Thompson, Thomas, a Methodist Episcopal min- ister, was liorn in Beaver County, l*a. ; awakened at a camp-meeting untler the jireaching of the Rev.William Swayze; admitted on trial in the Pittsburgh Conference in 1831, and appointed to Lcesburg Circuit. He labored as follows: Centreville, INIercer, Newcastle, Richmond, Salem, Lumberport, and Grand view. In 1843 he be- came a supernumerary, and in 1848 a superannuate. He died Feb. 13, 1851. See Minutes of Annual Confer- ences, iv, 002.
Thompson, William, an eminent English Wes- leyan i)reacher. was born iu the county of Fermanagh,
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Ireland, in 1733. He was converted younc:, and in 1757 be commenced his ministrj' among the Methodists. In 1758 he went to Ennland, and soon learned what kind of a work it was which he liad undertaken. On one oc- casion, when Mr. Thompson was prea^-hing, a mob, insti- gated by a miinsler of the Cluirch of England, arose and carried him and the principal Methodists on board a transport which was ready to sail with a war -fleet, England then being engaged in war on the Continent. Through the exertions of lady 11 untingdon. however, the government ordered their release. In 17G0 Thompson labored in Scotland, but with little snccess. After 1782 he travelled some of the principal circuits in England. His last was Manchester. He died at Birmingham, May 1, 1799, of a disease the seeds of which bad been sown in 17(51 by sleeping in a damp bed — an in(hscre- tion which killed many of the early ISleihodist preachers. William Tln)mpson was one of the men who jiiloted the bark of Methodism through the tnudiloiis waters after the death of the great helmsman, Wesley. He was a man of that calmness, sagacity, and statesmanlike cast of mind which were so much needed at that time, and which led to his election as president of the first Confer ence (1791) after Wesley's death. He was one of the committee appointed to converse with Kilham. \^'ith the endorsement of Benson, Bradburn, Hopper, and oth- ers, he sent out the Halifax Circular, which marked out a basis for the preservation and government of the in- fant Church. Mather and Pawson consulted him on the state of the connection. He arbitrated in regard to the settlement of the Bristol disputes in which Ben- son was embroiled; he approved Mather's /.f//fr ^o ^Ae Preachers; and he gave to IMethodism its district meet- ings and Plan of Pacification. He was one of the ablest speakers and closest reasoners in the British Con- ference. "Fewer traces," says Ikniting (in his Life of his father, .TabeZx Bunting, ch. vi), "are to be found of him than of any of his eminent contemporaries. My father used to speak of the old man's gravity of speech, spirit, and demeanor, and of the advantages he himself derived from his example and ministry." See Atmore, Meth. Memorial, s. v.; Minutes of Annual C'o)ferences, 1799; Stevens, //zsf. of Methodism, iii, 25, 33, 140; Me- moir of Entwisle, ch. iii ; Smith, tlist. of Wesl. Meth- odistn, vol. i, ii (see Index, vol. iii).
Thompson, "William J., a clergyman of the lie- formed Church, and a classical teacher of Ingh reputa- tion, was born at Keadington, N. J., March 8, 1812. He was the grandson of John Thompson, a Scotch immi- grant who was killed by the Indians near Williamsport, I*a. After graduating at Rutgers College in 1834, he taught successfully at Millston, N. J., until 1838, when lie began to pursue the usual course of instruction in the Theological Seminary of the Keformed Church. He entered the ministry in 1841, and was settled over the churches of Ponds and Wyckoff, N. J., for three years (1842-45), when he accepted the position of rector of the Grammar-school of Rutgers College. He held this im- portant place eighteen years (1845-63), when he resign- ed and became principal of the Somcrville Classical In- stitute. He died in 18G7. He was a thorough student, scholar, and teacher. His standard of education was high ; his drill incessant, exacting, and minute. He was never satisfied until his pupils had been made familiar with their subjects. He was also tutor in the classics in Rutgers College (1838-41), during his seminary course. Hundreds of his students have passed successfully into the learned professions and other honorable callings. A paralysis of the right side, which afflicted him at four years of age, and during his whole life, interfered mate- rially with his pulpit efHciency, but did not affect his voice or mental powers. He was an enthusiastic teach- er, sometimes stern and severe in discipline, but al- ways conscientious, capable, and successful in dealing with intelligent scholars who wished to learn. His mind was clear and logically exact; his knowledge was alwavs at command. His character was distinguished
for unyielding uprightness and an honorable spirit; his attainments in the sacred languages and theology were large and accurate. As a preacher, he was plain, with- out any ornamentation of style or force of delivery, but evangelical in doctrine and practical iu his aims. See Corwin, Manual of the R<f Ch. p. 492. (W. J. R. T.)
Thomson, Andrew, D.D., a Scotch Presbyterian minister, was born at Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, July 11, 1779, and educated at the University of Edinburgh. He was past(^r of the Church at Sprouston, Roxburgh- shire, from 1802 till 1808 ; afterwards of the East Church of Perth till 1810; subsetpiently of the New Grey Friars' Church, Edinburgh ; and finally of St. George's Church, until his death, Feb. 9, 1831. Dr. Thomson was a man of unconquerable zeal, untiring energy, and com- manding eloquence. He attacked the British and For- eign Bible Society for circulating the Apocrypha with the Holy Scriptures. He opposed the abuses of lay patronage in the Church of Scotland, effectually de- nounced British colonial slavery and other evils, and did much to promote education, morality, and evangel- ical religion in Scotland. Dr. Chalmers says of him, " His was no ordinary championship ; and although the weapons of our spiritual warfare are the same in every hand, we all know that there was none who wielded them more vigorously than he did, or who, with such an arm of might, and voice of resistless energy, carried, as if by storm, the convictions of his people." Among Dr. Thomson's works are, Lectu?-es, Expository and Practi- cal, on Select Portions of Scriptiu-e (Edinb. 1816, 2 vols. 8vo) : — Sermons on Infdelify {1821, 18mo; 1824, cr. 8vo) : — Sermons on Hearin(j the Word (1825, 18mo) : — The Scripture History (Bristol, 1826, V2mci):—The Script- ure History of the Neitl Testament (Lond. 1827, 12mo) :— Sermons on Various Subjects (Edinb. 1829, 8vo) : — Doc- trine of Universal Pardon, being Sermons vrith Notes (1830, 12mo). He also published a number of Cate- chisms, educational and religious works for children. He originated and edited the Edinburgh Christian In- structor (1810 sq.), and contributed to the Edinburgh Encyclopedia. After his death appeared his Sermons and Sacramental Exhoi-tations, with Memoir prefixed (1831, 8vo; Boston, 1832, 12mo). See Chambers and Thompson, Biog. Diet, of Eminent Scotsmen. (W. P. S.)