THE ANNUAL MEETING.' 213 



to 1876, Secretary of the Michigan Pomological Society; 1876, Secretary of 

 the State Agricultural Society ; 1880, he died, leaving a widow and two sons. 



My friends, there is his history — born — lived — died. That is the history of 

 us all — the difference between us is in the living. He was an orphan at six 

 years of age. The very word orphan usually implies a history; with that word 

 we all associate trials and troubles. But it is not upon his early career I will 

 dwell, you have listened to his life and know something of his writings, and 

 without rehearsing more of the one or the other, I will speak of him as a 

 man and as a member of this society. 



In the sketch of his life we catch sight of the struggles, the trials, and the 

 successes attending it. We do not see the unselfish devotion to the cause we 

 represent here. His work among us was missionary work in its highest sense, 

 and it was performed often, I may say always, under the torture of physical 

 pain, for he was for years a martyr to disease. His courage through it all was 

 only equaled by his patience. 



In 1870 Mr. Thompson, with a few other gentlemen, met in Grand Kapids 

 and organized this society, and from that day he never ceased to labor for it. 

 His position on the press, added to his ability, made his aid important. His 

 help was never given grudgingly. He worked for this society with his whole 

 heart, and his work had au increased value because of his being a member of 

 it, as a man may love and fight for a cause outside the ranks, but can never do 

 as efficient service and be as highly honored as if he were a trained and uni- 

 formed soldier. He had the valuable faculty of recollecting the names and 

 faces of those he met, and an extraordinary aptitude in discerning their indi- 

 ' vidual character, so that if aid was required he knew the peculiar adaptability 

 of each man for the work needed. For him to meet a man was to know him. 

 He was unselfish. In his work for this society he sought only its good and 

 not his own aggrandizement. He was fair and honest in his dealings, a cour- 

 teous Christian gentleman, a manly man. I have spoken of his remarkable 

 memory of men and names. He had also an unusual talent for recollecting 

 passing events. Frequently at public meetings I have wished he would take 

 more ample notes, fearing that his assiduous attention to the business of the 

 day would prevent his giving publicity through the press to matters transpir- 

 ing of interest to the community in general, but these fears were groundless — 

 the next issue of his paper would contain an accurate report of every impor- 

 tant transaction ; nothing seemed to have escaped his observant eye, his vigi- 

 lant — I might almost say intuitive — recognition of what had occurred. 



I said Mr. Thompson was a Christian gentleman. I hope it will not be 

 invading the sanctity of private life to mention an interview I had with him 

 in May, 1871, when he was at the age of 45 years. The day previous he had 

 been baptized. When I took him by the hand and congratulated him on the 

 step he had taken, he said with moistened eyes, " With God's help." When 

 afterwards so many times I have seen him stretched on the bed of sickness, 

 racked with pain, or moving slowly and painfully about with the help of his 

 stout cane, as I felt the cordial grasp of his friendly hand and heard his ever 

 cheery voice, the words "with God's help" would recur to me. But I will not 

 enlarge on his private virtues. We who knew him loved him. Certainly this 

 society as an association cannot forget his services, for to him, more than any 

 other man, may be attributed any success it has achieved. His ability, his 

 zeal and good jugment gave weight, and his position as an editor publicity, 

 to our proceedings, carrying interest and influence where otherwise they would 

 have remained unfelt and unknown. 



