New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-27
which Parker recorded the inmost secrets of his

vbic, Parker recorded the inmost secrets of his
soul has given assurance to his biograpber OF the
simpe commences of the man, OF his hon
esty sincerity, faithfulness more than that,
Of his strict dealing with himself, Of his
humility modesty lowliness, and purity of split.
His power to assert his will was apparent to ALL his
individuality looked aggressive and doubtless was
so; but the efforts he made to keep himself down
appear in every volume of the journal, and make
passages in il as touching as the confessions OF ST.
Augustine or the soloquies of Paul. With him the
religious sentiment was supreme. IL had q profound
root in his being wholly distinct from its forms of
expression His sense of divine things never lost its
glow. The intensity of his faith in Providence, and
his assurance of the immortal life seems almost eX-
travagant to many thinkers who accept the general
scope of his philosophy. His ethics grew from the
same root as his religion. They too rested on the
spiritual philosophy, the philosophy of intuition.
He believed that the human conscience was
direct revelation of the Divine law that the moral
nature looked righteousness in the face. The strength
of his affections helped to confirm his faith III con-
science and give intensity to his moral Instincts
His friends were glorifed by this feeling that they
hardly knew themselves. But it was by no means
confined to his friends. His humanity was rs re-
markable as his tenderness. Not only did he never
FORGET kindness never fail to recprocate an act OF
frendliness never neglect on opportunity OF render
ing service. but his readiness to forgive those who
hated him was as remarkable as his devotion To
those who loved him:
The Influence OF his thought has been very great not
more In realm Of opinion than In me realm OF Guar
acter; and it Is destined to DC sim greater HhIelna
OF int gencp who n the days or the Untailtb C"hIO
yersy had left his church and minister because ne had
exchanged with Theodore Parker resumed hiS Oll con
Hection time during the war. lt occurred one dy
to his minister to ak pleasantly the reason o. rs re-
turn. He replied, 81 went away Dechle i glllu aot
bear smallest seeming Of cncouragement OF lheo1ore
Parker; but when saw the influence OF his nind on
our soldiers was forced to make different estimate
OF the man. The youth OF America needs tLe ntience
OF that mind to-day anu VIII heed 10 Ioi many oayS 10
Theodore Parker looked the man he was-starly,
strong in Ieqs and arms with muscular iIp Of the
hand that knit one hn at once and planted loot
NAT assorted hole mans title to stand the planet.
The lower portion % his face was gOOdstrOng aud
6rm--but a little grim I'm expression His lip curled
easily and slightly s0cratio nose had posSDitiea OF
glory Of the head the massive dome, smooth ahd
iofy which gesed the man OF thought; ana 1hueI-
upatn il the clear, frank blue eye, that invited con-
ldeuce but bad in IL the CLEAN Of n swOri % pierce
through hyDpcrls, ana clcaye lal5elOOd 10 Inc GROUND
NOT handsome nin saraphlc poetic; not the ideal OF
the philosopher, the saint even the prophet; man
o. the people rather worklngnan, to LOOK at hh put
nottingham with such tools as prophets opAes.
and saints Use true American il there ever was one;
tne best wOrhng-pan OF an American yet produced
The student of character, no less than Theodore
Parker's admiring friends, will acknowledge a large
debt OF gratitude to the author of this memoir. 1t
is written with singular business and discrimination,
eulyened by the images of chaStc fancy, bat never
transcending the domain of facts. There is no at
tempt to recommend the religious ideas Of which
Parker was a conspicuous exponent in his day. or to
extol the methods by which he waged such strenu'
Gus war against social abuses. 1t holds up remark
able specimen Of robust manliness whose form and
Jineaments may be studied with equal advantage by
friend and foe.