The news., 1886-11-30

At a literary meeting held in the
Baptist church at Jacobstown on Fri
day evening the Goth inst, the follow
ing article on the life of the late Rev.
A. G. Thomas was read
The Goth of October 1867 was day of joy
church, and one long to be remember by
that people. On that day, their meeting
house was decorated with sweet scented
flowers, triumphal arch encircled the
pulpit with the words Welcome Home
inscribed thereon, and it was filed to
overlooking. All was life, light and hap
piness. At 1890 A. M. that vast audience
Joined in singing that sweetsong OF praise,
Welcome Home. At the same instant all
eyes were turned upon a man walking
hurriedly up the centre aisle, who with II
firm step,and unassuming manner, entered
the pulpit. Not the slightest trace of the
deep emotions of the inner man, was visi-
BILE upon his face. 1t was the Rev. A. G.
Thomas. then pastor of that church, who
had just returned from a five months tour
through Europe and Palestine. His life's
work had now but fairly begun.
On the 9th inst, how striking the con-
trast. All was sorrow and sadness. AT
230 P. NJ, that same person, in Deaths cold
embrace, was borne by six loving friends
for the last time into that house whose
walls had so many times re-echoed his
voice, the solemn silence only being
broken by the muffied Footsteps of Il
solemn procession, and the soft notes offs
funeral march. His life's work was now
done. Arthur G. Thomas was born in
Union county Pa, about four miles north
of Lewisburg, in 1921. When a lad, he
moved with his pafcntza 70 Dayton, OHIO.
age lie VIA graduate "a III fw isourg IN
Isoo, ann ,r9n ie 1s7 90 o
pastor of the Baptist church of Freeport,
ILL.,, in 1857, removed to Baltimore, where
he WAS pastor when the war began.
In 1868 he became chaplain in the army,
serving in this relation until the close of
the war Many dying soldiers bed, by
his ministrations, was made soft as
downy pillows are" ana many were the
lastloying messages. borne by him to dear
friends of the heroic brave, who had given
his lifes blood for his country.
He became pastor of the Baptist church
of Mount Holly, in 1865 His labors here
were crowned with success, more than 100
being baptized In one winter. During his
passionate, it was deemed necessary to en-
large the church which was done by add
ing about one fourth more TO its former
seating capacity. On May 18th, 1867, he
sailed for Europe, making an extended
tour of five months through that country
and Palestine, returning to Mount Holly,
October ltth. On January 7th, 1868, he was
married to Miss Lille Brown of Mount
Holly, who has ever proved herself to be
to him a faithful loving wife, and help
full companion. In May 1868 he moved to
the North Baptist church of Camden, and
to Jacobstown, september, 1871, of his
seYen years stay with us, need say moth
ing. You know 1t all, how he labored, and
the success with which his labors were
crowned A few weeks before THANKSGIVING
1873 he was consulted in regard to a certain
engagement for that day. "Yes," he said
81 will have nothing to do on that day, l
will attend to it, The day came and
with it brought its unforeseen labors. In
the morning he preached the funeral SER
MOI Mrs Ghnrl0Tt Raek in the a
noon the funeral sermon of Sadie Kester
and when he met his former engagement
in the evening, he said. "This is an occas-
sion that i shall remember as long as
i've When l made the engagement for
this evening, thought would have moth
ing to do during the day, but to meet it,
but 1t has been one of the saddest, and
hardest days works for me since haye
been ut JacObstown.n "And so Uou Will
find it through life, that when you least
expect sorrows and hardships, they will
come upon YOU" When tho writer was
about to leave the farm in 1874, Mr.. Thomas
came to him and said. "There is but one
thing ON this farm that coyet, and as yoae
are going to leave 1t, would like to haye
it," at is that weeping Willow He was
told that he might have it, and the next
morning with his horse and wagon, axe
and hoe, he came and removed it without
the assistance of any one, and planted it
in the front yard at the parsonage, where
it now stands. For a long time under the
shade of the naples, it struggled for its
life, but finally reached up and out beyond
their sheltering limbs, and is now strug-
Cling tor the full possession of the situa-
ton. and should be encouraged in its on
ward growth, even at the expense of the
other trees. In December. 1877 he moved
to Chester, Pa, followed by the prayers
and good wishes of ali who knew him,
and had learned to love and respect HIM
during his stay with us. He had been mt
Chester but short time, when his health
gradually began to fail him. In the early
Ia
preaching, and moved to Mount Holly, in
September, of the same year. In Septeln-
Der, 1884, thinking It would be beneficial to
his health, he went to minneapolis,
Minn., followed by his family the hollow
ing April. There he remained for two
years and one month, being>xindly and
tenderly nursed by the hands of his loving
wife, during which time his sutferings
were intense, but were borne in a quiet.
patient, and christian like manner, until
death came to his relief on the lst inst, ut
one O'clock A. AZ. His remains reached
Mount Holly, on the 9th inst, and the
church at $50 p. NJ. the Following day. His
funeral sermon was preached by the pas
tor, Rev. DR.. Smith, from Cor. 2-l4 ''Now
thanks be unto God, which always causeth
us to triumph in Christ" Rev. Miller
Jones read Il letter of recent date from Mr.
Thomas, saying, ''The end is near i am
ready to go to the mansions prepared for
me above. Wife and i have talked it all
over; she asked me who would like to
speak at my funeral, and told her my old
and trusted friend, Miller Jones. If you
should get there, please speak nothing TO
! my praise" &c. Several ministers of the
! Gospel took part in the services, and then
his remains followedlby many livingfriends
were tenderly, and tearfully, laid away in
| the cemetary.
! II we should so live, that at the end we
shall merit the joys of that eternal life to
| come, when we are called upon to cross
that dark river of death, we will be well
coined by the outstretched arms of this
dear departed friend, to the "beautiful
Shores of that sland that is brighter than
day" His crown will be brighter than
ours, but we shall dwell with him and his
redeemer forever, in that "house not made
| by hands eternal in the heavens
Jacobstown Nov. 26th, 1886.