, has hitherto Lorne
up well. Miss Stevenson, who has long re-
sided with them, was also with him to the
last. She thinks, from the peculiar tender
ness of his manner yesterday that he knew he
was dying. He had been dreamy tor some
days, and talked ramblingly Of two Theodore
Parkers, one here, and one planted in Boston,
who would finish his work; perhaps true
thought, only mystically expressed. Among
his last well-connected words were these: "Ot
course you know | am not afraid to die, though
wished To live and finish much work which
longed to do. had great powers commit
ted to me, and | have but half used them"
Since writing this, l have seen lying, o so
peacefully / nave never seen death under a
form so devoid of terror. The heroic color
remains on his check, and it is hard to per-
suade oneself he has passed away. He ceased
to breathe without the least struggle.
AT the Unitarian festival, in Boston, Tues
day, the event was noticed with expression:
of sympathy and respect Rev James Free
man Clarke said =
The news came to us this morning from thu
other side of the world of the departure OF GU
BROTHER THEODORE PARKER, who for so many
years, in this hall, has manfuy stood up fol
what to him. was the highest and best idea
of truth, and right, and religion and | think
now that he is gone, and We shall never see
more, and shall never hear his voice again,
and never read those burning vivid words
which came from his pen, fresh with the not
blood of a manly heart, think we can all OF
us unite and say, in the words which our
brother King has addressed to us, peace be
to thee, our brother"
In many things he differed from us in many
things we differed from him but, after all, he
was the fruit of our body II he went fur.
and in ftrrfh ha roxy
from US, still, he was in the line of our tradi.
ton, and he believed himself faithful to the
principles which he had been taught while lie
was in this home. He was thorough speci-
men of New England man-ol manly
New England man "a man not only with a
manly heart and manly intellect, ready to
graphic with all the great problems of life, and
TO utter freely and openly His word, as God
gave 1t TO him, but he vas, beside this, (what
all do no: know SO WELL man with tender
heart with a feminine tenderness Of hear:
with heart which overflowed with affection
toward those he loved
We shall see him 10 more we shall hea
him no more; but l think there are many
hours TO come, in the great crises of our his
tory, when we shall miss his manllness, III
freedom, his energetic devotion to the truth
to God and the right. ] could not, sir, rise il
this place, where lie has stood so long, withou
doing great injustice to my own feelings, ant
think great injustice to the feelings OF man,
of you here, if not all, if had sat down witt
out as much as these few words The con
pany testified their sympathy with the sent
ments expressed by Mr.. Clarke by hearty az
plause.
Mr.. Emerson, who presided at the festiva
said they all felt chow much how very much
American scholarship, American thou9 HI
American originality, American manness ha
lost in the lamented death of THEODORE PAL
KER." Before Mr.. Parker's departure fror
Boston he appointed, with judcious fore
thought, his literary executors. His extensiv
library, one of the most ample and valuabl
private collections in the country, comprisin
upwards of thirty thousand volumes, he bC
queathed to the public library of Boston.
The Worcester Spy will please take motto
that Mr. Greeley reports lin his sixth card
that "the bogus delegations from Texas" wer
Connected in Michigan. boston Codr1er
The Boston Courier will please tax
notice that there are some matters in re
gard to which Mr.. Greeley is not the best al
thority. In the Chicago convention, after tn
committee on credentials had reported, the.
were directed to take the matter in hand one
more, with special reference to such talk abou
the Texas delegation as this of the Courier
They did so, and again reported that the ere