Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-09-10
Az INTERESTING OcCAs1oN.-CELEBRA1ioN
or THE FIrTrETH ANNivERsARY OF THE
ORpiNATIoN or REV. s. PARMNLEE,
~ WEsTEnRn.

AN INTERESTING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
or THE FIrrErH ANNIVERSARY or THE
ORDiSATIoN OF Rev. s. PARMNLEE,
IN WEsrroRp.
We arc indebted to a correspondent for the |
following interesting account of very in
teresting occasion.
Yesterday, aug 3lst,) was celebrated in West
ford as the 5Oth Anniversary of the ordination oil
their first Pastor, (of the Congregational Church)
the Rev. Simeon Parmelec. From the address de-
Ivered by him then. gather the following items:
lie first preached in Wcstford ffty-onc years
ago next February, while travelling MS missionary
After his return home, he received letter from
westfori, signed by eight men, requesting him to
preach to them eight Sabbaths, each one pledgng
himself to pay for one sabbaths preaching. lie ac-
cepted the invitation, and before the time expired
he received call to become their pastor ms
too he accepted, and was ordained Aug ii, lSos
At this time there was no Meeting -house and but
one GOOD School-house in Town. so that their meet
ings as we'll as thc'ordination, were held in barn
| The floor and stable of the barn were provided
| with seats and the platform for tho preacher was
built near the doors, that those on the OUTSIDE
nigh, hear. They worshipped in this barn until
winter, when they used the schoo-house at the
Centre, (iust completed, until March, when 1t
was burned, and then they resortcd to private
| houses
The next year q meeting house was erected. The
frame was covered on the outside, and the floor
laid and temporary seats provided. "And here
children" said tho old man, " your fathers
worshippcd for moro than two years. They came
often several miles on foot, when the thermometer
was below zero, and in this house, without any
stove, and when every post and stud and beam
could lie counted. they worshiped the God they
loved
During the War the Church became very feeble
and nearly dishoartcned, but in 1877 they were
blessed with precious revival, followed in a few
years by several others.
He continued their Pastor twcnty-nino years,
when he asked for disnission; and much to tho
regret of the church, it granted him Hi,
successor, Rev j. H. Woodward ha, been their
Pastor twonty-one years.
Of the twenty-three members of the Church
when he was ordained, but two arc now living. Al
of the Clcrgymcn that composed the Council that
ordained him, assisted in his ordination, and al
of the Ministers of the Northwestern Association
. at that time, are dead.
During ministry of ffty-onc years, he has of
ten preached eight or ten sermons in a week, ant
never has been absent from the desk by reason o
, sickness but five Sabbaths. lie has been prcsen
at about 20 ordinations and installations; ha
preached over 100 funeral sermons; has marie,
9 over 800 couples; and has received into tn
Churches under his mnistratons. by profession
s $50 members. lie is now II years of age, an
still retains his natural vigor of body and mind.
=. The address was delivered in beautiful grove
II little south of the village to a large and atten
tive audience 1t occupied about one hour and
> quarter in its delivery, and abounded in man
beautiful passagcs.-both humorous and pathetic
lie told them that it was not celebration to hin
but the knell of the by-gone fifty years. 1t was
U time calculated to awaken memory; and as he re
/ counted the hardshps and trials of the past, an
: paid touching tributes to those who sleep in thei
Il graves, many a cheek was noistened with tears
After the services closed, all repaired to the ia
bles, which were bountifully covered with pro,i
ions, generously provided by the good people
" Westford.
'c 1t was Il day long to be remembered by them.
|. Mr.. MooRE's VIEW or BuRLINGToN.-
Is very crcditablc photographic View of Blu
lie lington is just published by young arts
III Mr.. H. p. Moore. of Concord. \. II. 1t
10 taken from a point of view on the Lake GU
i side the Breakwater and nearly opposite tt
Rutland Railroad Depot, the light on II
Il scene represented as coming from the mort
Tho view in the foreground extends from
! little south of the Rutland Railroad Dero
to one about as far north of the North Ina
~ of the Vt. Central Railroad. 1t covers II
!" entire village, and considerable space b.
u yond on either side. Over the high gruun
in the rear. on which the University stand
/ there is lust dscernible the distant ridges
9 the Green Mountains, The fine effect of ii
." peculiar outline of the Green Mountains
not very well given, partly from want of su
= ficient care IN Its dcllneation, and partly b
cause the distance of the mountains bcyor
College Hill, could not well be indicate
u" without the help of color. The point Of vie
- is not common one for most of our citizen
and therefore the representation will not al
- pear, at first sight, so truthful to them as
. persons from abroad, more accustomed to s.
the place from the Lake. Some, also, ma
be dissatisfied because their own houses an
door-yards are not given with duguerrotyi
- accuracy. Ali such should remember tn;
the houses and trees of village are cllungin
from year to year. and general fidelity an
good pictorial effect is all that can be locke
! for in work of this sort.
: The size of the picture is 2l by II inchc,
, and it is sold by the artist on very re,sonab
- terms
! TmE lioosAc TUNNEL-rhr first install
- mcnt of the Massachusetts Loan to the rro
- and Greenfield Railroad Company, amountiu
"a to State Bonds for : 100 600, has been rai
, oyer-an official examination having show
y that the requisite progress in the worl; ha
M been made
p RAILROAD ACGpr>r.-idm,s tarrigan ,
Pitt>iori WAS killed AGAR Crntr' Rutland. O
:, the 3oth Of Aug, Will Walking ON the tracI
~ IL had just stepped of the Rutland an
Washington rail road track To avoid "A train
and probably did not notice the train upo
the Rutland aud Burlington rail road, whic
q, followed closely. The whistle WAS Mowu
u but in van. lIcwas 80 years old.
Is c,.oo.,r ,,,,,u,. .I,.., r.-,.., -