San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-13
EMINENT LONDON DIVINE AND
BEECHER EULOGIST, REPORT
ED INSANE.

The Rev. Joseph Parker, d. D.,
London, the man who eulogiZed Henry
Ward Beecher. at the memorial SER
vice in Plymouth Church, the friend
of our great preacher and at one time
divine of vast learning and command
ing eloquence, and a Biblical writer
of high rank, is insane, as the follow
ing letter, sent by him to newspaper
and telegraphed to the New York
Herald demonstrates. Probably he
will never preach again. Following
is the letter, which will be read with
melancholy interest:
To THE EDITok OF THE DAILY CHRONICLr
SIR-Robert Elsmere is not the only
theological sufferer. His suffering is
nothing to mine, owing to our differ
ences in moral sensitiveness. Only
the other day an agnostic said to me,
as if we were upon equal terms: How
are your" A sudden pain thrilled
my nerves, purple blood sutfused my
carewOrn face. | lifted my 1.-the,
gaunt figure to its full height, and
with absolutely nothing for back
ground but sympathizing horizon, /
asked him by what right he took in
terest in the state of my health. The
blow told well. Hardly had l got
back to my study and settled down to
my Sunday sermon when an imper-
tinent caller asked me if was aware
that the prophecy of Daniel was not
written until about one hundred and
seventy years B. G. My mucous
membrane quivered; flood of vermil-
lion poured through my wasted feat
ures and 1 fell in a swoon. l had
trusted so much in Daniel. I had
risked untold consequences on the
date of his composition. | had added
up the time and times and the half
time, and made them exactly cor
respond with our February 81, and by
multiplying the two horns of the
ram by Daniels birthday, and add
ing the horn of the he goat that
pushed the ram with the two horns,
| had spelled out the name of the
Right Rev. Father in God, the Lord
Bishop Of Liverpool. The candle
filled clouds of tobacco gathered
around me in spirit of tender
coincidence, and | was found
next morning by two police
ell, who never found anything else,
wandering round and round pool
repeating one of the rhdpsodies of
Homer. Whether. I can ever preach
again depends upon the recovery of
my health, which for the time being
is hopelessly shattered. If the date OF
Daniel had been left me, how molly /
could have held on TO my Christian
faith, but the date of Daniel gone,
what is left? AS l write these lines
the pathetic past rises upon the elias
sic eye of my imagination, and my
dearest friends, my most familiar ac-
quaintances. fail TO recognize in my
wan, grief wrinkled face the counte-
nance of one who in earlier times
simply read Daniel for what good was
to be got out of him. Vow I am
driven to the church of the Aurora
BOrealis, and my piety has nothing to
live on but the barest facts.
JOSEPH PARKER.
THE CITY TEMPLE, October 3.
DR.. Parker's public life began with
his being Wesleyan Methodist local
preacher in England, the country of
his birth. Joining subsequently the
Congregational denomination, he was
encouraged to continue preparations
for ministerial life, and in time was
chosen pastor OF a church at Ban bury, |
OXfOrdshire. His ministry there was |
popular and influential, and he out |
grew his sphere, Banbury being only |
a small town. He accepted a call to |
Cavendish Chapel, Manchester, where |
he was immensely popular. In 1869 /
he was invited to become pastor of |
Poultry Chapel. London, and consent
ed A the bpUiunin o. of his ma stOra 70 |