The principal ingredients that give interest and zest to the reading of memoirs are, incident and anecdote; and the intensity of pleasure and interesting feeling of the reader will be in exact proportion as these are striking and extraordinary, and out of the common order or human affairs. This is the great secret in the composition of fiction; for when a good author contrives his narratives of incidents, anecdotes, and exactly resembling those of human life, and makes fiction appear like facts, and brings his hero into perilous circumstances, and carries him through great calamities, we feel every difficulty through which he passes, our passions are sometimes excited to the highest stretch of their capabilities, and we make his cause ours, and rejoice in his prosperity, and sorrow for his sufferings, just as if they were real, and our own.

The observations above refer to biography in general, and when we apply them o the memoirs of religious people, we generally expect to find circumstances detailed that exhibit the care and prudence of God towards his people, strikingly displayed, some extraordinary exercise of mercy in the conversion of the party about whom we read, and something out of the common order of religious experience in their subsequent life.

It is pretty certain however, that the essence of true religion is and must be much the same in all those who are the subjects of it, and the experience of those who, as the Scriptures phrases it, "walk with God" will only differ in circumstances, and which is occasioned partly by the influence of worldly things, partly by the texture of the mind, and not a little by a difference of education. Who knows not, that in the various sections of the Christian Church, all pious people love, hope, and fear, and pray, and watch, and rejoice, and feel alike?

The narrator of the following memoir feels sorry that he is not furnished with more of these interesting incidents that tell upon the human feelings, and show the hand of God, and that he cannot relate those anecdotes that no doubt the deceased could have furnished, and especially as he lived in the early days of Methodism, when remarkable religious facts more frequently occurred than in the present day.

My revered father, John Thompson, was born at Wylam, a small village in Northumberland, of poor but industrious parents, in the year of our Lord 1774. His father paid little or no regard to the religious or moral instruction of his children, but his mother, being deeply imbued with religious feeling herself, endeavoured to instil the same into the mind of her son John, and such were the impressions made upon him, that when but a child, he was led to gaze upon the starry heavens, and survey the wonders of creation, the vastness of which implanted in his intellect the Majesty of the Creator.

Being accustomed to attend both the church and the meeting with his pious mother, his mind became gradually illuminated by the ministry of the Gospel, but by an inscrutable providence, he lost the example, and instruction, and encouragement of his mother by her death, at a very early period in his life, a loss which to him was irreparable, and he was left to roam at random like other careless boys, in search of peace and comfort, in worldly things, where they are not to be found. He was now thrust out into the world, to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow, and to mingle with wicked boys, having no one to reprove him, and as a natural consequence of his early impressions of religious veneration for God and his Gospel wore off; and although it does not appear that he ever became outwardly profane, yet, as his education had been exceedingly limited, he was not sufficiently fortified with religious knowledge, and religious feeling, to "avoid that which is evil, and cleave unto that which is good". Still, however, the Spirit of God strove with him, and at the age of 13 he was placed as an apprentice in an ungodly family, where he had the felicity to become acquainted with a truly pious individual, who soon discovered that my father had serious impressions, and took him with him to the house of God, where his mind soon yielded to the influence of Gospel truth, and subsequently united himself to the Wesleyan Society in March 1789.

He was now brought to feel his wretched condition as a sinner, and before he received his first ticket of membership, he obtained a clear manifestation of the pardoning love of God, by means of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. But no sooner had he taken his stand on properly religious ground than he became the subject of virulent persecution from the family in which he was placed, and their opposition was brutal in the extreme, so that they succeeded in the end in stopping his course; for he relinquished his connection with the people of God, for about the space of two years, when the providence of God removed two of the bitterest of his persecutors into eternity. The only surviving opponent, afterwards married a pious female, who was a Methodist, and who very soon turned the scales in favour (sic.) of my dear father, and subsequently opened his way to the house of prayer, and he readily embraced the opportunity, and again united himself with that people.

