The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-03-30
Rev. I. Snowden Thomas, A. ii.

BRIEF SKETCH OF THE PASTOR OF THE NJ.
E. CHURCH-CLosING OF A EUsY LIFE.
The following brief notice of the pas
toral services Of our former fellow citizen,
the Rev. I. Snowdeu Thomas taken from
the N2HtgomeJy Led9er, will be read with
qualification By his numerous friends in
Cecil county. while we welcome him back
to Cecil, we cannot but regret that i'm
paired health compels his retirement from
the active ministry in which he has rem
dered such efficient service:
The announcement that the esteemed
pastor of the NJ. f. Church, of his borough,
contcmplates retiring from the pastoral
work At the approaching session of the
Philadelphia Annual Conference, at least
for time, i'll the hope of restoring his
impaired health, affords fitting occasion
for fuller resume of his ministerial life.
Graduating at Dickinson College, Carlisle,
Pa, in 1913, Mr.. Thomas entered the Phil
adelphia Conference i'll March, 1851. He
was ordained Deacon by the late Bishop
Thomas \. Morris, at Harrisburg, in 1854,
and Elder by the late Bishop Edmund S.
James, at Lancaster, in 1875. In 1854 and
1875 he was pastor of the First NJ. E.
Church, in Pottsvile; in 1856 and 1857 in
Coatsvile; in 1858 Mr.. Thomas was pastor
of the NJ. E. Church, Philadelphia At
the close of this year he was appointed to
Cambridge, Md, beautiful town eighty
miles southeast of Baltimore, the bounds,
of the Philadelphia Conference, then in
Guiding the Eastern shores of both Mary
land and Virginia. Here, however, Mr..
Thomas had so severe an attack of pneu-
monia as to disable him entirely from
PIE aching. [ nder the advise of his physi-
clan, he retired 10 his native village, and
devoted hns If to agricultural pursuits
to the steady imp ovement of his health.
In December, 1860, he was elected Chief
Clerk to the Marylaud House of Delegates,
which was at that time graced with such
members as the late distinguished jurists,
Reverdy johnson and Thomas Price, of
Baltimore, and John A. J. Cresswell, sub
sequently L. :. Senator and Postmaster
General in the Cabinet of President
Grant. From 1862 to 1865, Mr.. Thomas
held the office of Hospital Chaplain, L. S.
| Army, under commission of President
Lincoln; in the Autumn of 1865 he ac-
| cepted an invitation to supply the pulpit of
the NJ. f. Church, in Bristol, Rhode Island
| to which charge he was regularly appointed
six months later having been transferred,
with whose bounds this Church is included.
! In Bristol Mr.. Thomas was favored to
participate in a wonderful revival of reli-
gion, i'll which all the churches shared,
more than three hundred confessing Christ
| in the Methodist Church alone. After five
years ministry in the Providence Confer
! encp Mr.. Thomas was returned to Phia-
| delpha Conference, and was subsequently
] appointed to Fulton Circuit, Lancaster
county; Scott and Cohocksink Churches,
| Philadelphia, and last Spring to Pottstown,
where or for the present at least, he will
close his pastoral labors. la every charge
| MIR Thomas has been favored with success;
| in several with extensive revivals of re-
| ligion. In Pottsvile debt of long stand
ing was paid off, and the salary of his sue
ceSsor increased 10y $500; in Coatsville a new
! church WAS erected in which the present
most wonderful revival is in progress.
| Many testimonials of the affection of his
people have at various times been received
| hy Mr.. r, and are cherished by him and
| his family as precious souvenirs of friend
ship In the pulpit Mr.. Thomas is loving,
earnest pungent, eloquent,--a forcible ex-
FOUNDER of the Living Word, and faithful
preacher of the gospel Of the Lord Jesus
| Christ: in pastoral iabors, abundant and
! sympathizin9; in the social circle, cour
teous, aifabe aud conscientious, and in all
| the walks of life a noble example of God s
best work-a Christian gentleman.