PARKER, George, Rev. (1812-1895)

PARKER, BEET, PLUMB

Posted By: L Logue (email)
Date: 3/22/2013 at 18:35:36

The Malvern Leader, Thursday, 31 January 1895

Died - of heart failure, at the residence of his son, John Parker, near Silver City, Mills County, Ia, George Parker, on Jan 22 1895, in the 83rd year of his age.

Deceased was born in Barrowby, Lincolnshire, England, on the 24th day of December, 1812. His father was a working man, poor, but honest, upright, respectable and respected. George was one of a family of eleven and it was necessary for him to go to work to help supply the family wardrobe and larder as soon as he was able to earn even a little; hence his educational advantages were very limited. But being a great reader, a keen observer and a close reasoner, he became an intelligent, well informed man. He was married in March, 1833, to Miss Elizabeth Beet, who died suddenly of heart failure in December 1866. The fruit of this marriage was eleven children, four of whom survive, viz: John, James, Henry and Joseph Parker, well known citizens of Iowa. All his living children having come to the United States, and desiring to spend the last years of his life among them, he left his native land and came to this country in the fall of 188l. He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the same fall was married to Mrs. Eliza Parker, who survives, being in her 77th year. He was converted in his 22d year, and united with the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Sometime after his conversion he felt it to be his imperative duty to preach the Gospel of Jesus to his fellow men, and try to win some of them to a better life. He was duly authorized to preach by the church to which he belonged and became a very acceptable worker in the Lord's vineyard. He continued in the ministry until he died, a period of more than fifty-seven years. Forty-four of the fifty seven were spent in England. About four of the forty were devoted to the home missionary work, all his time being given to the ministry, supplying a large circuit, preaching six or seven times a week, and going from appointment to appointment on foot. For this he received a money compensation of $5 per week. During the forty years he did his work for God and the church without money compensation, and made a living for his family by day work as a farm laborer, receiving from fifty to sixty cents per day for his work. Thus for a period of forty years with but slight variations, he worked six days in the week, and on the Sabbath walked from ten to twenty miles and preached twice; often not retiring until midnight and up and at work the next morning by six o'clock. Since he came to Iowa he has not been compelled to work for a living. He had some means of his own, and what more was needed was generously and lovingly supplied by their children. As a man he was truthful, industrious and honest; as a Christian, he was true to God and duty and had the courage of his convictions. As preacher he was true to God and safe, spiritual, methodical, logical, fervid and eloquent. His ability and usefulness as a preacher was widely known and highly appreciated being attested by the fact that he was frequently called to distant towns to preach on special occasions. His long, laborious and useful life ended in a quite peaceful Christial death. Being asked on his death bed if he felt Christ as a present Savior he replied, "Yes that's all settled." At another time he repeated these verses:

'O Love thou Bottomless Abyess
My sins are swallowed up in thee;
Cover'd is my unrighteousness,
Nor spot of guilt remains on me
while Jesus blood through earth and skies
'Mercy, free boundless mercy cries!'
'O Love Divine, how sweet thou art!
When shall I find my willing heart
All taken up by thee?
I thirst, I faint, I die to prove
The greatness of Redeeming Love
The love of Christ to me!'

A few hours before his death I said to him, 'I believe that Jesus is a Saviour, that he is my Saviour and your Saviour.' His son John said 'you believe it too, don't you father?' He answered 'yes, and I want you all to believe it.' When very near the end and too weak to speak loud enough for me to hear, I put my lips close to his ear and said 'do you feel Christ as a present and precious Saviour' he answered by an affirmative motion of the head. When the end came at twenty minutes past ten o'clock on the night of 22d, he died without a struggle, as quietly as the babe goes to sleep at its mother's breast.

'Rejoice for a brother deceased
Our loss is his infinite gain;
A Soul out of prison released
and freed from its bodily chain:
with songs let us follow his flight,
and mount with his spirit above,
Escaped to the mansions of light,
and lodged in the Eden of Love.'

The funeral services held Jan 24 at Wesley Chapel conducted by Rev. C.H. Preston, Hastings, assisted by Rev. C. Brown, Silver City, were impressive and instructive.

-- Francis Plumb