Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-03-25

his loss IS sui more keen ana HreI1d1a-
bic. Society, Of which he was one Of
the brightest ornaments, misses him;
the church Of which he was a leader
and lurninary misses him; buthow much
more they who in the frequent inter
course Of the recitation room or the near
er or more intimate one of personal
friendship learned to appreciate the wis
dom Of his counsel, the kindness Of his
heart, the child-ike guilelessness Of his
nature.
EDWARD THOMSON, ID. Ii. D.,
was born at Portsea, England, in the
year 1910, and was consequently, at the
time of his death, sixty years Of age
We have frequently heard it stated that
he was a descendant of the English po-
ct Thomson, but of this we are not as
sured. He came to America in 1910,
and was educated for the profession of
his father. that Of a physician. Having
attended medical lectures at Philadelphia
and Cincinnati, he entered upon the
practice of medicine in 1890 His mind
soon, however, received different turn
and he entered the ministry of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, contrary
to the inclinations of his father, who had
marked out for him different career.
In the course of his duties he was sta
toned successfully at Norwalk, Sandus-
ky, Cincinnati and Deroit. In 1898 he
was chosen President Of the NorWallk
Seminary, which post he occupied for
five years. when he was elected Profess
sor Of Mental and Moral Philosophy in
the University Of Michigan. But his
church called him to the journalistic
field, for which his superior qualities as
a writer and his fine literary taste emil
nently fitted him, and being assigned to
the editorial charge of the Ladies' Re
pository at Cincinnati, conducted that
journal with great success until elected
to the Presidency of the Ohio Wesleyan
University in IS43. In I845 he entered
formally upon his duties at the head of
that institution, with which his career
was identified until chosen by the Gen
eraI Conference of 1860 to the editorial
management of the New York Chris
tan Advocate and Journal, the then
leading organ of Methodism in Ameri-
ca Here he remained until elected
Bishop in 1864, since which time, until
perhaps a year past, his home was in
Delaware. to which place he intended,
in contemplation of his retirement from
the Episcopacy. to return within year
or two and spend the last years of his
life.
Bishop Thomson was one of the few
men who are underestimated by them
selves, and Notwithstanding his great
usefulness and the eminence he at
tanned was taken by the world at large
for much less than he was worth. In
actual brain power he had few equals
among his contemporaries, and as a UTit-
er none in the great denomination to
which he belonged Had he possessed
the faculty of some men to attract pub
lie attention and make the most of their.
abilities, had he in short been otherwise
than modest to fault and his ambition
not to serve mankind rather himself,
he would have been one of the best
known and most popular men Of his
time. As a pulPiteer he was remarkable
for the originality and sublimity of his
thoughts and for his eloquence of express
ion. Whether speaking from manu-
script or extempore. few equaIled him
in power to entertain and hold an au-
dience, and some of his efforts will rank
among the foremost in the pulpit litera-
ture of America.
AS a college President his career is
familiar to many of our readers and we
believe will justify the assertion that he
had no superiors in the Union.
Among the fruits of his pen may be
mentioned three volumes of ESSAYS,
noted for their freshness, pathos and
beauty of style; one or two volumes of
letters from Europe; a volume or SO of
sermons, and two volumes, now in press, !
of sketches of his tour through India
and other countries of the far East, made
at the behest of the Church shortly af-
ter he was called to the Episcopacy.
But as we contemplate the unexpected
termination of this grand and noble life
the thoughts that come yelling up for
utterance are of a tenderer nature than
those with which the world will choose
to remember it. Our desire is to speak
of the beautiful phases in which he re-
vealed his character to those who not
only felt the charm of his genius, but
whose still better fortune it was to ex-
perience the warmth and humanity of
his heart. Yet, for this Office, how un-
satisfying, how inadequate is language
Praises may suffice for the remembrance
of the just, but to the generous tears are
the fttest tribute. To those who knew
him best there is something in his mem
ory so beautiful and tender that the heart
would rather feel than attempt to utter it.
Offering our coincidence to his bereaved
family, let us only add that although he
has been stricken down at the post of
duty and in the full meridian of his use
.uiness, those who loved him, and man
Aino whom he served, may be in some :
measure consoled that he has beoueath- t
- - D5 mem an example SO spotless, a life n
SO s. iull OF all that is good. great and no B
Die, and that, relieved from earthly toll 2
and needing not our commisseration !
he has passed q q
ITO where, beyond these voices, there Is Il
I