entitled, "Government of the Church of Christ." This work dealt with the New Side's views on the authority and government of the church. It specifically refutes the nameless charges delivered in two speeches at the 1740 Synod delivered by Gilbert Tennent and Rev. Samuel Blair. It also deals with the "Apology" published by many New Side ministers defending their actions. Thomson's work was published in 1741 and was finally answered by Rev. 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. Thomson would become a missionary first to Virginia and then to North Carolina; thus, he did not participate in Synod much after that. Late in Thomson's life the opposition to him by the New Side brethren apparently faded. Rev. Samuel Davies, a New Side minister in Virginia, spoke highly of Rev. Thomson, saying that he was even rejoicing to see the revival of religion in Virginia. Gilbert Tennent eventually commended his work on convictions, despite originally denouncing it in his attempts to reunite the two synods. Thomson would die before the two groups were reunited. Missionary Accomplishments John Thomson went to North Carolina to preach to Presbyterians who were asking for a pastor to organize them in 1751. Among those asking for him to come were probably George Davidson and Thomson's son-in-law, Samuel Baker. Thomson would not return to Virginia dying in North Carolina in 1753. He went down as far as present day Iredell County in North Carolina. This would make him the first missionary of any denomination to reach that area. Thomson's intentions for going are apparently in debate. 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. Educational institutions The Synod of Philadelphia created a school in 1743 under the leadership of Rev. Francis Allison that was the culmination of years of attempts that had never gotten fully off the ground. John Thomson had always been in favor of a school for young men. Thus, in 1744 when trustees were chosen for the school, John Thomson was placed on the original board. This school moved when it was taken over by Rev. Alexander McDowell, and was given a charter by New Jersey in 1769 as the Newark Academy. The original charter recognizes the