JT-15-Supplementary: Obituary of Elder Joseph Thomas.

Supplementary: Obituary of Elder Joseph Thomas.

Several times with unspeakable pleasure, within six months past we have placed the above name at the Head of articles in the Christian Palladium; but now the task is painful. While we commence this article, sensations of the most impressive and afflicting kind, press upon our thoughts. A few weeks ago this strong, healthy man, in the prime of life; this bold, invincible servant of God--this profound logician and orator, was by our side; our warm friend and able counselor. A short time ago, thousands of smiling Christians were crowding the chapels in different parts of the country, to hang upon his melting strains. But alas! his work is done! his earthly course is finished! He will never more weep over perishing sinners, or warn them to flee the wrath to come--he will never again stand by the side of the poor mourner, to pour the balm of consolation into the afflicted bosom, nor hold out the hand of friendship to cheer and encourage the humble disciples whose faces are Zionward. No, that voice which imparted such animation and joy, is silent; that hand which was given in token of Christian fellowship is now cold in death.

"By foreign hands his dying eyes were closed;
By foreign hands his decent limbs composed;
In foreign lands they raised his mound.
By strangers honored, and by strangers mourned."

Elder Thomas was about forty-four years of age, near six feet high, light complexion, straight, athletic, strong, proportioned, and was the picture of health. Twenty-eight years of hard labors and had debilitated him; he was, active, brilliant and cheerful. His name was dear throughout the great valley of the Mississippi, and all the churches in the Southern States. We believe he was a native of North Carolina. His journey East, the past winter, has rendered him dear to all the churches, and has been its blessing, and has brought him, as we believe, to the zenith of his popularity, and he was ready to depart, and be with Christ.

It is truly singular that four distinguished men, all in the prime of life, who have journeyed from the west to the east, (as far as this State,) within three years past, are now all gone down to the grave. Yes, Kinkade, Miles, Lawrence, and Thomas--faithful servants of the church--bold messengers of Jesus, have left the walls of Zion. Mysterious are the ways of Providence, but we submit; all is right; "the Judge of all the earth will do right."

It is supposed, Elder Thomas took the Small Pox in New York, though not exposed to it, to our knowledge, only by walking the streets. He expired on the 9th of April, 1835, at the residence of Elder J. S. Thompson, Johnsonburg, New Jersey. We doubt not that every possible attention was rendered him in his last afflictions, by Elder Thompson and his friends. His sufferings were great, but he was patient and resigned, and often named his kind and bereaved family with that tenderness peculiar to his affectionate manners and fine sensibility. On this melancholy occasion, after describing his sickness, Elder J. S. Thompson writes to us as follows:--

"Every possible comfort was administered to him, but the skill of physicians and the aid of friends was baffled. We entertained strong hopes of his recovery until one or two of the last days of his life. His earthly sufferings were closed on Thursday, the ninth of this month, between seven and eight o’clock, A. M. His mortal remains were that evening committed to the dust in the burying ground in this place by a few friends. Elder Currier and myself were present. The next Sabbath Elder Currier preached a funeral sermon from Matthew 26:44. ’Therefore be ye also ready for such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.’ My acquaintance with my deceased brother was short, but I believe he was a worthy and good man. O, how my heart felt for him when he said to me, ’Now this is the Small Pox, (he being unwilling to believe it until he was broken out with it) I fear I shall never see my family again.’ But that God, in whom he trusted, was his consolation and hope, and I sincerely believe he has gone from his labors to a heavenly reward.

"Judge ye my feelings that my strange brother was at my humble dwelling not more than fifteen days from his first welcome, hoping for life and to return to his family, must fall by the hand of death, and by strangers be conveyed to the dust, but I have an approving conscience that my duty to him as a stranger has been discharged. Since his death, I have written to his bereaved widow and children, now fatherless. May the God of the universe verify his promise to be the ’widow’s God," and may his fatherless children trust in him forevermore." The exit of Elder Thomas is a public loss, which will be extensively felt. It is particularly so to us; he was our personal friend--he was a decided friend to the Christian Palladium and General Measures; he was calculating to exert all his influence in the West, for a general union of exertion between the East, and West. His labors, no doubt, would have accomplished much, and we expect he would have been appointed to fill the office of one of our Executive Committee, as soon as there had been a vacancy. But we are disappointed, and a prominent friend of general measures has fallen, and is cut off in the midst of his days and usefulness. Again, he was pledged to us, and we were every day expecting a communication from him on the subject of our early history in the South. We know of no man now living, so capable of the task. We cannot but indulge the hope that something among his papers, will be found prepared for our use on this subject. We request Elders Thompson and Walter, and Col. Sager to look to this, if it is proper for them to examine his papers. Our history we fear in the South, will forever be imperfect, unless his pen has been employed on the subject. Elder Thomas wrote a history of his life some years since. He also published quite a volume of poems of his own composition. His likeness was accurately taken in New York, in his white dress. It will probably be engraved for binding with this volume.

We would offer his afflicted family our kindest sympathies in their deep affliction and bereavement. May that religion the husband and father has so long and successfully taught, and which gave him joy and comfort in his last moments, be their hope and never failing portion. We feel thankful that his lot in his sickness was cast among kind friends. We well know the kindness and constitutional benevolence of Elder Thompson; the suffering stranger could not have fallen into kinder hands.

While our aged ministers are dropping off, was it not for the vast number of young men who are coming forward, a heavy gloom would gather and over-shadow our prospects. But the Great Eternal God presides; his cause is our cause, and his mighty truth will live and exert a happy influence, and make men free, when all the faithful watchmen who now boldly stand forth in defense of the gospel, shall slumber with brother Thomas in the sweet repose of death.

We have just received the following tribute to the memory of Elder Thomas, from a worthy correspondent, which we admit with pleasure, and also request Elder Millard not to forget this case when his mind is in the right state:

Farewell to thee, my brother--thou art gone to be at rest--
The master’s summons calleth thee to mansions of the blest;
To join with the redeemed ones, and with them ever stand,
In spotless robes around God’s throne--a radiant, holy band.

Farewell to thee, my brother--the cross thou hast lain down,
To bear the palm of glory, and to wear a starry crown,
In that land of peace and gladness, a happy, joyful guest--
Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.

Farewell to thee, my brother--for the voice divine hath spoken;
The seal of death is on thee now, the golden bowl is broken.
We give thee back to dust again--the mortal to the sod--
Peace to thy slumber, brother--we will not chide the rod.

But we’ll think upon thee, brother, as still we journey on,
And hope to strike glad hands with thee, when our pilgrimage is done,
Where death can never enter, nor sorrow rend the breast--
Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.

MERITI AMICUS.