By the kind attention of his former friend, the late Mr Matthias Stokoe, of whom a short memoir was published in the Methodist Magazine, and whom he ever esteemed as his spiritual father, he began to advance in religious experience, and became a steady and consistent Christian. He now felt the lack of education, and availed himself of what opportunity he had, which was however exceedingly scanty; for his master was a confirmed drunkard, and frequently, after labouring hard through the day at his business, he had to go from one public house to another in search of his master, who attempted to use his authority to compel him to join in the drunken revel; but finding him invulnerable to all his attacks he has actually followed him with weapons of cruelty, and threatened his destruction. I merely record these circumstances to show, not only that my father had but little opportunity for mental culture, but also that it required no small share of religious resolution to enable him to bear up under such treatment, and "keep the noiseless tenor of his way".

What opportunity he had, however, he eagerly embraced, and thankfully improved, and soon after he occasionally engaged in public prayers, and afterwards was chosen as leader of a class, and giving satisfaction to those with whom he was so intimately connected, it was soon perceived that he possessed a degree of native talent, which if brought into exercise in the ministry, would render him more extensively useful in the church, and in the world.

He was deeply sensible of the awful responsibility of such a work, and consequently was unwilling to rush into it without proper precaution; he therefore hesitated until the conviction of its being his imperative duty became so strong that he could no longer resist them; yet like Moses he felt his own insufficiency and that "he was, a man of no eloquence, but slow of speech, and of a slow tongue; and the Lord said unto him, who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? now therefore g, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shall say" (Exodus: iv., ch.10, 11,12)

This passage was most powerfully applied to his mind, so that he could no longer doubt of his call, and like St Peter, on a somewhat similar occasion, was ready to exclaim, "what was I that I could withstand God". (Acts: XI, ch.17).

It is true that the circumstances of Moses and those of a poor Methodist local preacher, differ very essentially, yet, when we consider that, as the ministry of the gospel is an extraordinary work, and therefore requires extraordinary assistance from God, we are not to imagine that such a passage is improperly applied. The work of a Methodist local preacher is performed at immense sacrifice; for, in the first place, he receives no remuneration for his labour; he gives up the comfort of his home, almost every Sabbath for the good of others, who, sometimes, with mighty sapience, intimate, that he is under more obligation to them for allowing him to labour in their service, than they are to him for so doing; he travels for ten to twenty, or thirty miles on the Sabbath, and preaches two or three times, and sometimes unfits himself for his temporal business the next day; he is occasionally insulted by those who consider themselves his superior in the ministry; and yet, these excellent men pursue their work, at the risk of shortening their days, and without a murmur, for they "endure as seeing him who is invisible".

Certainly, then, if anyone needs the encouragement of such a passage as that just quoted, the Methodist local preacher is the man.

He now saw the possibility of daily studying the depravity of his own heart, as being the best key to opening the lock of the depravity of those to whom he preached, and then he felt the necessity of being well acquainted with the Holy Scriptures, that he might apply these to all the latent evils of the human heart, and lead the sinner to a thorough knowledge of himself, and then to a proper knowledge of God.

In studying the Bible, like the miner in search of precious ore, he dug deep in the quest of the holy treasure; he was not one that was satisfied with skimming on the surface of the sacred mine, but penetrated its deepest recesses and was therefore enabled to bring out of the Word of God, "things old and new".

He soon gave proof that he had received his ministry from God, and not from man, and bent all his energies to obtain a thorough knowledge of the doctrines of our holy religion, that he might be the better qualified to state and defend them. I remember hearing him tell, soon after he began to preach, on one occasion, a sensible and judicious friend who had heard him, took him by the hand, when done, and said, "Oh brother, it is easy to tell when the Lord makes a preacher." In those days Methodism was but very imperfectly known, and the circuits were very extensive, and after toiling hard through the week at a very laborious calling, he hailed the Sabbath, and thought it no trouble to travel twenty or thirty miles on foot, to preach the unsearchable (sic.) riches of Christ.

