Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-05-17
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

DIR. PARKER's EXPLANATION"
To the Editor Of the Evening Journal
Sir: We would advert for the second
and last time to the Rev. DR. Parker's re.
cent n-advlsed attack upon the Prince
Of wales. DR.. Parker under date Of
May C. makes the following explana-
ton:
81 didn't refer personally or ex-
cusively TO THE Prince of Wales
but distinctly included an
Princes who have been setting a
bad example TO the people"
Horse racing has bad reputa-
tlon among Christian people"
Il would have THE Prince OF
Wales abstain from horse racing.
gambling and debauchery."
Il firmly believe that England
Is on the brink OF revolution. II
the Prince CT Wales doesn't tread
the vlrtuous path Of his inustrlous
mother when ne comes to the
throne, the crown OF England
won't be worth twelve months
purchase. All is safe 80 long as
the Queen lis with us. May she
live ten thousand years
Let us state, lest We forget. that there
Is one thing-and an all-important thing
It Is, too-abcut DR.. Parker which we
very greatly respect and admire. II is,
that he is altogether orthodox concerning
things theoiceical. DR. Parker is In dl-
rect contradsstinotion to that latest and
most modern eyesore. namely-the can
de-burning. misunderstanding. acolyte-
following Bible text-denying pulpit mar
lonette In these days OF Biblical dlspu-
tatlon-in these days when those who
wisely reject the new-fangled and fallible
hypothesis Of the shallow-pated higher
critic" are classed as mere tradltlonlsts
DIR. Parker deserves all credit for his
absolutely strict, correct and orthodox
attitude towards matters Theological. The
proposed ordination Of DIT. Briggs. that
natulent apostle Of higher criticism. %
as a priest OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church Is ait this moment agltatng GER
tain religious circles. Wen, We would be
willing to ordain such men as Dr. Briggs.
Most assuredly we would. But We would
reserve to ourselves the right to do 50
with the butt end OF a baseball bat. In
other words. we would transform all
such heretical fellows into men of many
stmpes II Is to be sincerely hoped that
the Very Rev. Alonzo Potter. the re.
spected Bishop Of the Umpire State and
upon whose shoulders the responsibility
Of the proposed priestly ordination OF
Or. Briggs rests. will see his way clear to
refuse to ordain DIR. Briggs. and. by 50
doing, not run counter to the almost
unanimous sentiments OF the Board Of
Bishops.
And now for DR.. Parkers latest re-
marks concerning Bngland's future
King. The reverend gentlemaR's expla-
nation. as quoted above. only involves
him an The more. That DR.. Parker did
refer personally or exclusively to the
Prince Of Wales goes without saying. A
careful perusal OF his recent ukerances
proves all that.
DR.. Parker oplnes that horse racing
has a bad reputation among Christian
people We don't doubt 1t. SO also hal
card-playing, theatre-going, gambling
and all other diversions inimical to G
| strict and unalterable observance o.
church-going We all know that gam
bling for instance when carried TO ex
/ cess. is an evil But the fault of gam
bling lies not 30 much in the principle a.
ln the fact Of those. who cannot affOrt
the luxury, indulging In the same. Now
to men. for instance. who comprised this
party at Tranby Croft. the scene OF &C
ton Of the famous baccarat scandal TIN
loss Of few hundred of dollars a
. sitting would DE q mere baga
tele. It may be argued and perhap
wisely. that the application OF all sucl
monies to works Of charity, instead OF q
the gaming table, would be a more laud
able course of procedure. We grant al
that. But who among us can safely as
sert that the men present at the bacca
rat game in question were not ais
charitab,y and benevolenfly dispose
men. Certain It is. that there are thos
, who like gambling not for the mere SAX
Of galn-the love or need Of money bein
no factor in their play-but from scr
! Of psychological excitement, an excite
ment which creates a not always mol
Z dinate temptation. And II was exactl
J by reason OF this fact, coupled with tn
p additional truth that the points Of tn
p baccarat game at Tranby Croft wer
D comparatively light that the crooked
. ness of Sir Gordon Cummlng-hlmself
man Of more or less means. but who too
/ a base advantage of the high scott
3 status of the company in which he foun
Y himself for the moment-becomes all III
y more inexcusable all the mere conteml
p tible. But. then. such instances of delhi
D crate, preconceived cheating, especial
n among men OF like high degree, ar
n fortunately, very rare-merely constitu
3 ing the necessary exception to prove n
: rule. However, DR.. Parker cannot be n
q arbiter OF the private or social dives
r men. The prince Of Wales is reports
as having said. when his attention W:
r called to DR.. Parkers attack upon him
p Let DR.. Parker live his life and ! vi
y live mine" That was equivalent to sa,
N ing-"Lot DR.. Parker perform the dut
s Of his life and 4 VIII discharge the fun
z lions of mine" The reply Of the Prin'
/ Of Wales is logical enough, in that n
y the Prince. Is willing to accept the ON
or responsibility Of his actions.
Dr. Parker asserts that ~ the Prin
~ Of Wales doesn't tread the virtuols pa
II NJ r,afl,.,- ..tl4or he onv,aa "A