The New York herald., 1871-10-23


H Nk ------- N.08
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AfW !,
The Rev. John Parker. pastor Of Aanson
Methodist Episcopal church in Norfolk street,
is q remarkable man and has . remarkable
history. He is small man, Of wiry frame,
and is about forty -four years Of age, twenty.
five Of which he has spent In the ministry
of the Methodist Church. When he was but
nineteen years Of age the Lord called him from
the shoemaker's bench to declare His Gospel.
and for three years the young preacher occu.
pied circuits in England, having to walk
twenty miles every Sabbath day to fill his
appointments and getting to rest at night
rarely before midnight. And then he was up
at daybreak to attend to his secular business.
His studies were pursued under very great
difficulties and chiefly at night by the light Of
the coal or wood fire, so that at the age OF
twenty-five years he was compelled to wear
glasses. His family and friends had not 30 much
regard for religion as he had, and they some
times tried to thwart his designs and aspira-
tions toward the ministry. But his faith
triumphed over every obstacle, and he has
had the rare experience Of knowing that he
has never preached sermon without having
some souls awakened or converted there
under. He is man Of wonderful faith and
great power In prayer, and is, withal, singer
Of no mean ability. He has now the largest
Methodist congregation In this city, and.
though his people, With one or two excep-
tions, are all Of the mechanic and laboring
class, they promptly raised three hundred
dollars for Chicago on Sunday. 18th instant.
And this, too without the inspiration OF .
special sermon for, as Mr.. Parker remarked,
while souls were in his church seeking the
Saviour, and he had letters Of inquiry from
some Of them, he could not turn aside to talk
about Chicago, however important It might
appear to be. Instead, therefore, Of preaching
Chicago fire sermon he preached Gospel
fire sermon, which touched not only tns
pockets but the hearts Of the poo
pie. His Conference fully understand
his power, and as he Ii one Of the few ministers
who never look out beforehand for choice
appointments his brethren send him wherever
they want to build new churches or to revive
old ones, and bis success 10 always certain. In
conversation with . friend the other day he
remarked, 81 don't care where they send me.
I can gather congregation anywhere. II
can't pray the people in or preach them in I
can sing them in, thank God" And no doubt
his talent Of song is gift Of great power In
his ministry. Frequently his sermons are
broken by hymn of invitation or praise which
be sings, and under which the people melt AZ
under the mighty power Of God. His nature
is exceedingly sympathetic, and, ~ conse-
quence, his sermons breathe much more Of
love and mercy than OF judgment-much more
Of tho spirit Of Calvary than Of Sinai. n'afa
The Rev. Frederick Evans, pastor Of the
Central Baptist church In West Forty second
street, is a young Welshman. He frst
attracted the attention Of the Baptists Of
New York BY his noble and Independents
denunciations Of the authors of the Avondaie
colliery disaster, two or three years ago.
While many ministers there and here pro-
claimed II judgment from Almighty God, he
very sensibly declared IL 70 be the result Of
criminal carelessness on the part Of the own
ers and officers Of the mines. Mr.. Evans 10
man Of ins descriptive powers, an excel
lent word painter, and is BY many considered
to be growing rival Of the pastor OF Ply
mouth church, Brooklyn. His star 10 certainly
in tho ascendant and . promising future 10
before him. When the old Laight street Bap-
tist congregation found themselves dwindllag
away they sent for Mr.. Evans, but neither his
eloquence nor seal could keep them together
there. The majority Of the members lived up
town, some Of them out Of town, and
others lived in Jersey City, and ooulo
hardly be expected to get over 70 Ls,sn'
street church very often. About the same u"o
some dissensions arose In the Forty -secono
street congregation, part OF whom, wlsn sae
pastor. Rev. DR.. westcott, left and built tne
Plymouth Baptist church, in Fifty y-arst street.
A union between the remaining members and
the Laight street people was Effected ana sne
latter obtained the property, and Mr.. Evans
was settled as pastor Of the united church.
He has been very successful so jar, and has.
full houses at every service. His pulpit
mower seems TO reside In his vivid imagination,
bv which he 10 enabled to present the beauties
OF heaven or the horrors Of bell before the
people, and to enforce the duty Of immediate,
repentance and reformation Of life. Mr..
Evans, though speaking English very weii.
has marked Welsh accent, rather pleasing.
perhaps, than otherwise.
The Rev. II. d. Northrup, pastor Of the
West Twenty third Street Presbyterian church.
is also = voung man Of much promise. HA