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mmmmimmmtmtmmmimtiimmngmrwlfmtmmmtm'^^m!rmm'^'r''F'^ (T?|iT«T - f/gmstmamimmmmmwua i mffiiiiiifcfumaiU-iiiEMMAijii (Cornell Ittioeraitg ffiibrarg Strata, ^tw ^ntk Tim fii.icT nF. G-8rve.tt Bi Ureal Ustitute. \-y\ (2.X.C-kaWCj£. Cornell University Library BX8495.T48 T48 Life of Edward Thomson, D.D. LL. D. : I 3 1924 029 472 176 olln Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029472176 t_ <=^>->t,-4_-«:^-i- ^ LIFE EDWARD THOMSON,D.D.,LL.D., LtiU n Mslof of tit ptttoliist 3£{i««;al (Ptuut. BY HIS SOIM REV. EDWARD THOMSON, M. A. OINCINNA.TI: CRANSTON & STO^?VE. NE-W VORK: PHILLIPS & HUNT. 1885. 6 Copyright by CRANSTON & STO-WB, 188S. : PREKACH. FOR over twelve years I waited for some com- petent person to write the life of my beloved father. Bishop Gilbert Haven, one of his greatest admirers, intended to do it, but his unexpected and premature death prevented the consummation. My step-mother undertook the work, but had gathered together only a few materials when the voice of the Master called her to heavenly employments. Two years ago some friends suggested the pro- priety of my embalming the memory of Bishop Thomson. I acknowledged that the work ought to be done, yet I deemed myself incompetent for such an undertaking. All who consider the subject will see that it is a very delicate matter for a son to write " the life " of his father, even though he may be pos- sessed of more facts worthy of record than any other living person; and after undertaking this work, I shrank from it time and again. What my heart wanted to utter I could not say, fearing it would be regarded as too eulogistic. To prevent the raising of such an objection to the book, I have aimed to do three things First. To avoid extravagant panegyric, to hold my pen from rhetorical display, and to make a sim- ple, brief, and clear statement of facts. 3 4 PREFACE. Secondly. I have made my estimates of Bishop Thomson's excellencies after having learned what others thought of him, and have advanced no opinion which has not been sanctioned by good authority, and in many instances I have quoted the language of those most competent to judge. Thirdly. Instead of reporting my own belief only as to my father's sentiments on various questions, I have in most instances given his own words, as found in his published and unissued works. I ought perhaps to have omitted from the letters which appear in this volume all reference to myself, but a friend, in whose judgment I have confidence, insisted that they should not be mutilated, since they exhibited so beautifully the father's love for his child. Therefore, I have omitted only the opening or closing of the letters to avoid too much repetition, and occa- sionally have left out a statement of purely personal character, which could be of no possible interest to the public. I take pleasure in acknowledging my obligations to various persons who have assisted me in collecting materials for this work, whose names are mentioned in connection with the favors extended; but I must especially mention the great kindness of my old college mate and my father's former pupil, in preparing the able chapter with which we close the volume. E. T. M. E. College of Nebraska, 1 York, Neb., March, 1885. / — CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. BOYHOOD. Birth—Brothers and Sisters—The English Home of the Thomson Family—Scenery about Portsmouth—An Historic City—Benjamin Thomson loses his Fortune and moves his Family to France, and thence to America—Settles in Wooster, Ohio—Disadvantages to the Early Settlers at that Time—En- gages in the Drug Business—School Advantages—Edward Thomson becomes the First in his Class—Love of Books- Merry Rambles with his School-mates Page 13. CHAPTER II. EABLY MANHOOD. A Medical Student—A Physician—A Skeptic—Hears Bige- low preach at Camp-meeting—Decomes deeply convicted Determines to be a Christian—Puts it oflf more than Two Years Conversion—Joins the Methodists—His Parents dislike his Choice—Called to Preach—Becomes an Exhorter—Baptized by Immersion—H. O. Sheldon his Spiritual Father . Page 20. CHAPTER III. FIRST CIRCUIT. Licensed to Preach—Preaches his First Sermon—The Effect of it—Decides to give up the Practice of Medicine—Opposed in this Determination by his Father—Starts on Horseback to the Seat of the Ohio Conference—Picture of him at that time—Ad- mitted on Trial—His Class-mates—Appointed Junior Preacher on Norwalk Circuit—Lights and Shadows of the First Day's Itinerancy—The Circuit—Prophecy of Rev. William Gurley Hard Work and Small Salary—His Pulpit Preparations—Re- flection—Abstraction—Economy of Time—The Books which he read Page 27. 5 —— 6 CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. FIRST YEARS IN THE MINISTRY. Stationed at Sandusky—At Cincinnati—Attends the " Cin- cinnati Medical College," and graduates M. D.