REV. JOSEPH THOMAS.

EV. JOSEPH THOMAS was born near Hawfields (Trolling's bridge on Haw river), in Orange (now Alamance) county, North Carolina, March 7, 1791, and died April 9, 1835. At the age of seven he was separated from his father and mother, and lived "under a strange and inhospitable roof" with the pleasing expectation of going to school. But after two years an older brother, who lived in Grayson county, Virginia, took him to his home and engaged him to a school "adjacent to his abode." In 1803, he attended school in Giles county, "kept by Mr. R. Curry, an excellent teacher." In 1806, having gone to his home in North Carolina, he was deeply convicted of sin at a camp-meeting under the preaching of William Guirey. He began to pray in private, and after a year, at the age of sixteen, he received the evidence of a full pardon. "Now as in an instant," he says, "it was manifest to me that I was chosen and appointed to preach the gospel far and near, and that I should have to bear much persecution and tribulation for the sake of Jesus." His first thought was to connect himself with the Methodists, then next with the Freewill Baptists, and then with the Presbyterians; but as he did not receive encouragement according to his notion, he visited Elder Benjamin Rainey who explained to him the doctrines and government of the Christians. He says, "So I became a member of that church in the 17th year of my age 1807. I then began to exercise my gift in speaking among the brethren. After this the church gave me a recommendation to the great meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina." On the 19th day of October, 1807, he set out for Raleigh where the General Meeting or Conference was to be held, beginning on Friday, October 22nd. On his way he fell in with [80] Elders M. Debruler and John Hayes. At this Conference he was baptized by Rev. James O'Kelly, and was licensed to preach, although only a little over sixteen years of age. His first labors were in Virginia.

      In those days it was customary for the preachers to travel two and two, so Rev. Joseph Thomas traveled first with Elder J. Warren through Mecklenburg, Lunenburg, Prince George, Prince Edward, Queen Ann, Henrico, Chesterfield, and Amelia counties. But the relations between Elder Warren and himself not being pleasant, he left him and began to labor with Elder Thomas Reeves in Surry county, and counties to the eastward.

      In 1809, he attended the meeting at Shiloh in Halifax county, Virginia, and from there he visited his home near Hawfields. From there he went to Apple's church in Guilford county, North Carolina, where he met with Rev. James O'Kelly. They both preached, and Mr. O'Kelly administered the Lord's Supper. This was June 4th. By the middle of July he had made a visit to Grayson county, Virginia, and returned to his relatives on Haw river. He next directed his course eastward and visited Rev. Rice Haggard and Old Lebanon. On April 10th, at Chaney chapel he attended a sacramental meeting of the Republican Methodists.

      Young Thomas had made an engagement to travel with Elder Haggard through the western country, but was prevented from doing so by sickness. They were to meet at his brother's on New river, Grayson county, Virginia, on first day of June, 1810. Joseph Thomas was believed to be "in a comsumpted state." After he had sufficiently recovered from "spitting of blood," and cough, he directed his course southward into South Carolina, and returned by way of Fayetteville, Newbern, and Raleigh. And he went on through Wake into [81] Warren county. At liberty meeting house he met with Rev. James O'Kelly again; they crossed over Roanoke river into Virginia and "traveled several days together, preaching by day and by night to congregations generally large and attentive."

      In 1811, having made a tour through the West, he returned by way of Philadelphia, was re-baptized by immersion, and on the 9th of July, in the courthouse he was ordained "by the laying on of the hands of two regularly ordained Elders." This was about four years after he had been licensed at the Conference at Raleigh, North Carolina, and the reader will naturally inquire,--Who baptized him? Who ordained him? In his autobiography, he gave the facts only. But elsewhere it is said, "After a discourse on the occasion by E. Smith, Brother Thomas kneeled down on an elevated place where the people could see and hear. Elders E. Smith, and J. Gray, with Brother J. Hunter kneeled with him, and laid their hands on him. Brother Gray prayed. This being all done, to ordain according to the New Testament: they arose and the brethren, with many of the congregation, joined in singing the eighth hymn, 'What contradictions do we meet,' etc." They gave him the right hand of fellowship. After preaching in the vicinity of Philadelphia and eastward a few months, he went thence to the General Meeting held in Caroline county, Virginia, first Friday in October. At this place he met with William Guirey. After Conference closed, he went to the western part of the state.

      He was married to Christiana Rittenour, daughter of Michael Rittenour, by Elder J. Foster of Winchester, Virginia, on Sunday, April 5, 1812. He purchased a home and settled in Orange (Alamance) county, North Carolina, but the following year disposed of his place and purchased a home in Kernstown, Frederick county, Virginia. In 1814, he sold his possessions, put off his [82] "fashionable clothing" and "dressed agreeably to the impressions" of his mind in white--whence his name the "White Pilgrim." He published his "Pilgrim's Hymn Book" in 1815.

      His autobiography closed with 1817, while he was living in the Valley of Virginia. In 1820, he made a tour through North Carolina and Virginia. Soon after he moved with his family to Madison county, Ohio. In 1835, he made a tour of the Eastern States, and while in New York city, he is supposed to have taken small-pox by walking through the streets in some infected district though not exposed to it. He died at the home of Elder J. S. Thompson, Johnsonsburg, New Jersey.

      In a "Eulogy" before the North Carolina Conference at Moore Union, Moore county, Rev. H. B. Hayes says:

      "One great leading object, Elder Thomas had in view, in the commencement of his ministry, was the conversion of souls. He saw that the world lay in wickedness, and numbers were heedlessly pursuing the road to death. He learnt in the Holy Scriptures that Christ had died for the sin's of the world, and was willing to save all that would repent and believe in him. He saw a fullness in Jesus to save the vilest sinner. Having been delivered from a state of guilt and condemnation himself, and drunk of the waters of life and experienced the Saviour's love shed abroad in his own soul, it was his earnest desire that every sinner might experience and feel the same.--Thus he felt fire, as it were, shut up in his bones, and was constrained to cry aloud and spare not. Though he had to wade through deep waters and fiery trials, yet he frequently pursued his course and hundreds were converted through the instrumentality of his labors. Elder Thomas's manner of preaching was peculiar to himself. His discourses were delivered with the sweetest strains of eloquence which fell upon the ear with delight, and thrilled the soul of his hearers; [83] your humble speaker will not forget the melody of that voice, which is now still in death."

      And another says, "A few weeks ago this strong healthy man in the prime of life; this bold invincible servant of the living God--this profound logician and eloquent orator, was by our side; our warm friend and able counsellor. A short time ago, thousands of smiling Christians were crowding the chapels in different parts of the country, to hang upon his melting stains. 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."

      "He sleeps quietly in a rural cemetery in Now Jersey."

      An excellent poem, dedicated to his memory by an unknown "MERITI AMICUS" begins thus:--

      Rev. John Ellis, in addition to the following hymn composed by him on the occasion of a visit to his grave, wrote also a sketch of his life:

[LCM 80-85]