Hi Obituary of James THOMPSON, M.A. James THOMPSON,M.A., born in Ireland, December 16th, 1843. He decided for Christ before he was sixteen years of age, and immediately commenced working for God as a Sunday School Teacher, being soon after appointed as Class Leader, and accepted as a Local Preacher. In 1865 he entered the Ministry and laboured for seventeen years in his own country, and among his own people. At the Dublin University he took the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, with honours, gaining a Moderatorship in Literature and Philosophy. Subsequently he took the Degree of Master of Arts in the same University. He came to South Africa in 1882. With unusual power and acceptance he fulfilled the duties of his Ministry in the Queenstown, Capetown and Kimberley Circuits. He was a refined, eloquent speaker, and possessed very markedly the pen of a ready-writer. For five years in Ireland he was Editor of the "Christian Advocate," and his contributions to current literature were extensive and valuable. As a man he was affable, winsome and affectionate, attracting to himself a large circle of friends who were charmed and benefitted by their intercourse with him; as a preacher he was clear, chaste and instructive; as a Superintendent he was diligent, capable and faithful; as a pastor he was kind and sympathetic; and as a colleague and brother Minister he was beloved and trusted. He held a prominent position in the South African Church, serving the Conference for several years as one of its Secretaries, and his wisdom, experience, and counsels were exceedingly valuable. He compiled at the request of the Conference a Manual of the Laws and Discipline of the Church, a publication which reflected his accuracy in and wonderful capacity for work. He was twice President of the Conference, fulfilling the duties of the office with rare ability and success, while as Chairman of the Cape of Good Hope and Kimberley Districts he displayed to advantage those remarkable gifts of administration which he possessed. At the Yearly Conference of 1892 he ably represented the South African Conference. He took an interest, and exercised an influence in public matters, and especially in educational affairs. He was from the year 1891 a member of the Council of the Cape University, and served with great usefulness and efficiency on the Kimberley School Board. The hand of God was laid upon him in affliction early in the year 1898. He was able to continue his work at intervals until March, 1899, and became a Supernumerary at the last Conference. He continued in weariness and suffering until the end came. During his illness he manifested beautiful Christian patience and was kept in quietness and peace, sustained and comforted by the abiding grace of God. He entered into rest at Kimberley, November 13th, 1899, in the fifty-seventh year of his age and the thirty-fifth year of his ministry. From: Minutes of Wesleyan Methodist Conference of 1900 Transcribed by Darryl Allwright P O Box 166 Grahamstown 6140 Cell: 076-091-2764