The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-21
THE LATE PROFESSOR PARK.

few days ago, at the ripe age of 81, !
Prof. Edwards a. Park, once the storm
center OF theological controversies that
ragged around Andover Seminary. passed
to his rest. The youngest of his pupils,
as The Outlook observes. must be now
forty-fiye years of age, and to younger
men he is little but name. But among
the present leaders of religious thought,
one can hardly find name that equals
his in the peculiar combination of the
impressive preacher and the subtle lee
turer" The following incident is told,
which, whether true or not, illustrates
the prominence which tine professor held
"A few years ago in the theological field:
lin Germany he purposely got into con-
Nersation, ncognito, with Strauss, the
author of the Life of Jesus and asked
him some simple question. This he fol-
lowed with others equally simple, work
ing round, in the Socratic style, to his
real objective. where Strauss made an
answer in plain conflict with what he
had said before. Who are you? said
Strauss: 4 know who you are. You are
either the devil or you are Professor
Park"
The Outlook says editorially of him:
"Ee was the last and among the most
eminent in that line of theologians, head
ed by Jonathan Edwards, of Northamp-
I ton, who Tor StTONe LHeH
/ improvements of Calyinism to relieve it
/ of objections apparent in the dawn Of the
more ethical and humanistic spirit of our
| times He and his some what elder con-
/ TEMPORARY DR.. Nathaniel W. Taylor, who
was professor of theology at Yale from
I 1872 till his death in 1855. were for sixty
years the chief representatives OF the i'm
proved or new Caivinism that was called
the New England Theology, and outside
nf churches
known as New School, Presbyterianism-
The bleaching effect of their work, re-
sulting in varieties which Professor Park
himself characterized as 'Calvinistic, Cal
vinistical Calvinisticalish,' was feared
and detested by those to whom pure Cal
vinism and pure Christianity were synon-
ymous terms. DIR. Parks progressive or
thodoxy was regarded as a lapse toward
Unitarianism. During the middle third
of this century the theological presses at
New Haven and Andover on one eide,
and Princeton on the other side, teemed
with polemic essays and reviews.
I'm the new series of theological con-
troversies which began about the time OF
his retirement in 1881, Professor Park has
, been for the most part spectator, but q
] spectator known to be warmly interested
: in holding fast to the theological limits
! which he himself had reached. The pro
!, gressive orthodoxy of the younger pro-
I lessons at AnQONeT IOunu 10 more ldNO'
|. with him than Princeton had shown for
ty years before TO his own. The denun.
/, citation then visited on him for semi
Unitarianism' was now atoned for by thu
, epithet the Nestor of Orthodoxy.
OF the professor as preacher, the edi
. tor of The Independent has this to say:
Professor Park was as much of rhet
. orician as DIR. Storrs. He had the natur'
. OF the poet and OF the orator, as well a
! of the logician. In these respects n
!, more nearly resembled Jonathan Edward
. than any of the successors of that grea
: theologian: and 1t is not strange that hi
!, admiration for President Edwards was 3
! profound, and that he planned, but neve
!. published, full exposition of Edwards
!. life and theoiogy. Professor Park wa
. a most persuasive preacher. Men Istene
= spellbound to his sermons of an hou
long. Some of them, the Peter sermon
a the Judas sermon became famous. An
a his delivery was sweet or powerful
- the thought might require. When n
=, preached a sermon in criticism of Episcc
palian lturgicism before the Massacnt
- sets Congregational Association, OH
!, tinguished clergyman found fault wit
- its severity. But replied Professt
Park to him, L read 1t over to you befor'
- hand. and you approved it Yes replie
- the clergyman, but when you preache
- II you put the devil into 1t.
-