The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-30


man may, while here, have communion with
the Father of his spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The soul has this power of outgoing, that
can grasp the distant and the invisible, and
the dying soul feels but little more of this
power. lie is nearing the banks; it is ready
to join the throng; it is almost listening to
the music, almost charmed by the visions,
waiting to be numbered with the blest above.
The Church to-day feels, in tho death of
Bishops Thomson and Kingsley, a sore bereave-
ment. In the wAole history of the Church
no other such scene has been witnessed. If
we trace the lives of the bishops who labored
in the Church, great majority of them will
be found to have lived to good old age, and
died under circumstances that did not so
deeply impress the Church's mind. Bishop
Coke was an exception, who, though but
partially connected with the Church in this
country labored for the Church in England
as well. But Asbury, McKendree Roberts,
Soule, Hedding, and Waugh all lived to good
old age, and all died edsurroundedb by their friends
George died early, yet in mature years, with
his family and friends about him. Hamline
was in the midst of his family, but life had
been ekeing away for years and he resigned
Emory was smitten down in the middle of
life, strangely, unpleasantly cut off in one
instant, within short distance of his own
home. But these two, among the strongest,
among the most talented, among the most
endeared to the heart of the Church, in
middle life, in a career of usefulness, at q
moment when the Church had no thought of
such catastrophe, are cut down within few
days of other-one on the banks of the Ohio
and the other on the shores of the Mediter-
ranean. How strange, that their deaths
should be so sudden, so unexpected, and so
near rogether
pause but for a moment or two, not to
recite their history; not to give biographical
sketches such as you have already been per-
mitted to read, but to recall some of the
prominent traits in their lives and to draw
lessons for our advantage. And first, this
morning we do devoutly thank God that He
ever gave such men to the Church. In their
early childhood they had religious training,
for, as general rule, those whom God de-
signs to be preachers in His Church, very
early in life He throws around them and gives
to them influences which are to make them
powers in the world. 1t is not always the
case, but it is Gods general rule.
Bishop Thomson lived until the years of
young man before he gave his heart to God.
In this city he graduated in medicine. Receiv-
ing his diploma at the age of nineteen, from
the Jefferson Medical College, he con-
menced the practice of medicine, but as in
the case of Calvin, Luther, and other emil
nent men, the sudden death of a friend
startled him. Shortly after, sermon to
which he listened from the lips of that won
derful man of God, Russell Bigelow-unpre-
possessing in appearance, strange in his
manner, and yet whose words went like
flame through our Western land-shook his
fidelity. subsequently he gave himself to the
work of God; and, some two or three years
after his graduation in medicine, and after he
commenced to practice it, at the age of
twenty-one, he sought and found peace in
Jesus Christ Scarcely had he finished his
probation in the Church of six months, when
he was licensed to preach, and at the next
conference was admitted in travelling con-
nection. He gave himself wholly to the work
of a Methodist preacher, but having been
blessed with an early education, being pos
sessed of far more than ordinary talent, the
Church selected him for literary labor, and
Norwalk Seminary, Ohio, was placed under
his care. That institution has since gone out
of connection with the Church, yet out of it
come great influences. He founded a West
ern university, over which he presided many
years in after life.
Bishop Kingsley was born in Western New
York. Early in life he was converted, and
felt himself called to the ministry. He strug-
gled in the midst of difficulties. He was
young man grown before he was able to OBJ
tain an education. 1 first met him in 1889,
just abont thirty-one years ago, and when L
accepted chair in Allegheny College found
Kingsley a student-a young man, strong,
manly, working, and willing to do anything to
support himself in the college. He displayed
unusual talent and power, and class was
given him to instruct. He was employed as
tutor, with the exception of q short time,
when he retired from the college to gain ad-
ditional means for his support by giving in
struction to a few in the primary classes He
thus worked his way through college, and, in
1S41, graduated, and-what is very unusual,
having entered an institution with very little
| education and worked his way through it
the very first year after his graduation he was
| elected to professorship there; such was the
confidence of the faculty and the trustees and
the Church in his wisdom, skill, and pru-
! dence.
The history of both of these men is before
the Church They were educated, both were
editors, both of them had spoken and written.
Both were clear theologians-men of might
and power. They had been with the Church
in its various localities, and in various posi-
tions, and then they were called to the highest
honor it could bestow upon its ministers. As
a mark of the continued affection towards
them by the Church, it may be said that in
1862 they were among the highest in votes of
those not elected to the episcopal Office.
| Twelve years passed away, and the Church,
having had their walk before its eyes, again
turned to them, and confirmed the indication
! given twelve years before, in honoring them
with place in the Episcopal Board.
And tight well did they perform their du.
ties. Many of these ministers have sat under
their presidency. You know their kindness,
their fidelity, their power. Men of deep
piety, great modesty, unaffected simplicity,
uniting the highest order Of talent with the
deepest humility and deepest devotion in
the cause of Christ. No man who ever min
| ged with them could doubt their constant
! and fad YNiaty THAR Evao m, ri, q