Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-05-18

The resolution was signed by large
number Of prominent laymen. Mr..
thompson refused to be sat upon, and
protested vigorously against having it re-
ferred to the committee, probably never
TO be heard from again. on motion OF
Rev. DR.. George Leon Walker the board
voted to allow Mr.. Thompson to read
the resolution in spite Of its action of
the morning. 1t was in substance a re-
quest for the immediate authorization
OF the appointment Of Mr. Moves by the
prudential committee as a missionary Of
the board, and Mr.. Thompson supported
II by a strong speech In which he said
the laymen had no quarrel with the
clergy or the prudential committee. I'VE
do not want a new Bible" said he, ''but
we do want men who VIII preach the
gospel"
The applause which followed Mr..
Thompson's speech was deafening, but
this was only the beginning Of the vic
tory. Subsequently all resolutions which
had been referred to the committee un-
read were brought back and read, and
the Moves resolution was carried by a
vote OF 106 to "a, scarcely more than half
the total number of members voting. In
bringing about this action Mr.. Thomp-
son was particularly well fitted by his
gift Of an incisive way Of speaking and
by his long association in denominatlonal
affairs. His action in thus breaking the
deadlock in the board was the sensation
Of the time in theological circles, 1t
was a case Of man having the courage,
the insight and the independence 10
meet an emergency on the instant-to
do what 1t is now the fashion to call
''seizing on the psychological moment"
to bring an event or a result to pass
President Of the 5rattIeboro q Whitehall
Railroad Company.
Mr. Thompson was one of the original
and most determined and enthusiastic
advocates and promoters Of the construc-
ton OF the Brattleboro & whitehall rail-
road. The original charter for this road,
secured from the legislature in 1867, was
for the construction of the West River
railroad from Brattleboro to Jamaica.
This charter was afterward amended so
as to permit the construction of the
road to South Vernon, and again author
izing construction to Whitehall. When.
in the years 1877 and 1878, the active pre-
liminary work for the Brattleboro &
Whitehall road was taken up Mr. Thomp-
son was made president Of the company
because OF his business energy and ability
and his capacity to do things" He not
only supported the enterprise in public
meetings and by personal influence dur
ing these early stages, but when the
actual work of construction finally be-
gan he gave his time and untiring in
dividual work to secure subscriptions to
the stock, to oversee the engineering
and construction work, to attend to
details, and to meet the thousand
and-one emergencies, little and great,
as they arose day by day. He re-
manned the president Of the Brattleboro
& Whitehall company until his death, and
maintained his interest in the road and
his activity in it's behalf to the end.
Since his retirement from the hard
htrol hn
treasurer of the Brattleboro Gas Light
company, with an ONCE in Crosby block,
| having general oversight of the COM
pany's business 1t was in this capacity
that he was best known by the younger
| generation.
The Funeral.
Rev. H. r. Miles, pastor Of the Centre
church. offered prayer at the house at
| 430 O'Clock Sunday afternoon, and the
| funeral service was held in the church
at 8 o'clock, Clarke c. Fits assisting
| Undertaken w. H. Bond In conducting the
funeral. The ushers were James F,
1 Hooker, Walter r. Hubbard. Robert c.
| Bacon and William A. Shumway. The
/ funeral was largely attended, among those
present being the employees OF the Brat
| tleboro Gas Light company and the pres
| emit and former officers of the Sunday
| school, besides members Of the parish and
| others. Alfred s. Thompson sang two
selections-"I heard the voice Of Jesus
say and Jerusalem the Glorious" The
| floral pieces, which were many and
| beautiful, included a wreath Of roses
| and carnations from the employees OF
| the Gas Light company. a wreath Of
galax leaves and roses from the officers
and members OF the church. American
Beauty roses from the Sunday school
besides remembrances from relatives and
personal friends. At the close OF the SER
| vice the caslket was placed in the vesti'
bule, where the face OF Mr.. Thompson
| could be seen by those passing out OF tbs
church The burial was in the family lo
in Prospect Hin cemetery. The hon
orary bearers were Judge James NJ. Ty'
Ter, Dr. Henry D. Holton, Deacon Geo
H. Clapp and President George G. Aver
1 i'll