Atkinson, Thomas (1)

a Canadian Wesleyan Methodist minister, was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to Canada when very young. In early life he united with the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Newburg, Ont., and was received into the ministry in 1855. He spent the greater portion of his life west of the city of London, and died at Maitland, Ont., Dec. 29, 1874. Atkinson was a man of glowing zeal for the salvation of men. With one exception, he held a camp- meeting on every circuit he travelled. The work of God engrossed all his time and energies, and he was only happy when actively engaged in it. See Carroll, Case and his Contemporaries (Toronto, 1867-77, 5 vols. 12mo), v, 249; Minutes of the Canada Conference (Toronto), 1875.