The New York herald., 1865-04-25
Obitua ry.
THE REV. W. L.. THORNTON, PRESIDENT OF THE
WESLEYAN CONFERENCE

THE REV. W. L. THoRNroN, PRESIDENT or THE
WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.
From the London Globe
The great body OF Wesleyan Method s have IN lament
the sudden nth Of the reverend President NJ their Con
ference the Rev W. l.: Thornton: On ssnasy morning
depressing hope tina, ne should spend happy Sabbath
but quarter of hour afterwards he was dead The
of the sad event was made In most or
the Wesleyan chapels of the metropolis the same night
and from itS suddenncss and unexpecedness many an
lesson was drawn There are records Of
M Thornton's lie beyond those living impressions
which he has made, and which will, In due time,
belong to the history OF the religious community Of
which at the time OF his death he was at the head
In the Wesleyan Mtaodia xagas"e Of October
1888, Mr.. Thornton wrote life OF his father,
Of Hudders.Id and he used these words:-"The indl,
vidual whom the melancholy task OF collecting this
has devolved compelled 70 express his deep and
lasting regret that his dear and hopored father could
never be induced TO write any rccord Of his lif" The
applies with equal truth TO the sou, and the facts
ara therefore scanty which hs bogyapher will have TO
deal with There is another point OF similarity between
the father and son which Ia very striking. Joseph
Thornton was told one Sunday morning that Mr. Shaw,
brother minister, very unwe, and unable 70 per
form duties Mr. Thornton raid 10 the messenger 81
feel strong this morning that can manage both ser.
Vices without assistance" Those his last words
After utterng them he mounted his gig and Immediately
sunk into the arms OF the young man who had conveyed
70 him the message as 70 The Illness OF bis rlend speech
lcss aud folcss william Thornton his SOD, the Pres
dent OF the Conierene, on Sunday made like rapid
\ passage from life to death.
CHIEF JUSTICE pRAyToN, OF LIBERIA.
fFrom The Philadelphia Lcdger1
Information has been received that the Row. Boston
Drayion accidentally drowned In the surf few miles
from Cape Panas the 18th Of December last His body
recovered the next day. and buried the ,h At
the Cape, ~ becoming one conspicuous IN the Christian
ministry and the head Of the Judiciary Of the Republic
Of Liberia Mr. Drayton was native Of Chsrcston y.
but had spent two three years In Virginia before
leaving for liberia, November 1s45 he then being
about twenty -four yesr old Hs settled al Cape Palmas
became very popular the pastor OF the Providence
Baptist church Of that place Subsequently he was ap
pointed by the southern Baptist Convention snperntend
ent Of their missions in West Africa, discbsrgng the
duties with satisfaction there and 10 the authorities In
this country Like nearly all the colored missionaries in
Liberia his superior talents called Into rcquisition
IN municipal political pursuits. Mr. Drayton was Gov
crnor of the little Republic of Maryland, and most strcn
uousy opposed Its annexation 10 the elder republic yield
ing only 10 imperative circumstances He was made
Chief Justice Of Liberia In 1852 and was considered one
OF the most upright and impartial Of any which that In
erestng country has produced At the last election he
the candidate for the presidency In op
position 70 the Hon D. B. Warner the present able In
cumbent We havo been thus minute 10 show ths
exalted positions which this worthy colored man, who
might have been unknown II he had remained In the
United States, occupied and In every one Of which he
= has shown ability energy and zeal
Intelligence has been received Of the death Of Rev
. AZ r. WRIGHT, u, OF the Nestorisn Mission tAmeri
ca b'4d and OF Ars FREDEKfc WHiiANs o, the East
crn Turkey Mission. DR.. Wright has been an honoret
and valued abo<er In Persia for nearly twenty Ave years
The mssionsSy life Of Nrs Williams has been brief b'L
useful