Hesperian College, located in Woodland, became known as "The Bethany of California" in the 1860's.  This was a reference to Alexander Campbell's Bethany College which had served as a model to the founders of Hesperian College.  One visitor to California said of the college:  "It is a good institution, under the special patronage of the Christian brotherhood of this coast, with 120 students in its classes."

Although Thomas Thompson was no longer a young man in the decade of the 1860's, he remained a tireless worker on behalf of the churches.  In a letter to the Christian Standard, one of his colleagues said:  "Elder Thomas Thompson, of Santa Clara, like the Master, goes about doing good."  Thompson traveled much of the time in an old topless buggy pulled by a gray horse called "Old Charley."  The old pioneer preacher and his faithful horse had been a familiar sight on the California scene for many years.

In addition to his travels among the churches, Thompson faithfully served the Santa Clara church as an elder.  When one of his fellow elders, Solomon Rogers, died in 1863, Thompson sent an obituary account to Alexander Campbell in which he said of Rogers:

He joined the Baptist church in his 19th year, and acted as deacon in that church for a number of years.  But on hearing the reformation doctrine, as taught by W. Scott, he embraced it, and joined the church of Christ at Carthage, Ohio; was soon afterwards appointed one of its Elders, and has acted in that office in each congregation that he has been a member of, and of Santa Clara until his death.  The community, and especially the church at Santa Clara have never suffered so great a loss before, as when this old, zealous, affectionate Elder left us.

One correspondent for the Christian Standard who was passing through Santa Clara in the late 1860's wrote:  "Brother Thompson, who has long lived here, and held the office of Elder, is still the leading member, and performs his duties, at the age of seventy-two or three, with a vigor and zeal that might put younger champions to shame."

One of the "younger champions" in the state was James Anderson, Thompson's son-in-law.  Anderson met the Thompson family in the mining country in 1850, and he later married Frances Thompson.  He was soon to discover that his father-in-law was a persuasive evangelist.  Thompson not only baptized Anderson into Christ, he encouraged him to preach the gospel.  Anderson began preaching in 1857, and by the 1860's he had become one of the most effective evangelists in the State.  One account says that "few men were better known among the pioneers and workers" of the Restoration Movement in California than James Anderson.

The last family encampment that Thomas Thompson was able to attend was the one held near his home in the fall of 1871.  He seemed to have a premonition that this might be his last opportunity to meet with his fellow-Christians.  Prior to the meeting he sent the following appeal around the State in the church papers:  "Will you please say to sisters and brethren, that it is my special request that they all attend our state meeting, that I may see them once more in the flesh."

Thompson had a wonderful time at the 1871 encampment, but his premonition was true.  On April 14, 1872, just three months before his 75th birthday, he laid aside his earthly task of preaching the gospel and went home to be with his Lord.  With the death of Thomas Thompson, the Restoration Movement in California closed the pages on its exciting first chapter.

Thomspon had been the lonely pioneer in the fall of 1849.  But after a ministry of more than 22 years, he had seen the movement grow from one family to 50 established churches and 3,000 members.  The foundation he laid was solid.  The church in California enjoyed both unity and expansion throughout his lifetime.  At the time of his death, a second Christian college in the state was preparing to open in Santa Rosa in the fall of 1872; and the work in southern California was just beginning.

Twenty years later, the Restoration Movement in California would be tragically dividing over the establishment of a state missionary society and the introduction of musical instruments into the public worship of the church.  But the generation of pioneers who brought the movement to California were blessed with unity of purpose.

I recently stood at the grave of Thomas Thompson in the Santa Clara Cemetery and thought of his great contribution to the cause of Christ in Missouri and Califrnia.  I felt a strong kinship to this brother I had never met.  Pioneers like Thompson blazed the trail for others who were to follow, and I am grateful for their accomplishments.  We can be proud of a heritage that produced servants like Thomas Thompson.

Pepperdine University, Malibu, California 90265