St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-06-14


many, and had stored his memory Will,
the finast passages of each. Here he found
a teacher in French and Spanish, which Ac
learned to read and write with accuracy,
and soon after entered upon the study Of
German. In 1882, he opened private
shoel in Watertown, where he remained
for two years, and at the same time study.
ing the higher branches of mathematics,
and entering upon an extensive course Of
Greek and Latin classics, metaphysics and
German literature. With these he united
the study of Hebrew and theology, and
having decided that it would be Of little
use to join his class as an undergraduate,
he entered the Divinity School at Cam.
bridge in 1884, with an advanced standing
of one year. Here he remained Z little
more than two years, pursuing wide range
Of study beyond the routine Of his class,
including the principal medern languages
especially Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
and Modern Greek.
Mr.. Parker left the theological school in
1886, was settled over small rural parish
in West Roxbury in 1887, visited Europe
in l843, returned in 1914 was invited to
preach in Boston in 1845, and became
minister Of the Twenty eighth Congrega-
tional Society in Boston February l6, l8-
46. From that time his career has been
prominently before the public. His con-
gregation soon grew to be the largest in
the city Of Boston, including not only a
wide and devoted circle Of personal friends,
but an immense throng of strangers, who
were attracted by his fame to listen to his
discourses. The great purpose of his
preaching was the application of common
sense to theology, and Of sound ethics to
practical life. None Of the exciting inter-
ests Of the day escaped his attention, and
none which promised to benefit society,
promote the cause of knowled dge, and ad-
vance the progress of man, failed to win
his sympathy. He was plain, outspoken
and uncompromising in the utterance Of his
convictions; not without natural love of
controversy but in all the intcrcourses of
private life he exhibited an almost femin-
inc gentleness and affcctionateness. In
the domestic circle, he inspired perpetual
admiration by the af1uencc of his CONVEX
sation, his colloquial cloquence and wit,
the incredible extent and precision Of his
knowledge, the readiness and fidelity of his
memory, and the benignant wisdom and
cordiality Of his discourse. No one would
recognize in the genial and playful talker,
the warm-hearted friend, and the consider
ate and tender adviser, the stern old ICON
ocalast who delighted to WELD the battle
ak, and rush int the midst Of the affray
when the question of human freedom or
social rights was at stake. Mr.. Parker was
one Of the most truly benevolent men of
the day; and had not his brilliant fame as
a public man eclipsed the reputation of his
private virtues, he would have been celc-
brated as "the Man Of Ross" In the re-
ceipt Of a generous income from his profess
sion and his literary labors, one thild Of
his surplus for many years past has been
religiously devoted to deeds of unostenta-
tious charity. The sincerest mourners at
his death, will be the troops Of young peo-
pie, whom he has helped to an education
and an establishment in life, and the poor
and unfortunate, whose wants never appeal
ed to his sympathies in vain.