Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Parker, Joel (clergyman)

PARKER, Joel, clergyman, b. in Bethel, Vt., 27 Aug., 1799; d. in New York city, 2 May, 1873. He was graduated at Hamilton in 1824, studied at Auburn theological seminary, and in 1826 was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian church in Rochester, N. Y. He organized the Dey street church in New York city in 1830, was pastor in New Orleans in 1832-'7, and, returning to New York, officiated at the Broadway tabernacle. He became president of Union theological seminary and professor of sacred rhetoric there in 1840, served two years and was subsequently pastor in Philadelphia, and in 1854-'63 of the Bleecker street Presbyterian church, New York city. His last pastorate was in Newark, N. J. Princeton gave him the degree of D. D. in 1839. Dr. Parker was a frequent contributor to the religious press, at one time was associate editor of the “Presbyterian Quarterly Review,” and published “Lectures on Unitarianism” (New York, 1829); “Morals for a Young Student” (1832); “Invitations to True Happiness” (1843); “Reasonings of a Pastor” (1849); “Notes on Twelve Psalms” (1849); “Sermons” (1852); and “Pastor's Initiatory Catechism” (1855). He also edited the “Sermons of Rev. John W. Adams,” with a memoir (1851).