—Always in- terested in Medical Science—His Presiding Elder—Popularity of Thomson—His Father dies—And he goes to Wooster for a Year—Stationed at Detroit—He lays aside his Peculiar Suit — His Oratory — Revivals—He marries Maria Louisa Bartley, of Ohio—The Lady described—Her Father and Brother—The Bride a Great Help to her Husband in his Early Ministry Page 36. CHAPTER V. AT NORWALK SEMINARY. Thomson begins his Educational Work—Is Himself a Model Student—Especially fond of Belles-Lettres, Psychology, and History—History of Norwalk Seminary—Jonathan E. Chap- lin—Burning of the Old Building—Description of the New One Re-opening of the School—Opening of the Ladies' Department Prosperity of the Seminary—Assistants employed—Alexander Nelson resigns at Norwalk—Holden Dwight—Tuition Fees at this Time—Societies Organized—^Thomson becomes the first Secretary of the North Ohio Conference— Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity Chartered—Thomson elected President—But still re- mains at Norwalk—Financial Condition of the Seminary—Leads the Delegation from his Conference to the General Conference of 1844— His Attachment to Ohio—Receives Fine Ofiisrs from other Institutions—Elected Editor of the Ladies' Repository— Estimation in which Thomson was held at Norwalk—Testimony of one of his Students, the Rev. John Burgess—Holden Dwight elected Principal—After Hard _Work to save it, the Seminary is given up to Creditors—The Grand Work done by the Seminary during its Existence Page 42. CHAPTER VI. EDITOR AND COLLEGE PRESIDENT. Editor of the Ladies' Repository—Resigns—Dr. B. F. Tefft his Successor—College Honors—Qualifications as College Presi- dent—History of Ohio Wesleyan University—Origin—Adam Poe—Ohio and North Ohio Conferences join in the Enterprise ——AA CONTENTS. 7 The First Faculty—Professors subsequently appointed during Dr. Thomson's JPresidency—Herman M. Johnson—Solomon Howard—William G. Williams—E. G. Dial—Lorenzo D. Mc- Cabe—Frederick Merrick—William L. Harris—^The Tutors connected with the Faculty; Edward C Merrick—William D. Godman—Thomas D. Crow—Owen T. Eeeves—Samuel W. Williams—George F. W. Willey—Tullius C. O'Kane—William F. King—Hiram M. Perkins—William O. Semans —William F. Whitlock—The Result of Dr. Thomson's Presidency— Material Condition of the University—^The Campus—Buildings—En- dowment—Numbers of Students—Elements which combined to bring about this Success—Just Views of the Work—Ability as Lecturer and Writer—Believed in a Eeligious Education- Advocated the most Liberal Culture—Government by Love Inspiration of his Presence—^Testimony of Dr. T. J. Scott— College Lecturer—Opinion of Dr. George L. Taylor—Of Oliver Burgess Page 55. CHAPTER VII. CONFEEENCE EECOBD. A Rising Man in his Conference—Not Talkative, but Ready on Important Occasions—On Educational Committees—Regu- lar Attendance—Continuous Delegate for Twenty Years—At the General Conference of 1848—Letter to his Wife—Acting Presiding Elder—General Conference of 1852—Candidate for the Episcopacy—Letter to the Ohio Delegates—The Men Chosen—Letter written immediately after the Election Lictter to his Son—Romanism—General Conference of 1856 Declines to become Editor—Missionary Sermon—Lay Delega- tion—Death of James B. Finley Page 75. CHAPTER VIII. ANTI-SLAVEEY SENTIMENTS. On the Side of the Oppressed—Dr. Aydelott—Thomson's Arguments—^The Perversion of Government—Who are Human Beings?—^Equal Rights—Oppression can not cancel Rights Report to the North Ohio Conference in 1852—In Favor of Colonization—The Nebraska Bill—Fugitive Slave Law— Stockholder in Underground Railway Page 84. — — — 8 CONTENTS. CHAPTER IX. A EUEOPEAN THAVELEK. First Trip to Europe in 1854—Object of the Voyage—The Sights in and about London—The South of England—France and Switzerland—French Politeness—French Esthetics. Page 92, CHAPTEE X. SECOND EUEOPEAN TEIP. Object of his Trip—Letters from Abroad: 1. Cork; Irish Graeffenburgh ; Blarney—2. Killarneyand its Lakes—3. Sabbath at Killarney; Arbutus; Eoss Island—i. Dublin—5. London 6. Mr. Spurgeon Page 99. CHAPTEE XI. IN DELAWAEB AND NEW YOEK. The Family Home—Birth and Death of Children^Acrostic Lines on the Death of Elizabeth Maria, his first-born child Eecreations of the Family—Objections to moving to New York—Editor of Christian Advocate and Journal—State of the Church at the Time of his Election—His Feelings on taking the Position—His Salutatory—The Storm of Opposition—Spirit of the Strong Minority of Eastern Methodism The Methodist started—Abusive Letters—Men at the Head of The Methodist— Thomson a Man for the Place and for the Times—His Labors in the Office The Methodist an Administration Organ—^The Great Advocate of Lay Delegation—Thomson's Opposition—Extract from one of his Editorials—Thomson's Assistants—Dr.

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