THERE are several reasons why we offer the public, in the present form, THE LIFE AND POEMS OF JOSEPH THOMAS; better known as "THE WHITE PILGRIM." First, we think it will be received with favor, and be useful to the candid reader. It breathes of the spirit of firm reliance upon God and exhibits the workings and prompt decisions of a faithful, honest conscience, acting up to its convictions of duty, and receiving as a reward, blessings appropriately bestowed upon a faithful, christian man. It will unquestionably aid the honest, earnest seeker to know and do his duty to God and man, under the full conviction that he will in no wise lose his reward.

      Secondly, It will tend to settle questions which seem to have bewildered many minds. Who was the White Pilgrim? Where did he hail from religiously? When was he born? When and where did he die? [v]

      The publisher has heard him claimed to be an old Negro, Methodist-Episcopal preacher. He has also in possession a book published not many years since, containing a piece of poetry, found in this work, composed by Rev. JOHN ELLIS, of Dayton, Ohio, on visiting his grave, which is claimed to have been handed down from an old Indian tragedy, commencing with the line:

The publisher does not claim for it great literary or poetical merit, and yet some of the scintillations of his poetical genius are seldom surpassed.

      With the hope that this little volume may serve the cause of truth, it is dedicated to the candid public by the

PUBLISHER. [vi]      

[LTGL v-vi]