AUGUST, 1861.
ARCHIBALD THOMAS.
In obedience to a request of the
Foreign Mission Board of the Southern
Baptist Convention, the writer is in¬
duced to pay a small tribute to the mem¬
ory of the deceased brother whose name
stands at the head of this article. This
task is not performed with reluctance.
A mournful pleasure is felt in tracing
the footsteps of a brother beloved, as he
passed over his earthly pilgrimage to
the heavenly Canaan.
Archibald Thomas was born in Caro¬
line county, on the 28th of March, 1796.
His early life was passed amid the quiet
scenes of the country, and under the
guidance of pious parents, who were
members of the Methodist denomina¬
tion. When comparatively young he
removed to Richmond, and commenced
business. Shortly after, he intermar¬
ried with Miss Catharine Elizabeth
Puller, daughter of Mr. Golder Puller,
of King William county. Up to this
time he remained a stranger to the re¬
newing power of the grace of God, al¬
though his character and deportment
were externally moral. About the
year 1826 or 7, his attention was ar¬
rested by the startling considerations
connected wTith his spiritual condition
and destiny, and all self-righteous reli¬
ances were abandoned, to lay hold of
the hope set before him in the Gospel.
He now began to lead a new life.
With anxious heart he sought to know
and perform the will of Jesus, his Di¬
vine Redeemer. But soon his faith and
courage were put to a severe test. Hav¬
ing been nurtured in the principles of
Pedobaptism, upon reading the New
Testament, he found his convictions
of duty coming in conflict w|th
deep rooted early predilections. The
trial was much increased by the appeals
and solicitations of old friends, who
urged him not to desert the principles
of his fathers. His solicitude and dis¬
tress were deep and painful. About
this period, his loved wife also yielded
to the Saviour’s sway, and having set¬
tled in her mind the question of duty
as to the ordinance of baptism, she deter¬
mined, without attempting to influence
her husband, to unite with the Baptist
Church. The arrangements for her
baptism were made, and he accomp i-
nied her to the water. As they ap¬
proached ^the spot, the question was
strongly forced upon his mind wThether
he could be willing longer to resist the
will of his Divine Lord. The fear or
favor of man had hitherto controlled
him, but now he resolved to break
away from all such influences, and to
obey, without conference with flesh and
blood. At the water side, in the pres¬
ence of the gathered church, he gave
his testimony, to the praise of the Re¬
deemer, that whereas he was once blind,
now he saw. He and his companion,
with others, were then buried with
Christ in baptism, by the Rev. John
£err, then pastor of the First Baptist
Church of this city.
