Thomson then served as the pastor for Middle Octorara from 1730 to 1733 when he left because the congregation had difficulty paying him.
This act requires that every candidate for the Presbyterian ministry subscribe to the Westminster Confession and Catechisms in all essential and necessary articles.
Thomson originally proposed requiring candidates subscribe to the Westminster Standards in 1727, but the Synod delayed acting on it.
Jonathon Dickenson published a work entitled, "Remarks on an Overture" where he criticized the idea of subscribing to man made standards and claimed it would not help protect that church from heresy.
The Adopting Act was a compromise that required subscription to the Westminster, but allowed scruples to be judged by presbyteries.
The Old Side-New Side Controversy is the name for the split that occurred during the First Great Awakening in the Presbyterian Church.
A vote ensued regarding the Protest and the Protestors came out in the majority and led to the withdrawal of the New Side brethren.
This book was denounced by Gilbert Tennent as a "detestable performance" and proof that Mr. Thomson was unconverted,[2] and Samuel Finley, a New Side minister, wrote a formal rebuttal to it.
Thomson went on to write another book regarding the controversy entitled, "Government of the Church of Christ."
Blair in a work entitled, "A Vindication of the Brethren who were unjustly and illegally cast out of the Synod of Philadelphia" which was published in 1744.
Gilbert Tennent eventually commended his work on convictions, despite originally denouncing it in his attempts to reunite the two synods.
John Thomson went to North Carolina to preach to Presbyterians who were asking for a pastor to organize them in 1751.
William Henry Foote believes Thomson was there only as a visiting pastor while others E.F. Rockwell thinks he was there to settle down permanently.
Apparently while a missionary at the Buffalo Settlement in Virginia, he began a school for young men.
John Thomson's son-in-law, Richard Sankey (sometimes written Zanchey) sat on the original board.
This may give credence to the claims that John Thomson's efforts and school led to the founding of the college.