St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-07-17

| Bishop Thoburn and other friends anC
! fellow-laborers OF our lamented leader
have no doubt given the church full and
| loving accounts of him whom the church
so honored and loved, and who served
her so faithfully and successfully
in India during the past forty
two years. Yet we, who have
been his fellow workers here and who
have been at his bedside during the long
struggle which ended so peacefully yes
terday, have the mournful yet pleasant
privilege of adding our testimony to the
worth of this good mans life and of ex.
pressing our sorrow at his removal.
Bishop Ninde died suddenly and alone
in the silent night. Bishop Parker, after
a severe illness which lasted more than
seven months, died on a bright after
noon, surrounded by a score or more OF
missionaries, men and women, some of
whom had faithfully, day and night,
assisted Mrs. Parker in loving and skill.
full care Of her husband, which made it
possible for him to make such a prolong-
ed and heroic struggle for his life. Months
before the end came those who were in
constant attendance realized that this
would be a sickness unto death; but
neither the Bishop nor Mrs. Parker
gave up hope of his recovery until few
days before the end came. His mind
was clear during all his sickness; within
two or three days of his departure he
was in frequent consultation with the
missionaries concerning our work, and
within an hour or two of his death,
though unable to speak, he gave inteli.
gent attention to all that was passing
about him. His end was peaceful and
apparently painless.
There are always a number of mission
aries in Maine Tai in the month of Tune.
1t is the hottest month of the year, and
is vacation time for most of the schools
The finance committees of the North
India Conference had arranged to have
their mid-year meeting on the 5th of
June in Maine Tai; and thus it transpired
that large number of the missionaries
Of the North India Conference, with their
wives and the missionaries of w. F. M.
s., were at Spring Grove Cottage when
Bishop Parker breathed his last. Bishop
Warne, just returned from Manila, reach
I'd Maine Tai some twenty hours after his
death, but was in time to
cad the funeral service, at which time,
with one single exception, all the families
Of the missionaries Of the North India
Conference and many native missionaries
were present. Mourntul representations
are sometimes made of missionaries
dying alone as Livingstone did in foreign
lands. Bishop Parker's translation was
not under such circumstances. If he had
died at his fathers home in St. Johns
bury, do not think his bed would have
been surrounded by such company of
brothers and sisters as those who saw
aim breathe his last yesterday after
noon.
1t is not easy for those unacquainted
with the peculiar position which Edwin
". Parker filled for the past twenty-five
Or thirty years in North India to realize
he character of the bereavement that
1as come to us. Among the mission
aties, and in still greater degree among
The hundreds of native ministers in the
.wo northern Conferences, the sense of
PERSONAL loss is very great. my father,
he chariot of Israel and the horsemen
hereof" is in the hearts of thousands.
There are two kinds of men in the world
who help, and those who do not.
3. w. Parker was man who helped; a
nan to whom those about him natural
y looked for hep. 1t is no exaggeration
o say that hundreds of native ministers
md other native Christians will mourn
lis removal because his helping hand did
10 much to make them what they are.
he was bishop for one year only; and
Turing most OF that year he was fighting
or his life and could do but little work.
But he had been doing bishops work
ong years before the General Conference
made him one; and there is no doubt
whatever that the disease which at last
emoved him from among us was direct
y caused by the unusually heavy work
lie carried during the twelve months
preceding his election to the episcopacy.
lie was an enthroned episcopos in the
earts and minds of hundreds of native
local preachers, and men of
hat sort. Methodism is not supposed
o have popes or cardinals; but certain
y for many years past DR.. Parker's voice
n Conference and in committee work
las been eX cathedra for the great major
ty of missionaries and ministers here.
He was providential man for India
man who built up interests; man of
trong hand and very tender heart
Among the Sikhs and Chamars of
2ohikhand he perceived the wonderful
openings of forty years, and
he wise and resolute manner in which
lie did his work among them is abund-
unity declared on the statistical pages of
indian Methodism.
Andin all ofthis strong mans work and
n all his success, it was we'll known that
ne accomplished what be did because in
everything he was assisted by the unique
wisdom and strength of her who, after
happy married life of nearly halt a cen.
fury, now sits and weeps alone. He is
where he has no need of our recognition,
or sympathy, or prayers. She is with
us, and do not think that a bereaved
wife has ever inherited richer legacy OF
sympathy and confidence than is given
and will be given by the church in India
and America to the widow of Bishop E.
w. Parker.