Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Parker, Theodore

PARKER, THEODORE, an American theologian; born in Lexington, Mass., in 1810. He entered Harvard College in 1830, continuing, however, for a time to work on his father's farm; afterward teaching school at Boston. In 1834 he entered the Theological School. He was chosen, in 1837, minister of a Unitarian congregation at West Roxbury. He had there leisure for study, and read extensively, enjoying the society of Dr. Channing. His views of Christianity had diverged considerably from the standard of his sect, and great excitement was occasioned by his sermon “On the Transient and Permanent in Christianity,” preached in 1841. Wearied with the bitterness and opposition of his adversaries, he visited Europe in 1843. The prejudice against him led to his quitting West Roxbury, and settling at Boston in 1846, as minister of the Twenty-eighth Congregational Society. In the following year he became joint-editor with Emerson and Cabot of the “Massachusetts Quarterly Review.” He distinguished himself as the fearless opponent of the Fugitive Slave Law and sheltered slaves in his own house. He was very active as a public lecturer on various political and social topics, and was the correspondent of many eminent men. Early in 1859 he was compelled to relinquish his duties and seek health in France and Italy. His earliest published work was the “Discourse of Matters Pertaining to Religion” (1847). It has been widely read in Europe as well as in America, and is one of the most important contributions to religious philosophy. Among his other works are: “Critical and Miscellaneous Writings”; “Theism, Atheism, and the Popular Theology”; “Discourses of Politics”; “Experiences as a Minister,” etc. He died in Florence in 1860.

THEODORE PARKER