The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-17
A Noted Chinese Missionary.


From the Chicago Ne'cs
The venerable Peter Parker, who died
last week in the S4th year of his age, had
! doubtless been forgotten by most of his tel-
low citizens, but two generations ago he was
one of the famous men of this country. tor
! twenty years or more he has been living a
retired life in Washington. owning a beau
| titul home and being surrounded with every
possible comfort and multitudes Of admir-
ing friends. He was born in birmingham,
Mass, III 1904 graduated at Yale College IN
1881, having passed through the theological
and the medical sciences, and then went to
China as a missionary under the aus
pices of the American Board Of For
eign Missions. There he intro
duced modern medicinal science among
the pagans. He found the Chinese suffering
from all sorts of disease, and in connection
with his work of preaching and teaching he
established in Canton a hospital, where for
many years :, 600 patients were constantly
under his care. He had the most marvellous
success in curing diseases. Patients were
brought to him from all parts OF the Chinese
empire. He cured the Emperor Of an alice
ton of the eyes and attended the members
of the court frequently. During all this
time, until So, he continued his religious
work, healing souls as well as bodies, and
his power was regarded as little short ofthe
supernatural.
When the United States sent Caleb Cush-
ing in lS45, as a commissioner to make a
commercial treaty with China, DIR. Parker
served as his interpreter, ana upon Mr..
Cushings departure he was made Minister
of the United States to China, and con
tinued as such until 1857. Near the close
of our war he returned to the United States
and erected a beautiful residence at the
corner of Pennsylvania avenue and Lafay-
cite square. diagOnally opposite the White
House. During his frequent visits i'll this
country while he was living
in China he took the lecture
stage and spoke from the pulpit IN
nearly every city in the United States in
behalf of the work of missions. He was
man of eloquent address and great force as
speaker, and by his voice and his writings
gave the people of the United States the
first real knowledge they had ever had of
the Chinese empire. Men of so or 90 years
of age to-day will recall these addresses and
the books of DR.. Parker on China that were
published when they were boys, and his
work in securing funds for the cause of mis-
sions was very effective. not only IN Amer
lea, but in England.
DR.. Parker was a bachelor until he was
nearly 30 years old, when he married a
sister of DR.. Lindsay, at that time and for
many years previous one of the most proml-
nent citizens of Washington. The residence
of Mr.. Lindsay, at the corner of Four and
Half and d streets, was a social head
quarters, particularly for the New England
people, and the drawing rooms were always
open and usually filled with men and
women who were famous then and are
famous still. Rufus Choate, John Quincy
Adams, Daniel Webster, Caleb Gushing,
Charles Sumner, William Pitt Fessenden,
Samuel p. Chase, and such men were
familiar visitors at DR.. Lindsay's house
with their wives and daughters, and i'll this
circle Miss Lindsay was the reigning belle.
Dr. Parker captured the most accomplished
and beautiful girl in Washington and car
ried her off to China as a missionary.
Since he returned to Washington DIR.
Parker had taken quite an interest in scien-
tiffc and literary matters had been the most
active and prominent regent of the Smith
sonian Institution, was the most intimate
friend of the late Prof. Henry, and his home
at Lafayette square had been the centre of
a brilliant circle of men and women
famous in literature, science and art At
the same time DR.. Parker mad lived with the
greatest frugality. Although a rich man,
he had never kept a carriage and never
hired one. Whenever he had been going
anywhere, day or night, to market, to
dinner party, or to church, even at his great
age with an income of $4,000 to SIS, 900
year, he had walked or ridden i'll the street
cars. and the same frugalIty had been prac-
ticed in other respects. For many years he
had been an active member of the First
Presbyterian church of Washington, and
had always presided. at the missionary meet
ings.