Having finished his apprenticeship, and being without a home, he very soon entered upon the matrimonial state, when his difficulties were continued in his having to provide for a numerous family, by the dint of his own exertions. Wages at that time were but small, yet being an excellent workman at his business, which was that of a Corver, he met with encouragement, and was thereby able to provide things honest in the sight of all men. Having settled in the neighbourhood of Newcastle, he laboured as a local preacher, in that circuit for some years, with considerable success.

In the year 1807, he removed to Catershaugh, and engaged himself to work with his old master with whom he had served his apprenticeship, who notwithstanding his former ill treatment, still respected my father, both as a workman, and as a person of integrity.

Here he entered on the scene of his former labours, being then on the Sunderland plan, and as the circuit then embraced what is now called the Durham, Gateshead and South Shields circuits, he had a wide field in which to labour, and he was not one of those who wished to cut and carve for themselves, but he fearlessly, and resolutely made it a point to fulfil his engagements on the plan, and neither weather nor distance of place ever deterred him from his purpose.

Preaching was a work in which his soul delighted and he not only fulfilled his own work on the plan, but very frequently that of others.

It was at the above place that he was made very useful not only in preaching, but also in holding prayer meetings, and in leading two large classes. I well remember, although I was only in my eighth year, his taking me to those means of grace, which made impressions on my mind which never wore off. When he had continued in this place for a year and a half, providence at length opened his way to undertake a situation of his own, and the late Michael Longridge Esq. became his patron, and he removed to Newbottle Colliery in the year 1809. In this situation he was much tried by ungodly men, with whom he had to transact business, and although master for himself, he had still to labour, and many painful circumstances to pass through, yet he "held fast the beginning of his confidence, continued instant in prayer, and enjoyed communion with the Father, and the Son, by the influence of the Holy Ghost".

When religious people are placed in perplexing and difficult circumstances, and have to struggle with outward troubles and afflictions in their families, it is then that their faith and hope and love to God and his cause, are put to the trial, and if they unflinchingly pursue their way in the midst of those "fiery trials", religion is honoured, God is glorified, and lookers on are edified by their example.

We are never to imagine that poverty, affliction, perplexity in our affairs, or trials of any sort, when they meet us in the common course of providence, and are not brought upon us by our own neglect of duty, or commission of sins, are sent from God either as punishments, or as proofs of his displeasure, but we should rather consider them as proofs of God's love and kindness towards us.

Let us hear the word of the Lord, "for the Lord's portion is his people Jacob, is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, beareth them on her wings. So the Lord alone did lead him." And it by providential afflictions, and by perplexities that our God manages this business, and if anyone doubts of it, he needs only to turn to the 12 Ch. of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and he will find the matter debated at considerable length, and by the pen of inspiration. We learn from the writer that troubles, all troubles, to God's people, "are for their profit, that they may be partakers in his holiness", Verses 10.11.

St. Paul makes a discovery that every pious man should study attentively, and it is this, that there is a connection between suffering here, and future glory, and positively states that "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and external weight of glory". ii Cor. 4 ch.17

In St. Paul's own case, he tells us "that he knew not what was to befall him", but the Holy Ghost in some way "witnessed that in every city" to which he might go, "bonds and afflictions awaited him". But did this discourage him? did it lead him into fretfulness and murmuring, and to imagine that God was displeased with him? Nothing of the kind. Hear his triumphant declaration under these circumstances - "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God". Acts 20 ch.22,24 "Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reighneth".

It may not be amiss to observe, that my father lived on terms of intimacy and friendship with persons belonging to other denominations of Christians, who highly respected him, and visited him whenever opportunity served.

He had his family altar, and however pressing the claims of his business might be, he never, to my knowledge, neglected the morning and evening sacrifice. He was faithful in reproving professors of religion, and occasionally has brought himself into unpleasant circumstances, by thus discharging what he conceived to be his duty.

He not only had his trials in this world, but was much exercised with domestic affliction; and being an affectionate husband, and indulgent parent, he watched over his charge with anxious solicitude, and every stroke that was laid on them, he felt most acutely.

