JOSEPH THOMAS, THE WHITE PILGRIM. 1791 Born, March 7 1798 Separated from his father and mother and lived “under a strange and inhospitable roof” in hope.

JOSEPH THOMAS, THE JOSEPH THOMAS, THE WHITE PILGRIMWHITE PILGRIM

1791 Born, March 71791 Born, March 71798 Separated from his father 1798 Separated from his father and mother and lived “under a and mother and lived “under a strange and inhospitable roof” in strange and inhospitable roof” in hope of attending school.hope of attending school.1800 His brother took him into his 1800 His brother took him into his home and put him in school.home and put him in school.

18031803 Attended school in Giles county, Attended school in Giles county, “kept by Mr. R. Curry, an excellent “kept by Mr. R. Curry, an excellent teacher.” teacher.”

1806 Returned home and deeply 1806 Returned home and deeply convicted of sin at a camp-meeting convicted of sin at a camp-meeting under the preaching of William under the preaching of William Guirey. Guirey.

18071807 After much private After much private prayer he received prayer he received

“evidence of pardon”. “evidence of pardon”. Felt he was chosen to Felt he was chosen to preach the gospel and preach the gospel and suffer persecution and suffer persecution and

tribulation. tribulation.

1807 Attempted to join 1807 Attempted to join Methodists, Freewill Baptists Methodists, Freewill Baptists and Presbyterians but did not and Presbyterians but did not receive encouragement as a receive encouragement as a preacher.preacher.

Benjamin Rainey taught him the Benjamin Rainey taught him the “doctrines and government of “doctrines and government of the Christians”the Christians”

1809 Became a member of the church 1809 Became a member of the church and began to preach. and began to preach.

At General Conference in Raleigh he At General Conference in Raleigh he was “baptized” by John O’Kelly was “baptized” by John O’Kelly (poured). Licensed to preach.(poured). Licensed to preach.

Met Rice Haggard at Grayson Met Rice Haggard at Grayson County. . “I found him to be of strong County. . “I found him to be of strong intellect, and of profound piety. intellect, and of profound piety.

““He exhorted me to be faithful, and the Lord He exhorted me to be faithful, and the Lord would make me useful. I loved him and would make me useful. I loved him and received with joy his counsels.”received with joy his counsels.”

Planned a tour of the West with Haggard Planned a tour of the West with Haggard but took sick. At Liberty meeting house he but took sick. At Liberty meeting house he met James O’Kelly and traveled several met James O’Kelly and traveled several days with him.days with him.

1810 Visited John Mulkey. “I held two 1810 Visited John Mulkey. “I held two days meeting at brother Mulky's. days meeting at brother Mulky's. Here I was met by my dear brother Here I was met by my dear brother Dooly.Dooly.

“ “We had a crowded house on We had a crowded house on Saturday. The people felt the weight Saturday. The people felt the weight and power of truth.”and power of truth.”

1811 Ordained to preach. Visited Cane 1811 Ordained to preach. Visited Cane Ridge. “I returned to Lexington, where I Ridge. “I returned to Lexington, where I met with five preachers of the christian met with five preachers of the christian church, church,

one of whom was B. W. Stone. This one of whom was B. W. Stone. This evening he delivered a sermon on the evening he delivered a sermon on the pre-existencepre-existence of Jesus Christ.” of Jesus Christ.”

After tour he went to Philadelphia and was After tour he went to Philadelphia and was immersed.immersed.

1812 Married Christiana Ritttenour. 1812 Married Christiana Ritttenour. Purchased a home in Orange County, Purchased a home in Orange County, N. C.. N. C..

1813 Sold farm and moved to Madison 1813 Sold farm and moved to Madison County, Ohio.County, Ohio.

18141814 Put off “fashionable Put off “fashionable clothing” and “dressed clothing” and “dressed

agreeably to the impression agreeably to the impression of his mind in white”. Hence of his mind in white”. Hence

his name of the “White his name of the “White Pilgrim. Pilgrim.

18151815 Published the Published the “Pilgrim’s Hymn Book”“Pilgrim’s Hymn Book”

Thro’ Ev’ry Age, Eternal God Thro’ Ev’ry Age, Eternal God (Sung to tune of “Sun of my (Sung to tune of “Sun of my

Soul”)Soul”)Thro' ev'ry age, eternal God, Thro' ev'ry age, eternal God,

Thou art our rest, our safe Thou art our rest, our safe abode abode

High was thy throne, e'er High was thy throne, e'er heaven was made, Or earth heaven was made, Or earth thy humble footstool laid!thy humble footstool laid!

