Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1902 — DR. JOSEPH PARKER DEAD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DR. JOSEPH PARKER DEAD.

Famous English Preacher Expires After a Long Illness. Dr. Joseph Parker, for more than thirty years the preacher in charge of the City temple in London, and one of

the most widely known ministers in the world, died Friday afternoon. Dr. Parker had been seriously ill for some time, but recovered sufficiently a few weeks ago to resume his work in the pulpit. He suffered a relapse recently, from which he failed to rally. Dr. Parker was 72 years old. He

was born at Hexham-on-Tyne, April 9, 1830, of humble parents, who belonged to the working class. He became famous on account of his peculiar and dramatic style of preaching, and when he entered upon his work in London immense crowds flocked to hear him. Poultney chapel became too small to accommodate the throngs who sought to hear Dr. Parker, and the City temple, with a seating capacity of 2,500, was built on Holborn viaduct. There for more than thirty years Dr. Parker preached Sunday mornings and evenings and Thursday noons. The crowds at the temple were so great that if one desired to be sure of a seat he had to buy it in advance for sixpence. Dr. Parker’s style of preaching was much criticised, but this served to increase his fame and draw greater crowds to the temple. Three years ago he attracted much attention to himself by his public disapproval of the sporting proclivities of the Prince of Wales, now King of England. Dr. Parker declared that the elevation of Edward would endanger the throne of Great Britain. When Henry Ward Beecher died Dr. Parker was the choice of Plymouth Church for the pastorate that afterward fell to Dr. Lyman Abbott, but he declined.

[image] Dr. Parker

DR. PARKER.