The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1883-03-10
VALE!
fTlmes-Democrat.I

TlmeS-Democrat.
Bishop ThompsOn's departure
from the field of his labors during
seven memorable years viii create
a void which may be partially but
can never be entirely filed. Ii is
true that we could not reasonably
have expected to keep a man of
his large powers and manifold At
tainments confined within the mar
row confines of q remote parish
yet he had been with us so long,
and had made himself so conspicu.
ousfy a part of our everyday life,
that we had -willfully, perhaps
blinded ourselves TO the probabili-
ties of the ease. The summons
has come at last, however. He
has been called tOa wider arena of
effort, TO sphere of higher use
fulness. In the search for talent
Such as his, the seekers have nat.
urally been attracted, and we are
called upon to bid him God.speed
and to subdue cur own regret in
the satisfaction of seeing merit
recognized.
We do not yet fully realize
the loss we have incurred. DR..
ThompsOn's long sojoura among
us has accustomed us to an atmos.
phere of intellectual liberality, of
Independent thought and unstu.
died action. He has made us for
get the tyrrany of dogma, and
struck the shacklcs from the limbs
Of reason. He has taught us that
true piety may be free, and that
the highest and purest form of re.
hgious conviction is not inconsis.
tent with untrammeled discussion
aud intelligent inquiry. And, fur
thermore, he has exempliiied that
large and generous Christianity
which breaks through the cold
confines of creed and sect and
takes to its glowing bosom every
doubt, every sorrow, every aillic-
ton that flesh is heir to. When
he has indeed gone and we learn
by sad experience the real nature
Of our bereavement, VIC shall real
ize with q warmer and n fonder
force the truth We now only dimly
perceive. For the present, we Mt
least feel that we have lost u dear
friend, an unscllish aud wise coun.
selor, a faithful pastor.
Let us, at this moment, give o
second place to those gifts of bril-
liant oratory, those allnring intel
lectual manifestations, which hayS
made DIR. Thompson eminent il
one department Of his calling. Al
though we yield to none in oul
recognition and admiration of thai
phase of his character, still, in Tho
hour Of parting, when hearts arc
dwelling on the closer and dearei
ties that are about to be rupturet
forever, VIC forget the orator il
the man and we weep for the fricnt
we have lost rather than for tht
ornament translated from q small
er to u larger forum.
IL is needless to say with wha
pride we shall watch Bishol
Thompson's career in the future
Whatever triumphs he may win
whatever glory he may achieve
will in some slight part be ours
We shall share his SORROWS and hi
joys, his reverses and his victo
ries. No time or separation cal
destroy the recollection of his lonI
association with us, or lessen th'
sympathy which he has taught III
to nourish in such Il large and lib
eral form. We shall say farewell
in tears, bat there are 10 tears 0
ours which he cannot eweetcn b,
fulfilling the splendid promise o
his perfected manhood and vindi
eating our lofty estimate of hi
powers and his usefulness. W.
speak for no sect, no coterie, nc
denomination, but for all who ad
mire strength and manhood ant
reverence true Christianity, whel
we invoke Heavens best blessing
on his future labors.
- c~-z---7 -------
Too Utterly.
In ANn4rn,,ir InInnnnlnnf Givtl