REV. THOMAS HICKS 1893 - 1896

“On February 5, 1853, in Manchester, England, Rev. Thomas Hicks began his life which came to an end in the city of Saint John, N.B. on May 6, 1932. Having been nurtured in the religious atmosphere of a Christian home, he became a member of the Wesleyan Church in his early years, and after a thorough course in the schools of his native city and the study of preparatory work for the Christian ministry, he became a Local Preacher in 1872.

Coming to New Brunswick in 1875, he was accepted in that year as a candidate

for the ministry of the Methodist Church and after completion of the course prescribed for candidates and the diligent application of himself to intensive courses

of private study, he was ordained to the office of the Christian Ministry at Charlot- tetown in June 187 9.

The fields of labor to which he gave devoted service were: Baie Verte, Deer Island, Shediac, Newcastle, Kingsclear, Nashwaak N.B., Margate, Alberton, Tryon, York, P.E.I., Albert, Point de Bute, Zion (St. John), and Saint Andrews,

NB.

The Rev. Thomas Hicks was the pastor of the Alberton, P.E.I. Circuit from 1893 to 1896.

After his superannuation in 1921 he resided for two years in England and then supplied the Gagetown, N.B. charge for two years and Westfield, N.B. for nine

months.

During the period of his ministry, the Church manifested its confidence in his leadership by elevating him to many high offices within its gift. He was chairman of Saint John and St. Stephen Districts; Financial Secretary of Summerside, Frederic- ton and St. Stephen Districts. In 1916 he was elected President of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Conference, and in 1918 was a delegate to General Con-

ference.

It is a coincidence of interest that the first and last sermons he delivered were in Queens Square Church, Saint John, N.B., the first upon his arrival in 1875, the last on March let of this year. This servant of God loved the church and to whatever field he was called he rendered conscientious and loyal service. Naturally studious, he never ceased to read and learn, and attained a high degree of intellectual culture. His deliverences always gave evidence of deep thoughtfulness and to be brought into even casual contact with him was to be impressed with his wealth of general knowledge. Whilst he had made exploration of many of the vast regions of religious truth and was informed on modern research and modern conceptions, yet he believ- ed in the changelessness of the human heart and that there were great essential truths which have given glory to the Church and richness to human experience and from a conviction of the reality of those essentials he never once departed.

As a minister he was faithful and sympathetic; as a friend he was kindly and brotherly; as a counselor he was at all times of sound judgment, and in his passing a great loss has been suffered.

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