Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-08-24
Nathan sidney smith Beman d. h.


tipouished divine whose name stands al
the head of this article, demands iron'
o,s who has known, reverenced and en-
loved his friendship from early youth, at
least a humble tribute to his great ability
and noble character He was verify o
great and good man, whose life was an
eminent example and whose praise was
in all the land Aside from personal re-
l,tions it is due that the history of his
life should be presented to our readers
for be was almost as nearly identified
with Vermont as with New York both in
early life and in his active years OF use
fitness. He spent his. earlier years at
Hampton, N. Y.-his fathers farm, lying
one-half in New York and one'half In
Vermont, and he attended school at
Poultney. He spent his annual vacations
In the later years of his fathers life and
after his death at the old homestead.
which he retained in his possession until
he gave up the active work of the minis
try. and always yielded to the solicitation
of his friends to occupy the pulpits of
tina churches at Poultney, Fairhaven and
Castleton at least once during his sum-
mer's rest, and to the people of those
towns but few years ago was as familiar
as their own citizens. Last summer while
stopping for few weeks with Rev. DIR.
Newman, at Poultney, he took occasion
to make a farewell visit to all whom he
had known in former years in that vicin-
ity. Not only his familiarity with the
people gave him an interest in the State,
but he always loved Middlebury College,
and was most ardently devoted to all Of
its interests, and DIR. Beman's presence
was as much expected as the annual re-
turn of commencement in former years
1t was TINS he was identified with Yer
mont, aud remembrance will lingsr in
many hearts of the venerable stalwart
form, and silvery locks of this old man elo-
duent, as he ministered at the sacred
altar or participated in the festivities of
the college anniversary. He Away spoke
with enthusiasm of his relations to Yer
mont. We shall never forget his remin-
iscences Of his college classmates and his
early life as he narrated them to us in his
last visit. We shall ever cherish the
hour spent with him scarcely a year ago,
one beautiful summer afternoon. We
heard the footsteps of feebleness and age
slowly ascending the stairs to our editeri-
al room. We hastened to render assistance,
and met our venerable friend, who at
once recognized us, saying, II come to
see you once more" Although feeble in
body, his mind impaired, yet with eviden-
ces left of the great intellect and noble
soul, he reverted to tender memories of
earlier years with the affection of child.
Conversing of the scenes and companions
of his youth and his relations to Vermont,
it was on this occasion that was drawn
forth his views of Vermont and his re-
spect for her people and her public edu-
oational institutions. Those words of
kindness, as he babe adeu, still lipger in
our memory, This is my last visit to
Vermont aud the East. God bless you
my young friend, and your lab'rs.' We
cannot liuger longer on personal reminis-
oences.eve if it were proper in an article
of this character, and only present this az
an illustration of his regard for Vermont
Nathan Sidney Smith Boman was born
in that part of Canaan, N. Y, which is
now called New Lebanon, on Sunday,
November 20, 1885. He was e son of
Samuel and Silence DouQlas) Beman, his
paternal ancestors being Of German, and
his maternal ancestors of Scotch origin.
When he was four or five years of age
his parents removed to Hampton, Wash
ington county, N. Y, then called Green
field. His father was a gentleman of the
old school, who was strongly attached to
ancient customs in dress and to the day
of his death, which occurred in 1845, he
wore the short breeches and knee buckles
and queue of olden times. He wss man
of good intellect and business capacity.
He was o commitment of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, and his funeral was at
tended by the Ri. Rev. DR. Onderdonk,
then Bishop of New York. Nathan COM
menced his preparation for college, in
company with the late Hon. Rollin @.
Mallory, at Poultney, in 1901, with Mr..
Bodies, an eminent teacher, graduate of
the University Of Dublin. In 1902 be
went under the tuition of private in
structor at Williamstown, Mass, then at
the grammar school in that place. He
entered Williams College in 1903, but at
the close of his freshman year, took dis
mission and spent the following winter in
teaching in Fairhaven. 10 the summer
of 1904 he entered Middlebury college,
graduating in 1907. His classmates were
Ira Bascom, d. A. A. Buck, Mills Purdy,
Stephen Royce, William Slade, and Oil.
yer Stewart. Four of this class, including
DIR. Beman, became distinguished men,
and perhaps in no one class of the college
have so many attained eminence as the
class of 1907. Mr. Buck was long a mem
Der of Congress; Mr.. Royce was Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court and Cover
nor of Vermont, and Mr.. Slade was a
member of Congress and also Governor.
After graduation he became preceptor
in the autumn of 1907, of Lincoln Acad-
envy at Newcastle, Maine, where he re-
manned more than two years, at the same
time pursuing the study of theology with
Rev. Kiah Bailey. He was licensed TO
preach June 14th, 1909, by the Lincoln
and Kennebec Association. About the
same time he was appointed tutor at Mid
dlebury and entered upon the duties of
his appointment; but receiving an earnest
call from the Third Congregational
church in Portland, Me, to which he had
preached a few times, be resigned the
tutorship, and was ordained pastor of
that church March 14th, 1910. Rev.
Rev. Kiah Bailey preached the sermon.
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