Possess Thou The West And The South: The Frontiers of Reverend Joseph Homer Parker : A Son of the Eastern Townships

Type of resource
Author/collaborator
Title
Possess Thou The West And The South: The Frontiers of Reverend Joseph Homer Parker : A Son of the Eastern Townships
Abstract
The author explains that Reverend Joseph Homer Parker (1848-1915) was third in a family of Congregational ministers whose careers spanned the period of the home missionary movement. He notes that their saga began in 1801 when James Parker (1764–1826) began preaching in Underhill, Vermont, continued through the years of Ammi James’ (1802–1877) ministry as “Bishop of All the Woods and Forests” in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, and concluded with the 1915 death of Joseph Homer, the “Father of Congregationalism in Oklahoma.” Although this article focuses primarily of Joseph Homer, there is a section on Ammi James Parker and his mission, starting in 1829, in the Eastern Tiownships. Joseph Homer attended Danville schools, graduated from Middlebury College and Chicago Theological Seminary, and launched his career serving churches in Michigan. He spent a few years in Atlanta where the congregation he helped establish became embroiled in a controversy over the “Color-Line.” In 1885, he arrived in Wichita, Kansas, as the first “called” pastor of Plymouth Church. He founded Fairmount College, now Wichita State University. In 1889, Parker became General Missionary for the Home Missionary Society in Oklahoma Territory. He organized churches, started Kingfisher College, and also held the highest paying Territorial position, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Auditor.
Publication
Journal of Eastern Townships Studies / Revue d'études des Cantons-de-l'Est
Volume
No. 22
Pages
53-73
Date
Spring 2003
URL
Citation
Platt, George M. “Possess Thou The West And The South: The Frontiers of Reverend Joseph Homer Parker : A Son of the Eastern Townships.” Journal of Eastern Townships Studies / Revue d’études des Cantons-de-l’Est No. 22 (Spring 2003): 53–73. http://www.etrc.ca/journal/jets-archive/.
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