The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1901-08-21

houses YORK. Durham Lincoln, Peterborough, and
Ely are the stopping places of the tourist to-day, be-
cause they cathedral towns AT classic Cam
bridge the Chapel of Kings College is the pride of
the university. Religion is mans chief concern and
in the rearing of temples to Gods praise man has
confessed that he is divine and Jehovah deserves his
hest.
My third Sabbath spent in London. Had my
visit been made to London years ago. my steps on
Sabbath morning would have been turned toward the
Metropolitan Tabernacle. In Surgeons death the
metropolis has lost charm, but we should never
forget the truth expressed in that line carved the
tablet to the memory of the Wesleys in Westminster
Abbey. "GOd bwies his qoorkman, bit carries on his
7oork." Sturgeon is gone, but Joseph Parker is in
the City Temple still If you ask, after Spurgeon
whom?" My answer is, Parker"
London is great city, measured by any standard.
In population it is first among cities in wealth it has
equal, and besides this it is the capital city the
eye and brain, the seeing and thinking center of the
greatest of kingdoms and empires in the world at
the present time. Man made the town." Cowper
says and men have made this great city on the
Thames, and the creature is always less than the
creator The greatest thing in London is its greatest
man Her greater than her parks, her
palaces courts, abbeys monuments, and cathedrals.
Among these men some great by of the
Offices they fill, and this reason alone Some are
great because of their office and personal endow-
ments combined like Roseberry and the Prime Min
lister, while others, in their individual qualities with
out the accidents of Office, great Joseph Parker
who closed thirtytwo years of work in the City Tenn
pie, one of the most trying positions in the city fill
belongs to the latter class. and, in my Judgment be
ing Londons greatest man, is greater than anything
else in London Not to have heard him is to have
made an incomplete visit to the metropolis
The Temple, it is called, is situated on Hoburn
viaduct and has seating capacity of $500 but when
crowded, with chairs in the aises, as it was on the
evening of the 18th of July 5000 be seated 1t is
a plain church, with gallery sweeping around three
sides. The choir is behind and elevated several feet
above the pulpit Outside of the desk and on lower
platform is a railing of brass, leaving three feet of
space between the desk and this outer railing AS
the choir and began the anthem, Dr. Parker
entered his pulpit through door Immediately in the
of the chair he occupied. The chorus choir is
composed of twenty voices and is reinforced by sew
eral volins and cornet DR. Parker is now seventy
two years of age but his bow abides in strength He
appears to be in perfect health and his gigantic ply
sque is in keeping with the mans colossal mind AS
he entered the pulpit there was that in his appear
ance which brought to my mind features of John c.
Calhoun, though his expression lacks the sernness of
Calhoun's face. His voice, deep in tone has won
dcrful range, its whispers being easily heard by the
entire assembly The preacher did not rise till the
first hymn sung. when he read short scripture
lesson. The prayers of this man are as remarkable
as his discourses, and in the Temple Monthly are pub
shed regularly holy stiffness fell on that assem-
bly, the preachers voice was heard in the prayer
of the morning, simple, comprehensive beautiful and
full of JUNCTION. He of prayer, and God gives
him power. Luke tx. 81 the text: "And when
they were fully awake Or W they saw his glory
Some people he said, see little nothing because
they asleep To put it charitably, they are
but half awake" These sort OF people go out to see;
they see nothing say they nothing and worst of
all, come back and say there nothing to
Christianity challenges the best that is in man; it is