with calm and Christian resignation better paid places
when they had a fair opportunity of getting them.
We are not going to say very much about Cannon Parr,
and let nobody suppose that we shall make an effort
to tear a passion to tatters regarding any of his
peculiarities. Canon Parr is an easy-going, genial,
educated man kindly disposed towards good living, not
blessed with over much money, fond of wearing a billycock,
and strongly in love with a cloak. He has seen
much of the world, is shrewd, has a long head, has
both studied and travelled for his learning, and is
the smartest man Preston Protestants could have to
defend their cause. But he has a certain amount
of narrowness in his mental vision, and, like the
bulk of parsons, can see his own way best. He
has a strong temper within him, and he can redden
up beautifully all over when his equanimity is disturbed.
If you tread upon his ecclesiastical bunions he will
give you either a dark mooner or an eye opener—we
use these classical terms in a figurative sense.
He will keep quiet so long as you do; but if you make
an antagonistic move be will punish you if possible.
He can wield a clever pen; his style is cogent, scholarly,
and, unless overburdened with temper, dignified.
He can fling the shafts of satire or distil the balm
of pathos; can be bitter, saucy, and aggravating;
can say a hard thing in a cutting style; and if he
does not go to the bone it’s no fault of his.
He can also tone down his language to a point of elegance
and tenderness; can express a good thing excellently,
and utter a fine sentiment well. His speaking
is modelled after a good style; but it is inferior
to his writing. In the pulpit he expresses himself
easily, often fervently, never rantingly. The
pulpit of the Parish Church will stand for ever before
he upsets it, and he will never approach that altitude
of polemical phrenitis which will induce him to smash
any part of it. His pulpit language is invariably
well chosen; some of his subjects may be rather commonplace
or inappropriate, but the words thrown into their
exposition are up to the mark. He seldom falters;
he has never above one, “and now, finally, brethren,”
in his concluding remarks; he invariably gives over
when he has done—a plan which John Wesley
once said many parsons neglected to observe; and his
congregation, whether they have been awake or fast
asleep, generally go away satisfied. Canon Parr
has been at our Parish Church nine and twenty years,
and although we don’t subscribe to his ecclesiastical
creed, we believe he has done good in his time.
He is largely respected; he would have been more respected
if he had been less exacting towards Dissenters, and
less violent in his hatred of Catholics. Neither
his Church-rate nor Easter Due escapade improved his
position; and some of his fierce anti-Popery denunciations
did not increase his circle of friends. But these
things have gone by, and let them be forgotten.
In private life Canon Parr is essentially social: