PARK
686
PARKER
the position of ihe several religious corporations towards the state is rciiiilmed according to the constitution and law ol' the land ; the peculiar motive idea is that every one ol' the generally recognised religious communities shall enjoy equal rights and ecjual protection in the state ; and in this aspect parity is only a part of uni- versal freedom in religious matters. Parity asks no more than that the state deal equally with every re- ligious denomination, but by no means that it permit every one to draw tlie full ))ractical consequences, irre- spective of the communal life of the state. Thus, for instance, the reservation of the "placet" (q. v.) was not incompatible with (larity.
Park, Thomas, F.S.A., was born in 1759. He was brought up as an engraver, but gave his attention to literary pursuits. He was the author of one hymn that has found its way into various collections — "Aly soid, praise the Lord ; speak good of his name." He was employed in the editorship of various books, includ- ing the Works of J. Hunniiond (1«05), the Works of John Dnjdcn (18U(J), the Works ofT. Wharton; a work called Nugce Andquce, by Sir J. Harrington; and the Works of the British Poets, in 42 small volumes (1808). The Ilarleian Miscellany was published under his di- rection in the same year. He died in 1834. (S. S.)
Parker, Alexander, a noted Quaker preacher, one of the most intimate friends and frequent compan- ions of George Fox in his Gospel labors, was born about 1G28. Like most of his brethren in the ministry, he suffered much for his religious testimony, and was dili- gently engaged in the Lord's service. Tliere is little to be found on record concerning this saintly man. The latter part of his life he spent in London, where he died in peace with man and God, Jan. 8, 1G89. See Janney, History of the Friends, ii, 433, 434.
Parker, Alvin H., a Presbyterian minister, was born in Castleton. Yt., in 1795. He graduated at Mid- dlebury College, Vt.; studied divinity in the theological seminary of Princeton, N. J., and was licensed and or- dained by the Philadelphia Presbytery in 1825. His hrst call was to the Church at Cold Spring, Cape May County, N. J.; and he afterwards preached at Salem, N. J., and Middletown and Kidley churches in Dela- ware County, Pa. He was without charge some time previous to his death, which occurred July (>, 18(J4. Mr. Parker was a good preacher and an excellent pastor. See Wilson, Presb. IJist. A Imanac, 18G0, p. 140. (J. L. S.) Parker, Benjamin Clark Cutler, a clergy- man of the Protestant Episcopal Church, son of bishop Samuel Parker of New England, was born at Boston, June G, 179G, and was educated at ILirvard University, class of 1822. He determined to enter the sacred min- istry ; and, after pursuing his studies very carefully and assiduously, he was ordained priest May 17, 1826. He then preached in various places, and finally took charge of the " Floating Chapel for Seamen" in New York City, where he labored fifteen years with ability and fidelity. He died at New York Jan. 28, 1859.
Parker, John, a noted minister of the Church of the New Jerusalem, was born in Harboume, England. in 1823, and early joined the Wesleyans. He was but moderately educated, and for many years followed the trade of brass-fniishing. In 1855 he was led to change his Church relations through the instrumentality of the Rev. Dr. Piailev, of London. Mr. Parker now became a most ardent a<lvocate of Swedeuborgian doctrines, and engaged in discussions both publicly and privately. In 18G3 he removed to Canada, and settled in Toronto. In 18G8 he finally entered the ministry. He had pre- viously addressed large audiences on the New Jerusa- lem doctrines in the Toronto Park on Sunday after- noons, and became mainly instrumental in gather- ing the Toronto New Church Society. After his ordination he was most assiduous in his labors as the minister of the Toronto Society, making also many missionarv tours into country places in Ontario and to
the backwoods of Michigan, so that, besides those in Toronto who acknowledge Mr. Parker as the instru- ment of their introduction into the New Church, many isolated societies througjiout Ontario and the \Yest for the same reason remember him. In 1871 he severed his connection as pastor with the Toronto Society, and was engaged in missionary work for the General Asso- ciation of the New Church in Canada, when, admon- ished by serious symptoms of disease, he returned to Toronto for medical advice, but never made any prom- ising rally. He died Aug. 25, 1872. Mr. Parker en- joyed the confidence and esteem of his own Church people to a remarkable degree. As a speaker his man- ner was earnest and his voice pleasing; his reasoning powers having been of a high order, he sought truth — natural, scientific, and spiritual — very earnestly, and he had the facidty of expressing his convictions to others in simple language. He was a genial, kind-hearted man, with strong antipathies, to which lie did not hes- itate to give expression. See The New Jerusalem Mes- senger, New York, Oct. 2, 1872. (J. H.W.)