A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

John McClintock & James Strong • SECTION 500

Section 500

← McClintock & Strong Cyclopaedia — Volume 10

t was resolved that there should be no private owner- ship in the building. In ]8t;3 the society paid off 25,000 of this indebtedness; the remaining sum of $40,000 was paid in March, 1864. Notwithstanding Dr. Thompson's immediate pastoral labors, he was always busy with his pen. In 1845 he printed a Memoir of David Hale (late editor of the Journal of Commerce), with Selections from his Miscellaneous Writings — a work which passed through various editions. In 1846 ap- peared his Young Men Admonished, afterwards, in sub- sequent editions, which were numerous, entitled Lect- ures to Young 3fen. Hints to Employers apiieared in 1847, and another edition in 1851. Stray Meditations was published in 1852; and in 1857 there was a revised edition, entitled The Belierer's Refuge. He was one of the first editors of the Independent, being associated in that service with the Rev. Dr. Storrs and the Rev. Dr. Bacon. In 1852 he originated the plan of the Albany Congregational Convention. He also served as a man- ager of the American Congregational Union and of the American Home Blissionary Society. In 1852 he went abroad, visiting Palestine, Egypt, and other Eastern lands. This gave an Oriental cast to his subsequent studies and writings, and he became well known as an authority in Egyptolog3% ]\Iany of his writings upon this subject appeared in the Korth American Review, the Bihliotheca Sacra, the Journal of the American Ge- ographical and Statistical Society, in Smith's iJict. of the Bible, and the revised edition of Kitto's Cyclop, of Biblical Literature. He published Egypt, J'ast and Pres- ent, in 1856. During the Civil War, Dr. Thompson oc- cupied a warmly patriotic position. He did a great deal for tlie Christian Commission. Twice he went to the South ; he visited tlie army ; and he was a member of the Union League Clid). His son was killed in the service of the country. Dr. Thompson published (1863) a souvenir of him entitled The Sergeant's Mejnorial, by his Father. When president Lincoln was assassinated, Dr. Thompson delivered a notable eulogy upon him be- fore the Union League Club. In 1872 Dr. Thompson was compelled by ill-health to sever the relation which he had so long maintained with the society. One night, while working in his study, he imagined that he heard a terrible crash, as if the whole house were fall- ing, and he remembered nothing more until he regained consciousness at three o'clock in the morning. When he resigned his pastoral charge of the Tabernacle Church, it made him a gift of #30,000, and individuals gave him $20,000 more. Having resolved upon going abroad, he took up his residence in Berlin, where he devoted him- self to study, especially in Egyptology. During the controversy between Bismarck and the pope, at the re- quest of the Prussian minister, he pre|)ared and pub- lished a work on the relations of Church and State in America; and in the Centennial Year he delivered in different cities of Europe several addresses concerning the United States. His oration occasioned by the death of Mr. Bayard Taylor, the American minister, delivered in Berlin, was a beautiful and much-admired production. He had prepared an address to be delivered before the Evangelical Alliance at Basle, Switzerland, on the sub- ject of the persecutions in Austria. Wlien Mr. Taylor died. Dr. Tliompson was spoken of as his successor. It is known that when the rumor reached his ears, he wrote that he could not accept the position, and con- sidered himself unfitted for it. He spoke excellently both French and (German, and he frequently had oc- casion to employ his accomplishments as a linguist in the public addresses which he delivered in Europe. Though always an invalid. Dr. Thompson's last illness was caused by an accident which had happened to him during his visit to London, when, while staniling upon the doorstep of a friend's house, he was prostrated by- vertigo, severely injuring his head. He died at Ber- lin, Sept. 20, 18f 9. Among his other productions may be noted The Coller/e as a Religious Institution (1859) ; — Love and Penalty {I860) : — Bryant Grey (1863):—

THOMPSON

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THOMPSON

ChrUtiuniiy ami Kmnncipation (1863) : — The Tlohj Com- forter (18(JG): — Man in Genesk and Geoh);/;/ (1809): — and Life of Christ {\ii~b) : — with a great vark'ty of pam- |)lilets and of contributions to periodical literature. He was understood, at liis death, to be preparing a work on The llebrtws in i'-'jui't. See .V. Y. Tribun(',S(H)t.2->. 1879. Thompson, Joseph Russell, a Presbyterian minister, was born Sept. 15, 1823. He received a good academical training, graduated at Jefferson College in 1818, and at tlie Associate Theological Seminary at Canonsburg, I'a.. in 1851; was licensed liy the Associate Presbytery of Cliarliers in 1852, and ordained and in- stalled pastor of the ^Mount Pleasant Churcli April 25, 1853. He died Dec. Ill, 18(51. Mr. Thomjison was a popular preadier, a constant worker, and a tender and thoughtful pastor. See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Almanac,

\mi, p. ;3t;5.

Thompson, Lewis, a Presbyterian minister, was born at Volney. N. Y., April 25, ls;'>(). After receiving a classical education, he entered the Union Tlieological Seminary in 1851. and, c()m|)leting the course, graduated in 1857. He was ordained and installed |)astor of the Church in Whippany, N. J., Jinie 9, 1857. He remained in this charge with great acceptability and usefulness initil 18()9, w^hen tie resigned to become editor of a relig- ious paper in IJricksburg, N. J. He occupied this post ft)r two years, and then removed to Brooklyn, N. V,, and became 'a classical teacher, in the occupancy of which position he dieil, \\m\ 19, 1873. (W. P. S.) '

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