Having himself an excellent constitution, he was almost a stranger to bodily disease, until about the year 1832, when he was visited by a very alarming one, which threatened to terminate his useful life; but in answer to the prayers of himself and family, his days were lengthened, and he was restored to fill his place in the world and in the church; and continued to labour on in the word and the doctrine of his God and Saviour, with his former zeal and energy.

About this time his friends, amongst whom he had so long laboured, determined at length to unite their efforts, and purchased an elegant copy of the Rev. Watson's Institutes of Religion, which was presented to him by the Rev. James Beckwith, of Houghton-le-Spring, accompanied with the most flattering sentiments of esteem and admiration of his character as a Christian and a Wesleyan Local Preacher, in which capacity he had laboured for forty-one years.

Shortly after this he lost his eldest daughter, who died a true penitent.

It is but too well known that in this neighbourhood, a very large secession from the Wesleyan Society took place in April 1836, amongst whom my father was one, and it is quite unnecessary for me to detail the causes for which about 700 people retired; and as now the matter is settled down into comparative quiet, nothing more need be said respecting it.

The mysterious operations of providence, it is admitted in many instances baffle the pen of mortals, but when the redeemed spirit shall have escaped the bonds of time and entered upon its eternal rest in Heaven, it shall then behold with unclouded vision, the wisdom and equity of the divine procedure in the moral government of the world. "Now we see through a glass darkly", our vision is intercepted, and we perceive not the design and object which the great Author of our being has in view, in permitting the King of Terrors to enter our domestic circle, and tear from us those on whom our fondest hopes have been placed.

In this respect my dear father was again called upon to part with his youngest, and only, daughter, Hannah, upon whom he was accustomed to look as the guardian of his old age, who having received a good education, and stored her mind with useful knowledge, and possessing a sound judgement, he almost doted on her. But the wasting hand of disease had laid hold of her mortal frame, being of a delicate constitution, she became the victim of consumption, in the 32^nd year of her age. Though she had never made any profession of religion, yet she was sensible of its importance, and had long sought, but did not find, the pearl of great price until a short time before her dissolution, when she exercised a living faith in a living Redeemer, and was able to rejoice in God, through Jesus Christ by whom she received the reconciliation. Romans V, Ch. XI Never, says my dear father (in a letter I received from him on the mournful occasion) did I witness such a mighty change; heaven beamed in her countenance, and in rapture she shouted "Glory! Glory be to God! Tell all the world what he has done for me!" and after charging her mother and father to meet her in heaven, she escaped to the mansion of bliss.

This was a loss to my father, of no ordinary kind, but the triumph of her death, melted his sorrow down into submission to the Divine will.

But here his sorrows did not end; for he was soon after doomed to suffer the loss of his situation, which he had held for 28 years, under very painful circumstances, owing to certain changes which have now become very general. This to him was more painful than anything yet he had ever yet been called to pass through, especially under the circumstances alluded to above, and known only to very few. This took a most serious hold on his constitution, as was very evident to his more immediate acquaintances; for he was daily sinking under the painful stroke, the reasons of which, prudence forbids the record. He still, however, "laboured on at God's command, and offered all his works to him", even at his advanced period of life. And his mental faculties were unimpaired, for some of his later preparations for the pulpit, were as clear, and judicious as any he had ever been accustomed to deliver in his long career of labour.

It was in the spring of 1839, when appointed to Hylton Ferry, on a very boisterous and stormy day, after preaching in the evening, and being in a state of perspiration and having to ride home, that he caught a cold which fixed on his lungs, and not using proper precautions in abstaining from his Sabbath labours, doubtless increased the violence of his disorder. He was soon after this under the necessity of desisting from preaching, and it was thought advisable to try a change of air. He accordingly paid a visit to a friend at Stanhope, in Weardale, and while there he was solicited to preach, and indeed yielded to the invitation, and it was arranged that he should be relieved from the other parts of the service, and only preach. His text was "Launch out into the deep", and this was what might be termed his last production, and certainly his last message to the church, which he delivered in public. Not being likely to receive the benefit anticipated, he soon came home, and it was indeed painful to witness the rapid progress which the disease was making upon his constitution. For my own part, when I first saw him upon his arrival, my hopes of his recovery were completely shaken.

