The New York herald., 1879-09-22
OBITUARY.
JOHN PARRISH THOMPSON, D. D.

The cable announces that Rev DIR. John Parrish
Thompson. the eminent American divine. died on
Saturday morning. at eleven o'clock. at Berlin Dis
tinguished no less scholar and traveller than In
the ministry, DIR. Thompson's career has been one
of great usefulness and popularity. His studies ex
tended to many branches out of the range OF theo
ogy. Astonished by the variety and extent OF his
reading people still more surprised to find him
familiar with the current and lighter literature fresh
from the press Nothing that had to do with letters
escaped him. from science to French fiction. Every
where he gathered knowledge entertainment.
his occasional addresses OF the highest order of
literary merit. His thoughts were new. clear and
vigorous, never sinking into commonplace. failing
in interest barren of eloquence In the first SEN
tence he attracted his hearers and when he came To
had still their delighted His voice was
defective in a large building his gestures somewhat
fantastic and uncouth. He man of good pro-
portions. thin face. with straight dark hair and
whiskers. In appearance he would moro readily have
taken for merchant than for one OF the ablest
scholars of the day. His dress was plain and careful
without any evidence of mis- profession.
Joseph Parrish Thompson was born in Phiade-
phia on the 7th of August. lSl9 He received his
collegiate education Yale. from which institution
he was graduated in 1888. and subsequently pursued
q course of theological study at the seminaries of
Andover and New Haven. In October, 1910. he be-
came pastor of the Chapel Street Church in New
Haven. Conn. and in April lS45, was called to the
Broadway Tabernacle Church in New York. The
effort to establish this. the first church of the
Congregational order in New York, at
sition for several years, and at the time or Dr.
Thompson's acceptance of the call the society
had not altogether emerged from condition OF
embarrassment The new minister, although but a
young of twenty-six, entered heartily into the
work of building up the church. and exhibited q
wealth OF energy aud sound practical judgment
iiary toward success. The old Broadway Taber-
nacle was purchased in the outset of the new min.
istry, and at the urgency of DR.. Thompson, and
proved q valuable investment i'll pecuniary way
when the encroachments of business and the nu-
merous removals of members of tho congregation
rendered it necessary change the site OF the
church building. He originated the well known
weekly paper the Independent aud for twelve years
its principal editor, with Rev. Drs. Leonard
Bacon, r. s. Storrs and Joshua Leavitt associates
he early TOOK an active part IN the anti-siavery
movement from the religious point OF view, and
endeavored to bring the churches to the standard
OF opposition to slavery on moral grounds. He be-
came especially conspicuous in this movement by
his opposition to the Fugitive Slave law, and drew
upon himself violent controversy with the press
generally and to some extent with the pulpit, by
asserting that such law could not be binding
the conscience and therefore had no valid au-
thoriy over the gtive. He the prime mover in
bringing about the first great Congregational Conven-
ton, held in 1851 at Albany, and which brought the
churches from the East and the West together In 1859
the Tabernacle Church was removed to its present
site, the corner of Thrty-fourth street and Sixth
avenue. where handsome editce was erected. Dur
very earnest and Jealous part in upholding the
government. and at one time raised $30,O09 on
single Sunday for equipping regiment.
Especially memorable the sermon that he
preached when Abraham Lincoln died. "Mr. Lin
coln. said he. has done more than any other to
make US one nation. BY all the mingled graves of
Gettysburg our Union stands forevermore by the
bloody footprints of the army, in whose ranks
every loyal State of the Union has been represented
every inch OF Southern soil to-day belongs to the
Union indivisible and forever. And I thank God
that the battles which redeemed our nation have
that the armies who have won these have been SO
generously intermingled on every field. Mr.
Lincoln in one OF his speeches, said, 1t had been
asserted very often that our popular government
was but an experiment. Two points had been
ccssfuly demonstrated-a successful establishment
of such government and successful administra-
tion of it, The third point to be etested-whether
1t could successfully maintain itself against in
ternal attempt to overthrow itY This last point
has been successfully established and the world
Is astonished at the spectacle that the government
having asserted its power there is no danger OF mil
iary despotism but that it sends its generals and
soldiers home to their families to enjoy the beIeh-
cence OF peace. There was one remarkable
fact to be observed i'll connection with Mr..
Lincoln's administration-that during the last four
years morality ana religion have been in the
ascendancy i'll Washington. One could feel it
i'll the atmosphere as he went through the streets.
Mr.. Lincoln's adm mis-; ration was memorable tor the
respect and consideration it secured throughout the
civilized world and in this. too his administration
marks new epoch. 1t was at his first inauguration
that he started the idea that liberty and justice
be both maintained at whatever cost OF money.
These ideas from that moment began to shape them
the power that organized armies. that elevated
the people and brought the hearts Of millions to-
gether one, and these ideas since then held the
nation to its work through the bloody conflict it has
just passed This power OF ideas will live for
ever-win become identical with the honor glory
and life of the nation"
The Doctor always very enthusiastic on the
snbject of the Oriental countries His travels the
East were performed with the ardor OF Christian
pilgrim to sacred shrines. To awful Mount Sinai, to
the memorable baptismal waters of the Jordan and
to the banks of the wondrous Nile he wandered
amount of Yankee curiosity. He kissed the earth,
he bathed in the waters he embraced the trees and
loaded himself with curiosities. No toll of Journey
ing affected him. no sacred spot but what he Wis.,
tied. no specimen that he could buy or beg
but what he secured. He studied the lands
thoroughly and came back to the United States an
authority in their geography and profound in their
history. While his energies were fully linked with
the glorious progress and mighty achievements OF
ms own day, still he gave largely OF his student
hours to unwilling the mysteries with which time
has beclouded SO much connected with the coun-
tries antiquity. He thought that there could ue
no greater triumph for the American scholar than
make clearer and broader the light which Oriental
and European minds have already impaired to the
subject. AS an author he is known for several
volumes, among which "Man in Genesis and
Geology" THE Theology of Christ" "The Memoirs
of David Hale and OF David I. Stoddard. the Mis-
sionary;" ''The Christian Graces /" and Love and
Penalty" Several of his oratons and occasional
discourses have been published also, the principal
Of which are Christianity and Emancipation
How to Build Nation" "Bevolution Against Free
Government Crime" During the the Union
League Club Society and the Loyal Publication pub
shed several OF his addresses for general circua-
Son.
Ia the latter part of October, 1871, Dr. Thompson,
to the great regret of his large aud prosperous
gregaion. resigned his charge. His reasons for this
somewhat unexpected step definitely stated in
his letter of resignation Sudden "a this announce
ment." he said. may be to you, with me this is
sudden decision. More than three years ago
physical inhrmity induced by exposure in the
army. and in its nature beyond remedy. had become
no aggravated and complicated that the highest
medical authority ordered me TO withdraw from
the pressure of public responsibilities il would
save my lie. should then have done so had not
sense Of honor. i'll view of your recent Indulgence
ana hberallty in sending me abroad, and certain
cherished projects for the welfare OF the church,
strained mo- therefore chose to endure in silence
what 1t could not profit any one to know. But can
no longer hope Co satisfy my conscience in the dis
charge OF my duties as pastor, whom lite is
stant care ana an almost constant pain; and when
symptoms not to be mistaken threaten il not the
or life, what TO me liz more serious, the seat OF
thought And what feel cannot do would not
attempt to do; Tor would not become a drag upon