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BIOGRAPHY: Gregg M. Thompson
Born: Apr. 11 or 20, 1811 (Cape Girardeau County, Missouri)
Married: Diantha Jagger Thompson
Baptized: May 1826 (Lebanon, Ohio, by Eld. Wilson Thompson)
Ordained: c.1828
Primary field of labor: Missouri, Kentucky, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana
Deceased: March 9, 1888 (Crawfordsville, Indiana)
Writings of note: The Primitive Preacher and several other books
HIS FATHER, Elder Wilson Thompson, was one of the greatest preachers of the age in
which he lived, and like his gifted son, his fame lives after him, for his name is known and honored wherever the Primitive Baptists are found.
— Eld. R.H. Pittman’s Biographical History of Primitive or Old School Baptist Ministers of the United States
ELDER GRIGG M. THOMPSON (son of Wilson Thompson) was one of the most eloquent speakers and ablest debaters we have ever had. In many discussions with men of other religious orders he successfully defended our position [i.e., immediate regeneration by the Holy Spirit] and merited the esteem and commendation of our brotherhood everywhere.
— Eld. William H. Crouse, Regeneration ch.2 (1925).
WHEN A MERE BOY but seventeen years of age, Mr. Thompson joined the
Baptist Church and began preaching, and from that time until death smote
him with his harness on, he never rested from his toil. Indeed, it was said of him
many years ago by one who knew where of he spoke, that “Elder Grigg M. Thompson
has traveled more miles and preached more sermons than any minister living or dead.” No doubt that statement spoke the truth, for during sixty years in storm and snow, in good or ill health, he devotedly followed where duty led, often preaching twice a day for months at a time, and the numbers baptized by him into the church, if gathered together would, indeed be a mighty host marshaled for the army of the Peaceful King.
— Pittman’s Biographical History
Of ALL HIS TRIALS and troubles few can ever know. In cold and heat, rain and snow, he has gone, and never tried to shirk the responsibility he felt was laid upon him. I have often heard him say his dear brethren and sisters were dearer than his own life to him;
and it almost seemed that he offered up his life in that last dreadful ride to Goshen, the church where he wished to be buried, and there we laid him to rest beside a fellow soldier, Elder Daty.
— His widow, Diantha Jagger Thompson,in Zion’s Advocate (May 1888)
WHEN ONLY SEVENTEEN years of age, the Master called him into the service, and for sixty years through storm and snow, through prosperity and adversity, through good report and through evil, he fearlessly and persistently declared the one way of salvation
to sinners.
— Manissa Clark, editor, in Zion’s Advocate (May 1888).
HE LABORED not only in the pulpit, but also with the pen. He has published several books all filled with the faith that possessed his soul.
— Pittman’s Biographical History
I THINK I can say of my dear one that he was as nearly free from jealousy as any one I ever knew. He always said: “If any preacher can tell things better than I can, I am glad of it and if others preachers are loved better than I, that shall be right too, it is very possible
they deserve it.”
— Diantha Jagger Thompson, in Zion’s Advocate (May 1888)
BEING BLESSED with a powerful frame, and a giant intellect, he seemed a fitting vessel for the “treasure” and with all his strength of body and mind, the GRACE OF HUMILITY was so abundantly bestowed, that he was ever ready to declare that the “excellency was of God.”
— Manissa Clark, editor, in Zion’s Advocate (May 1888).
I REMEMBER so well how he loved your husband, and how faithfully they fought for their Master’s cause, through all those dreadful wars on those false doctrines. But they have laid their armor by, and are deaf to idle praise or blame. They have both, I believe, heard
the welcome plaudit: “well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joys of thy Lord.”
— Diantha Jagger Thompson, to Eld. John Clark’s widow, in Zion’s Advocate (May 1888)
HIS CONNECTION with the Advocate since its revival after the war, has been close and intimate; he has been a constant contributor to its columns: and today we may trace his writings to the first article, and the same things are spoken throughout.
— Manissa Clark, editor, in Zion’s Advocate (May 1888).
THAT HE WAS LOVED, respected and honored in his own community, but weakly expresses the feeling of his neighbors. He was a strong man in every sense of the word, and his pure and reproachless life is an example worthy of imitation. He died as he had lived.
— Pittman’s Biographical History
WHILE HE was on his deathbed, “I have never in my life witnessed such love and devotion as the dear brethren and sisters showed him. The house was filled day and night with loving hearts and hands ever ready to do everything, and anything they
could do for his comfort. Even the little children that he loved so well, all wanted to come and see him, and cried as though their little hearts would break.”
— Diantha Jagger Thompson, in Zion’s Advocate (May 1888)
AT THE VERY LAST, while speechless friends were hovering about his bed, he spoke and said: “Turn me, turn me.” Some one proposed to help turn his body in the bed, but
he quickly interrupted saying, “No, no: turn me to the Cross of Christ!” These were the last words he ever spoke. The death angel entered the darkened and silenced room, the tired hands were folded for the long rest, the great heart fluttered and grew still and from the saddened and silent room “two angels issued where but one went in.”
— Pittman’s Biographical History
THE LORD has been pleased to release from service this great soldier of the cross.… We who are called to mourn his loss, should stop and reflect that our Lord has been especially good to his people of this nineteenth century in giving us a G. M. Thompson.
— Manissa Clark, editor, in Zion’s Advocate (May 1888). |
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