Still feeling anxious for his recovery, medical advice was sought and obtained, but whatever hopes might be cherished by his family, they were soon to give way from the fact, which could no longer be concealed, that he rapidly approached the confines of eternity.

The Sunderland friends, who felt anxious to have him restored, engaged, of their own accord, to send a Physician, to ascertain his real state, who having visited him, did not then communicate to him his near approach to death, till some time after, when a highly valued friend of my father's wrote to the doctor to have his opinion on his real condition, and he informed him immediately, that there was "no hope".

This friend considered it his duty to relieve my father's mind from any uncertainty respecting his state, and as I was there at the time, I had the satisfaction of witnessing the composure of mind in which he received the information that all hope of a recovery was at an end, and all that could be done for him, was merely to keep him as easy as possible. He appeared quite at ease, and resigned to the will of god, and made every arrangement for his funeral, giving me instructions on how to proceed at the occasion. But such was the influence of his disease upon his spirits, that he daily lamented that he felt a strange stupor come over him, so that both body and mind seemed to sink together. Still, however, his confidence in God, as his Saviour and his portion, was strong and unshaken.

His religious friends paid him every mark of respect and attention, and he was visited by Messrs. Wolstenholme, T.B. Young, and Harrison. He was also visited by the Rev. Mr Taylor, Wesleyan Minister, and others of his friends in the Methodist Society, which afforded him a high degree of satisfaction. Shortly before his death, he called his sons together, and gave them his dying advice, to live in peace, pointing out his own deficiencies, and exhorting them to avoid anything which he considered blameable in his own conduct, in reference to training up his own family, and to be careful about their soul's eternal welfare. His sufferings were great, owing to a severe cough , and difficulty in breathing, yet he was not confined to his bed until about three weeks before his death, when he wasted away very quickly.

His constant prayer was for patience, and indeed in him patience appeared "to have her perfect work;" for never did a murmur escape his lips, and when I asked him respecting his state of mind, he replied " Oh John, this is a hard struggle, but I'll soon get the victory."

I visited him on Sunday the 22^nd of December, when his earthly tabernacle was loosing in every pin, so that he was unable to converse, without great difficulty, but said, "he was quite done with the world", and he continued to the Tuesday evening, when he calmly entered the "rest that remains for the people of God".

The following letter which gives a concise view of his character, shall close this memoir.

Dear Sir,

I was well acquainted with your father for a great number of years; and always entertained for him a very high respect, both as a Christian, and as a useful and laborious local preacher. I remember when I was at home with my parents, and the plan was examined to ascertain who had to preach at any of the neighbouring places, as soon as it was announced to the family that it was John Thompson, all were at once not only satisfied, but pleased, as he stood very high I our estimation as a preacher. In after years, when I was better qualified to form a correct judgement in such matters, I never heard your father preach, but I was both instructed and edified. As a preacher, his judgement was clear, and his exposition of Scripture judicious and forcible. Perhaps few men were more diligent and laborious; his attention to his appointments was punctual and unremitting; and for a period of 40 years, although he had frequently to travel a considerable distance, and preach twice or thrice on a Sabbath day, yet I believe he never cost the Circuit anything for horse-hire. I always believed his piety to be solid and genuine; and whatever might be his opinion on some points of church discipline, I believe he acted conscientiously. I know that he had many difficulties of a worldly nature to contend with; and could we ascertain how far his graces were tried and exercised, in this respect, we might then form a more correct opinion of his Christian attainments. But he has gone to his rest, and I have no doubt, in the great reckoning day, it will be said to him, by his Saviour and Judge, "Well done, good and faithful servant".

I am, dear Sir,

Yours truly,

Sunderland,
April 6^th, 1840