When Jesus Calls Us To His When Jesus Calls Us To His Arms (To tune of “Amazing Arms (To tune of “Amazing

Grace”Grace”

Why should we mourn Why should we mourn departing friends, departing friends,

Or shake at death's alarms? Or shake at death's alarms? Tis but the voice that Jesus Tis but the voice that Jesus

sends, To call us to his arms. sends, To call us to his arms.

Are we not tending upward Are we not tending upward too, too,

As fast as time can move?As fast as time can move? Nor should we wish the hours Nor should we wish the hours

more slow, more slow, To keep us from our love. To keep us from our love.

The graves of all his saints be The graves of all his saints be blest, blest,

And soften'd every bed- And soften'd every bed- Where should thy dying Where should thy dying

members rest members rest But with their dying head? But with their dying head?

18351835 After visiting New York, he After visiting New York, he was took smallpox while walking was took smallpox while walking through the streets. through the streets.

““Now with this smallpox I fear I shall Now with this smallpox I fear I shall never see my family again.”never see my family again.”

““Every possible comfort was Every possible comfort was administered to him, but the skill of administered to him, but the skill of physicians and the aid of friends was physicians and the aid of friends was baffled.baffled.

““We entertained strong hopes We entertained strong hopes of his recovery until one or two of his recovery until one or two of the last days of his life. His of the last days of his life. His earthly sufferings were closed earthly sufferings were closed on Thursday, the ninth of this on Thursday, the ninth of this

month. “month. “

He is buried in

Johnsonburg, New Jersey.

Joseph ThomasMinister of the Gospel of the Christian ChurchKnown as the “WHITE PILGRIM,” by reason of wearing white raimentDied April 9th, 1835,

Aged forty-fourYears, one month and

two days.

““When I joined him in matrimony I When I joined him in matrimony I agreed never to stand in his way in agreed never to stand in his way in preaching the gospel,preaching the gospel,

““and I have reason to be thankful that and I have reason to be thankful that God has to this day enabled me with God has to this day enabled me with all cheerfulness. . . all cheerfulness. . .

““To aid him by my prayers, industry To aid him by my prayers, industry and economy to continue and extend and economy to continue and extend his itinerant labors over the world.his itinerant labors over the world.

Thomas’ Wife’s Response

““He has suffered much for Jesus’ sake, for He has suffered much for Jesus’ sake, for the salvation of perishing sinners he has the salvation of perishing sinners he has sacrificed the world. . . sacrificed the world. . .

““I have gladly suffered with him for the sake I have gladly suffered with him for the sake of Jesus, and I strongly hope I shall be a of Jesus, and I strongly hope I shall be a sharer of his reward in heaven.”sharer of his reward in heaven.”

““Let all sisters who have preaching Let all sisters who have preaching husbands, whose hearts burn with the holy husbands, whose hearts burn with the holy fire of the ancient evangelist, fire of the ancient evangelist,

give them up to God, and be give them up to God, and be willing to partake of their willing to partake of their

sufferings that they may share sufferings that they may share their reward. I remain the their reward. I remain the

Pilgrim’s wife. . . “Pilgrim’s wife. . . “

THE WHITE PILGRIMTHE WHITE PILGRIM

Words by John Ellis, 1838, Words by John Ellis, 1838,

upon visiting the upon visiting the

grave of Joseph Thomas grave of Joseph Thomas

1.I came to the place where the lone pilgrim lay,

And pensively stood by the tomb,

When in a low whisper I heard something say,

How sweetly I sleep here alone!

2. The tempest may howl, and 2. The tempest may howl, and the loud thunder roar, the loud thunder roar,

And gathering storms may And gathering storms may arise, arise,

But calm is my feeling, at rest But calm is my feeling, at rest is my soulis my soul

The tears are all wiped from The tears are all wiped from my eyes.my eyes.

3. The cause of my Master 3. The cause of my Master compelled me from home, compelled me from home,

No kindred or relative nigh; No kindred or relative nigh; I met the contagion, and sank I met the contagion, and sank

to the tomb, to the tomb, My soul flew to mansions on My soul flew to mansions on

highhigh

4. O tell my companion and 4. O tell my companion and children most dear, children most dear,

To weep not for me now I'm To weep not for me now I'm gone; gone;

The same hand that led me The same hand that led me through scenes most severe, through scenes most severe,

Has kindly assisted me homeHas kindly assisted me home. .