Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-09
lished in the French and English papers Of
popular disturbances and military inSpbordi-
nation in Spain are greatly exaggerated.


popular disturbances and military inSpbordi-
nation in Spain are greatly exaggerated.
Since our last issue the Universalist Church
in Barre has been the scene Of two deeply
interesting and impressive memorial services,
in honor Of two men who had labor ed for
many years in that town as ministers of the
Gospel-REv. JOHN E. PALxER, and Rev.
FRANKLIN S. BLISS.
FATHER PALMER" as he was familiarly
called, was the oldest Universalist minister
in the United States He was born Feb. %,
1888, was ordained in the "Christian Con-
nection " in 1909, sought and obtained the
fellowship of the Universalists in 1920, and
for more than fifty years labored as he had
strength and opportunity with the latter de-
nomination. He at length passed away, at
the ripe age of 90, March 9th, 1873, at bis
home in Lower Waterford in this State
At his request his body was brought to the
scene of his early labors, and placed in the
tomb by those to whose parents and rand
parents he had for thirty years or more pro-
claimed the truth as he understood it.
The funeral service was held ON Wednes-
day last. Rev. Messrs. Warren, Gregory,
Shinn and Wright participating, and mem
bers of the Masonic Fraternity adding their
tribute of respect 10 their usual burial rites.
Old age itself naturally calls forth our rev.
erence, but we feel assured that his personal
WORTH deep interest in the welfare of men
and earnest devotion to duty. more than his
length of years, have given rise to the affec-
tionate sympathy with which " Father Palm
ers' name has ever been mentioned during
his declining years.
Although the pastorate of Mr.. Bill IS in
Barre was not as long by half as Father
Palmer's, it was long for these days of fire.
quent change, covering fifteen years; and it
closed so recently,-only a year ago,-that
the people to whom be had endeared himself
by his fidelity must feel deeply touched by
his departure He was ordained in 1855, 80
that nearly his whole work as a minister was
done in Barre. How earnest, how solf-deny-
ing, how thoroug how conscien tious, that
work was, not merely his own people, but
those of other churches will testify. Con-
tending throughout his life with physica
disabilities, yet laboring with invincible per-
severance, and unhasging zeal, he accom-
plished more for the welfare of those about
him than many stronger mau would have
iybt hav hav
fought good fight as be did say short
time before his decease, IS To me to live il
Christ, and to die is gain"
Attacked by pulmonary disease he went
avoid the inclemency of the Northern winter
He found, however, that much of what was
gained in the mildness of the climate was
lost in the absence of many home comforts
and gradually failed till he breathed his last
on Sunday morning, March ODD, 40 not only
patient and resigned, but triumphant, ricto
ri0us' His widow and little adopted
daughter, receiving all the attentions which
strangers could give them, returned to his
brothers residence in New York city, where
funeral services were held, and then placed
the precious body in the receiving tomb in
Enfield, New Hampshire.
Rev. l.. Warren preached memorial ser
, mon to a large number Of those who but re-
: cently sat under Mr.. Bliss ministry las
Sunday morning, from Corinthians Is: So
VERMoNTERS ON THE ATLANTiC.-Among
t those who were drowned when the Inflated
Atlantic struck, were Mr.. aud Mrs. Cyrus
NJ Fisher of Vergennes. Mr.. Fisher was q
lawyer, and was formerly partner OF Hon
: F. E. Woodbridge. He had been State,
Attorney for Addison county, and in lS6.
and S63 represented Vergennes in the Gen
eral Assembly.
( He had been for some years residing IL
= England, attending to claims of Americans
Mrs Fisher was sister of General w Y. NJ
Ripley and Mrs S. NJ Dorr of Rutland
: Mr. Dorr is now at the scene of the disaster
endeavoring to recover the bodies of Mr.
and Mrs Fisher. Mondays dulles contain
| the following account of their sad death
Mr., and Mrs. Cyrus NJ Fisher of Yer
gennes, Vt, who were among the lost, were
general favorites with the passengers. They
escaped from their state-r0om 70 the deck
and thence to the rigging, the HUSBAND
bravely protecting his wife as best he could
As the excitement increased, aud the vesse
n was going down, the boats were upset ant
= united Tor use, and the chances of escap,
: grew less and less hopeful with every pass
ing moment, Mrs. Fisher besought her hus
: band to leave her and save himself; wit
/ tears In her eyes she be. ged him to get int
: one of the boats, but he would not. Th
n crowding of men and women into the rig
is g:ng, the numbing of their limbs by tn
Ii cold, and the exhaustion consequent upo
y the frequent sweeping over them Of tn
:. waves, proved too much for both husban
+, and wife. The latter was the first TO give w
1t and, despite her husbands exertions, sh
z was swept into the sea. Powerless in lin
Z and despairing in heart, the husband retain
: ed his place few moments only, yielding
l., the force of huge wave that came crashin
10 along with resstless force, and falling int
e the water within few feet of the plac
!. where his wife disappeared.
= INToXICATIoN NO ExCUsE.-lt appears no,
- to be an established principle in our court,
and it ought to be better understood, tbs
the brutalzng of ones self by intoxicatiu
liquor is no valid plea for the commission
~ crime. 1t it were allowed as an excuse, an