St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-07-17
Memorial Service to Bishop E. w.
Parker.
Presiding Elder Sherburne's Address
The Tribute of n Fellow MisSiOuary.

pay tribute to one of St. Johnsbury'
most distinguished sons, Rev. Edwin w
Parker, D. D., missionary bishop of th'
Methodist Episcopal church for Southern
Asia, who died at Maine Tai India, June
4. 1t was particularly fitting that &
memorial service should be held in St
Johusbury for it was Bishop Parker's
home, and as one of the speakers ex
pressed it, there was no place in the
world so dear to the heart of this great
and good man, excepting of course, his
beloved India. a special printed pro.
gram was issued. The service began
with an organ prelude by Miss Marjorie
Batchelder, and the male quartette of the
church rendered the 23rd psalm. Rev.
A. c. Hussey of the First Baptist church
led in the responsive reading of the Goth
psalm. Prayer was offered by Rev. E.
M. Chapman Of the North church. Rev.
G. W. Hunt, pastor OF Grace church, read
memoir of Bishop Parker in which he
traced the chief events of his life from his
school days and the brief period when he
was member Of the Vermont conference
and pastor of the church in Lunenburg,
and through the more than 40 years of
distinguished work in India.
The memorial addresses were delivered
by Rev. Sylvester Donaldson of St.
Johnsbury Center, Rev. DR.. Edward T.
Fairbanks OF the South church and Pre-.
siding Elder J.. 0. Sherburne. Mr.. DON
aldson said that it was a pleasure for
him to be present as representing the
church with which Bishop Parker was
first connected and through which he
was led to become a minister of the |
cross. He paid tribute to the mission.
ary's eat.heartedness and related in
cidents that occurred during his visits to
his native land.
DR.. Fairbanks spoke ofBishop Parker's
connection with St. Johnsbury and of
ths high place he occupied among the
sons of the town who have gone out
into various fields of activity.
Rev. ]. 0. Sherburne's address was
notable tribute to the noble missionary
from brother minister who knew him
well, and also knows we'll the history of
his great work in India. We give his
address in full.
When a steady star has sunken from
our sight, and its brilliancy no longer
cheers and charts us, it is only natural
and perhaps wise to consider what gave
our star its lustre, how came it to be
reckoned as one of our sure guides. When
a liie'giving river has run dry, and even
the trees that line its banks wither and
grow sere we are prompted to ask
whence had our stream its former full.
ness, from what forest fountains was it
ted, why such perennial profit from its
flow?
When exquisite music has ceased and
Its thrill or its calm are vanishing, we
are moved to make inquiry as to why
It's strains so charmed us, and what in
the construction OF its chords so moved
our hearts.
The grand luminary of our work in
India has gone below our horizon. The
spiritual Nile of North India ceased it's
flow, the cathedral harmonies of pure,
majestic lie have tainted from our ears.
BISHOP Parker lives on earth no longer.
May it not be6t us, as his friends. and
IN some sense his associates, to inquire
tor little this quiet Sabbath afternoon
into the secret of his greatness, the
sources OF his power. Among the many
excellences Of his character | shall at
this time only call attention to three
prominent traits that seem to rise like
symmetrical SUBMITS before the ewes Of
all beholders. This is by no means saw
ing that other characteristics were not
striking, or that these peaks were posi-
lively higher than any others, but rather
that they stand out with such nromi
hence as to catch and hold the gaze of
all who look that way.
First, Bishop Parker was a man If
single purpose and of one work. From
the time when, after no slight struggle,
ne gave up his own plan OF teachers
career and decided to give himself to the
ministry and to mission work in India
just one purpose dominated all his DOW. |
ers.
On his charge in Lunenburg he read the
call tor workers in that distant field lust
opening. In a winters storm he drove
with his young wife to this town to con-
suit his presiding elder, who still lives
within our borders. So disguised with
wraps and snowy mantle were the cou-
pie that their elder did not recognize
them as they drove to his door. The
cause OF their coming was soon ex-
pialned. Would the elder commend them
TO the missionary society of the Metho.
dist church for work in Indian There
was hesitation. The matter was can.
Vassed' They prayed together for coun.
sci from heaven. The elder craved a few
Gays to deliberate. He was doubtful as
to their qualifications, but the Young
couple never wavered. They had already
hxed their plans and were determined as
to the future, if the way should open,
From that time on to the day of death
there was no swerving in purpose on
the part OF Bishop Parker or bis wife,
One straight course he walked. One
work consumed all his energies and
occupied all his time. With him there
was no exploiting in mission work,
NO three years OF trial service. His life
time and his life were both swallowed nm
IN the great work to which be had abso.
iutely given all. He was not in India as
anaturalist, to study her fauna and flora.
ana make interesting collections, though
tqese things did not escape his notice.