Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-09-25
Memorial Sermon by Rev. F. B. Hyde.

The following is an extract from memo
rial sermon preached by Rev. F. B. Hyde
OF Westminster in memory Of the late pas
tor of the church in that place, Rev. G. w.
Thompson:
John 8: ~, 13: elf l have told you OF
earthly things, and ye believe not, how
shall ye believe if l tell you of heavenly
thinesp For no man hath assembled up
into heaven except the Son of Man which
came down from heaven, even the Son of
Man which is in heaven"
There is perhaps no nobler or more
praiseworthy tribute possible to be paid to
any man, especially man of God, than
when it can be said of him that he brings
the Kingdom of God near and makes its
righteousness and faith natural. Such
spirit is ever the abiding place of sweet
and heavenly forces. DR.. Thompsons
ability to do al! this was proverbial. Ever
engaged with influences hostile to his
creed, at war always with the shallow
thought, the low spirit of tie world, all
men, both religious and irreGgious, seemed
to realize the princely purity and genuine
ness Of all that his life possessed. Whether
in the pulpit or in the pew, whether alone
before God or talking familiarly with
friends, the mantle of sainthood became
him naturally, easily.
The Rev. Charles w. Thompson, D. D ),
was born in Berlin, Vt, February 26,
1882 Passing here his earlier years upon
the farm, he laid the foundations Of that
splendid energy of physique, indications
OF which remained long after his health
began to give way. Early in life he
became persistent student, taking natu-
rally to large thoughts and high ideals. So
notable, in fact, were his tastes in this
direction that the idea of teaching gained
J., strong hold upon him as life-work. Fol
lowing his graduation at the University
of Vermont in 1854 when he was the
acknowledged leader Of his class, he held
important positions as a teacher, notably
a protessorship in the university from
which he had graduated.
The work of the Christian ministry, how
ever, finally suggested itself as the larger
that July l, 1869, at Danville, VT he was
ordained, entering upon the larger cause
for which he was SO ably prepared. After
several successful past ,rates within and
without the state, he came to this church
in November, 1886, from Woodstock,
Conn where he had been II years. His
ministry with this church closed Novembe r
%, 1896, which was the tenth anniversary
OF his first Sunday with this people.
Throughout the years of his ministry, his
work had been characterized by all of
those great qualities which go to make a
successful preacher and pastor.
DR.. Thompson possessed that princely
oL;E+,, of xyoo 1uo1l opv paCnla
whom he was invited to serve. Possessing
few of those superficial pulpit graces, by
which even small men sometimes capture
attention, he encountered few temptations,
which, not il frt quently, make worldly min
listers, but once LODGED aud settled he
never left field but from personal choice.
As one of his friends put it, GO 1t was not
always the easiest thing for him to get
a position but, once settled, he never could
get rid of it."
1t is matter OF great pleasure and graf
ifcation to me to pay this passing tribute
to one SO greatly honored and so much
beloved by us all My personal acquaint-
ance with Mr.. Thompson, though short,
had become precious thing. From the
first ! felt safety in his counsel, Like
other men of God whom it was my good
fortune to know, his LIE seemed OF the
nature of the inexpressible. He was more
than presence, he was an influence,
steady, constant and untiring for the mas
ter whom he loved. Though always great
in both thought and action, think of him
with something of that same estimate that
Emerson made of Lord Chatham, "There
was something greater and finer in the
man than anything he said or did"
Shall this then be our impression with
which we leave him, not as one who
wrought particular work. though he did
this, not as some notable commanding
/ figure who startled attention by the origi-
nllity and sweepof his conceptions. though
he lacked nothing in originality, but as a
sacred emo bling influence, as one who
takes deep hold upon human hearts, and
enshrines himself in memory as friend of
God and lover of his kind.