Birmingham Southern College - Southern Accent Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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people. Onlj ' those intimate with him could appreciate the tenderness of his heart. Unbrother- liness never found place in his bosom. Malice was never cherished there. His soul was all sun- shine. He beamed on those who frowned on him, and persistently blessed them who cursed him. It was mj ' privilege to be very close to Dr. Parker. He opened his heart to me. And I often observed that he would not speak ill of a brother even when he was reviled. He had im- plicit and childlike faith and trust in God. The North Alabama Conference has never had a more effective preacher than was Dr. Parker. Possibly there were some who were more exact in their scholarship; possibly, some who were pro founder students of theology; possibly, some who employed a greater refinement of dictation; but for clear, forceful, convincing presentation of Gospel truth, he had no superior among his contemporaries in the Conference. His was a great and generous soul and extraordi- nary was his genius in adapting the Gospel message to the needs of the people whom he served. From April i, i8S6 to April i, 1894 Dr Parker was the superintendant of the American Bible Society in Alabama and Florida. In every quarter of this great territory there are testi- monials of the wisdom and fidelity of his supervision. With conspicious energy and ability he maintained and built up the interest. He traveled much through his territory. He covered the field. The Bible interests have never been presented more strongly in Alabama and Florida. In 1895 Dr. Parker was made presiding elder of the Guntersville District and was making a model Elder when he was called to the Presidency of the Athens Female College. This College was never more widely advertised thati it was under his administration. And he attracted girls from far and near to its halls, and I think that this historic Institution has rarely, if ever, enjoyed a greater degree of prosperity than during the years of his incumbency. For, though he made large gifts personally to the College, his administration was a financial success. In June, 1898, Dr. Parker was elected the President of the North Alabama Conference College. It was indeed fitting that he should be the first President of this Institution. His hardihood pectiliarly qualified him for the delicate and dangerous position. Besides he had shown his interest in improvement of the facilities for the education of the 3 ' outh of Alabama. While the two Conferences in the State were jointly interested in the maintenance of the South- ern University, no man did more for this honored Institution. For it he talked and preached and

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Rev. Z. A. Parker, D. D, An Appreciation by Frank W. Brandon. ON THE 19th day of March, 1851, Zachariah A. Parker was born on his father ' s farm in Giles count} ' , near Pulaski, Tenn. When he was a boj ' he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and ever afterwards he was zealous in her work and jealous of all her interests. He was educated at the Wesleyan University, in Florence, Ala., and at the Emory and Henry College in Virginia. Leaving College, he was licensed to preach at Florence when he was only twenty years old. This was in the year 187 1. Dr. Hardie Brown was the pastor, and Rev. Joel W. Whitten was the presiding elder. In the fall of this same year the North Alabama Annual Conference was held in Florence, and, making application for membership, young Parker was received on trial as a traveling preacher. The sainted Bishop Pierce was the president of the body. Two 3-ears later this young preacher was ordained deacon in Tuscaloosa, and four years later he was ordained elder in Huntsville b) Bishop Doggett. Dr. Parker served the following charges as pastor; in 1S72 he was at Waterloo Jet,, in 1734-4 3-t Matison Sta., in 1876 at Madison and Triana, in 1877 at Madison Jet., in 1878 at Vallej ' Sta., in 1879-81 at Tuscumbia Sta., in 1882-4 t Gadsden Sta., in 1885 at South Birmingham, and in 1886 at Talladega Sta. As pastor Dr. Parker was faithful. He was tireless in his work. No sick or sorrowing were ever overlooked by him or neglected. He was never idle. As long as there was anything to be done he was up and doing. I dare say no pastor among us is more alert and active than was he. He had a big heart, and entered into deep sympathy with his 21

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plead. Out of his own means, he was a generous contributor to its needs, giving, I am told, at one time, as much as a thousand dollars. But, with the foresight of a prophet of God, he saw that Methodism would have to have an educational establishment in North Alabama if, indeed, our young men were to be taught in our schools, and, with the courage of an Apostle, he con- tended for his clean cut conviction until, in the Providence of God, the way was open to begin the woik that he saw was so much needed. Strong and persistent effort was made to induce the Alabama Conference to join with the North Alabama in building a College accessable to the great white population of the state. But the failure of such effort and the apparent hopelessness of united effort in our own Conference did not deter this great soul. Through the Alabama Christian Advocate, during the brief period that he had charge, through the Christian Educator, a paper which he established and maintained, he fearlessly and forcefully championed the cause of a Methodist College in North Alabama. In the debates on the Conference floor he was match- less. Strong lawyers who would speak for half a day were employed to fight his cause and sometimes a presiding bishop would give him a side-thrust, but his imperturbable good humor and the torrent of clear cut augument, that proceeded out of his soul, always won for him the day. He was a veritable giant among his foes. Of course this was an honest fight for what men thought was right. But the horizon of Dr. Parker was so wide and his vision was so clear that man} ' could not see as widely as he saw or as clearly, and they thought that he was insin- cere. But future glories that were as clear as noonday to this prophetic soul ten years ago are just beginning to be seen by some in dim outline. One day the Methodists of Alabama will build to the memory of Dr. Z. A. Parker a monument. And it will be placed on the hill at Owenton in the shadow of the College that he loved, for which he fought and died. For he and his associ- ates have secured the only possible terms for future harmony and prosperity of the educational interest of the Methodism af Alabama. I am glad that he ' as the first President of this College, and that he lived to see a fair begining of the materialization of his fairer dreams. Dr. Parker continued the President of this College until the failure of his health. He died at his home on the South Highlands, in Birmingham, Ala., February i8, 1904. 23