Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-02-27

He witnessed the marriage of three of
them, and the triumphant death Of a
daughter in her young womanhood.
The life of our friend and brother had
its tears Of sorrow and bereavement;
but the religion he professed and lived
sweetened all the tears of his Christian
life. Bro. Thompson gloried in tie
cross of Christ.
THE cross! 1t takes'ou guilt away;
1t holds the fainting spirit up;
1t cheers with hope the gloomy day,
And sweetens every bitter cup"
His life had an inward flow towards
the infinite and eternal.
AS q man, d. A. Thompson was in
dependent and aggressive in temper
ment, and yet he evinced great tender
ness in his relationships with men. He
was a man of a clear head, and was al-
ways ready to defend the right as it
was given him to see it.
This is the philosophy of the debates
in which he engaged in the latter years
of his life, and of the royal way in
which he did his work.
AS q friend, he was true, obliging,
cheerful and companionable. His n
wavering fidelity to all that was good
and noble, made him many friends
friends who cultivated friendship with
God.
As a teacher in the public schools, he
succeeded nobly. Parents were glad
to have their children under the instruc
ton Of u man so we'll qualified, both
in head and heart.
Many of the young people we're made
sad and thoughtful as they heard of
the death of their faithful, Christian
teacher. But peculiarly saddening was
the announcement of the death of Rev.
d. A. Thompson to the students of his
unfinished school; for he was suddenly
called from the school room to the
room of suffering and death.
AS a local preacher, Dr'. Thompson
had more than ordinary abilities and
resources. He possessed in a good de-
gree a rare combination of gifts, which
made him u strong preacher. Blessed
with a commanding personal appear
ance, a pleasant voice, a warm heart,
loyalty to Christ and his gospel, D. A.
Thompson had power over his hearers,
which he used for the glory of God.
The writer shall never forget the last
sermon he heard preached by his trans.
lated friend and brother. The text
vas lisa. IS: g.. The sermon was full of
thought and divine power--''Shall come
to Zion with songs" Here the preacher
referred most touchingly to the singing
of a dying, young lady. ~ never heard
sweeter singing" said he. II expect to
hear that voice again. Then he said,
that girl, dying with the song of
triumph on her lips, was my daughter"
Little did we think, that in a few,
brief months, the strains of the heavenly
choir-strains of exceeding sweetness.
could fall upon his ear, and that he
would meet again the laughter, who, q
few years ago, gave him the farewell
look and the hopeful good bye.
put mo Gpon tho nutlooIx - - ,Luk
holy Sabbath and from that pulpit,
made the brave and trusting heart of
D. A. Thompson throb with hope.
Asa husband and father, Bro. Thomp-
son was devoted and affectionate. He
labored to make his home a happy ref.
uge for his loved ones.
1t will take all of the earthly life of
wife and children to make known to
them the greatness of their loss. But
the God of the sainted husband and
father still lives and loves. May they
look up to Him and trust in Him. May
the years of the past. in which. Bro.
Thompson spoke his kind words of low.
ing advice, and set his righteous exam
pie to wife and children, be to them a
mighty and blessed teacher. And may
the blessings of the only greater teacher
God, abide in their bereaved hearts
and homes.
And at length, may wife and children
hear again the voice that is still, and
clasp the hand-the dear hand that has
vanished. Brother, greatly beloved, we
shall miss you from our ministerial
gatherings The great church, which
you loved, and in which you lived and
died, misses you. The writer shall miss
you until he meets yod in the church
triumphant, which is without fault be.
fore the throne of God.
Then friends shall meet again"
7. H. HODGE.
Chucky City, Feb. 90, 1895.
FITZGERALD.