The Portland daily press., 1874-08-29
Pars0n Bradley at Bethel,

To the Editor Of the Press:
In your report of DR.. True's interesting ad
dress at the Bethel centennial the author is
made to say: 'In 1898 Rev. Caleb Bradley
taught school in town and became candidate
for settlement, aud went so far as to publish
Thanksgiving sermon" Farther, be says: "In
1879 Rev. Daniel Gould, graduate OF Harvard
College, became rival candidate, and was
chosen by majority of one VOTE Dr. True
represents these two reverend divines, graduates
of the same college, who afterward spent long
and useful li7es in the ministry, as squabbling
over place in the woods like two politicians,
and for salary of $3.50 per year. As am at
present in possession of Parson Bradley's jour
nal, feel bound to defend his reputation as a
minister.
1t appears that Mr. Gould was preaching in
Bethel when Mr.. Bradley arrived He (Mr. b.
went there for the purpose of teaching school,
and occasionally preached, and if a large mi
norty of the people voted for his settlement it
might not have been his fault. AS TO his ''go-
ing so far as to publish a sermon that seems
now not to have been very improper step.
Mr., Bradley had graduated at Harvard in
the class of 1897. He first preached few Sab
baths in Peperellboro (Saco). give few ex-
tracts from his Journal explanatory and anus
ing, touching his stay in Bethel:
1898, Sept %. Left Peperellboro' aad passed
through Buxton and Standish, into Flintstown
81 miles. rode miles out of my way by
mistake, and lodged at Mr.. Fitch's. My ex-
penses were two shillings
The next night he tarried at Capt. Jewett's
in Waterford-27 miles-'expenses two shil-
lings"-so we may conclude that two shllings
(33 cts.) was the regular price for two meals.
horse keeping and lodging at that time.
9th Arrived at Bethel at noon-16 miles
and stopped at Squire RusselPs.
2Sth, Sunday. Went to meeting and heard
MIR. Gould preach. In the afternoon preached
| myself. 1t began to rain about sunset and the
next morning the river had risen ten feet. Tar
RED all night at Mr.. Clarks.
| 30th. Mr.. b. went to East Andover where he
| spent two weeks, most of the time at Mr.. Ben
| jamin Poor's, father of the late John A. Poor |
| and Nov. 18th returned to Bethel
| 18th. Preached at Mr.. Swans; had full
| meeting.
| goth, Thanksgiving day. I preached at Lieut.
| ClarE's and had very full meeting. 1t was
| the first thanksgiving sermon ever preached in
| the west Parish in Bethel. L went to wedding.
| On the 2nd of JAN. 1899, Mr. Bradley begun
his school with % scholars. The number in
creased to s. on the 9th,
Jan. 80. spent part Of the day in school
| and part in conversation with Mr.. Taylor, a
| Methodist minister. | spent an hour and half
| in the dispute, and there were as many as forty
| persons to hear it.
On the 21st of Feb. Mr.. B. gives an anu
sing account of another discussion with oDe
who called on him-hera it is 10 his own words
In the morning one Of the human species
1 called uDoD me: he was a oaDie of six feet and
| a half high. He protested to be Methodist
preacher He, like Jonahs gourd, came to
| perfection in one night. He somewhat re-
| sembled pair Of large kitchen tongs. His
| dress was not of the clerical order, but some.
| what resembled the antedeluvians'. He was
a person who had read some-had few scrip
tural phrases, and stood up for his rights as
well as .he knew how. Notwithstanding he
was opposed to me think him superior man
to Bishop Taylor, who was of the fairy kind
and to give the devil his due, this genie be.
haved the most like gentleman of any of that
order that ever saw. He would, when con-
victed, acknowledge his fault. The dispute be-
tween us was upon order, and l was in the
affirmative There were thirty hearers. The
name of this monster was Heilberd.''
Mr.. Bradley had closed his school, and on
the Sd of March he says: 81 preached to more
people than had ever been together here befor G.
l SAID finally, Brethren, FAREWELL
Ia April of the same year, Mr.. Bradley C om-
menced his ministrations to the people of
Stroudwater parish, whore he spent the re
mainder Of his days.
Windham, Aug. 9th w. G..