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LIFE

OF

EDWARD THOMSON, D.D., LL.D.,

Late a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

BY HIS SON

REV. EDWARD -THOMSON, M. A.

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CINCINNATI: CRANSTON & STOWE,

NEW YORK: PHILLIPS & HUNT.

1885.
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Libra

May, 196

PREFACE.

FOR

OR over twelve years I waited for some competent person to write the life of my beloved father. Bishop Gilbert Haven, one of his greatest admirers, intended to do it, but his unexpected and premature death prevented the consummation. My step-mother undertook the work, but had gathered together only a few materials when the voice of the Master called her to heavenly employments.

Two years ago some friends suggested the propriety of my embalming the memory of Bishop Thomson. I acknowledged that the work ought to be done, yet I deemed myself incompetent for such an undertaking. All who consider the subject will see that it is a very delicate matter for a son to write "the life" of his father, even though he may be possessed of more facts worthy of record than any other living person; and after undertaking this work, I shrank from it time and again. What my heart wanted to utter I could not say, fearing it would be regarded as too eulogistic.

To prevent the raising of such an objection to the book, I have aimed to do three things:

First. To avoid extravagant panegyric, to hold my pen from rhetorical display, and to make a simple, brief, and clear statement of facts.

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Secondly. I have made my estimates of Bishop Thomson's excellencies after having learned what others thought of him, and have advanced no opinion which has not been sanctioned by good authority, and in many instances I have quoted the language of those most competent to judge.

Thirdly. Instead of reporting my own belief only as to my father's sentiments on various questions, I have in most instances given his own words, as found in his published and unissued works.

I ought perhaps to have omitted from the letters which appear in this volume all reference to myself, but a friend, in whose judgment I have confidence, insisted that they should not be mutilated, since they exhibited so beautifully the father's love for his child. Therefore, I have omitted only the opening or closing of the letters to avoid too much repetition, and occasionally have left out a statement of purely personal character, which could be of no possible interest to the public.

I take pleasure in acknowledging my obligations to various persons who have assisted me in collecting materials for this work, whose names are mentioned in connection with the favors extended; but I must especially mention the great kindness of my old college mate and my father's former pupil, in preparing the able chapter with which we close the volume.

M. E. COLLEGE OF NEBRASKA,
York, Neb., March, 1885.

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E. T.

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