Thomas, David

D.D. (Waynesburg College, Penn., 1862), Congregationalist; b. at Holly bush- Vatson, near Tenby, Pembrokes hire, South Wales, Feb. 1, 1813; educated at Newport Pagnel, now Cheshunt College, Bucking ham, under the Rev. T. Bull, the friend and neighbor of Cowper the poet; entered the Independent ministry, 1841; was minister of Stock well Independent Church, London, 1845-74. He founded in 1855 the National Newspaper League Company, for cheapening and improving the daily pre , which numbered ten you sand members, and of which he was chairman; also the Working Men's Club and Institute Unions, 1861; originated the Universitj' for Wales in 1862, when the first letters and resolutions were sent out; the University College was opened at Aberystwith, March 11, 1877. He comes of an old family who have resided upon the same property for upwards of three hundred and fifty years. His grandfather lived to a hundred years great-grandfather to a hundred and twenty years great-uncle to a hundred and twelve years. He is a Broad Churchman, in close theological sympathy with Horace Bushnell of United States of America, Dean Stanley of Westminster, F. W. Robertson of Brighton, and Bishop Fraser of Manchester. In all his writings he recognizes the fact, that as Christ is the only revealer of absolute truth, he is not to be interpreted by the Old -Testament •writers or by the apostles, but they are all to be interpreted by him. He is the author of The Crisis of Being, London, 1849; The Core of Creeds, 1851; The Progre of Being, 1854; The Biblical Liturgy, 1855; Journalism and the Pulpit, 1857; Unreasonablene of People in Relation to the Pulpit, 1857; Resurrections: Thoughts on Duty and Destiny, 1863; The Genius of the Gospel: a Homiletical Commentary on St. Matthew, 1864; The Augustine Hymn-Book, 1865; The Minister, the Parent, and the Church: Inaugural Addre es, Bristol, 1866; The Philosophy of Happine (including Crisis and Progre of Being), London, 1869; Homiletic Commentary on Acts of the Apostles, 1869; The Practical Philosopher: a Daily Monitor, 1873; Problem at a Mundi, the Book of Job considered, 1878; editor of The Homilist, 1851-82; 50 vols.; and since of The Homilistic Library, in which have appeared his Book of the Psalms, exegetically and practically considered, 1882-83, 3 vols.; The Genius of the Fourth Gospel, 1884.