The Republican journal., 1897-01-14
A Memorial Service at Palermo.
The evening of Dec. 81, 1895, a m

church. The program was as follows:
Singing by the choir; reading of the Goth
Psalm; singing by the choir; historical adj
dress by Allen Goodwin; singing by the
choir: ssComing Back" by Hannah Tur-
ner; recitation by Cassie Turner; recita-
ton by Jennie Chadwick; How the meet
ing house was repaired, by Cora Good
win; recitation by Mr.. Powell; recitation
by Martha Hiser; reading by Miss Lottie
Turner; recitation by Mrs Allen; Singing
by the choir; closing remarks by Ernest
Bowler
At 10 Of clock fine supper was served,
and at 10. 80 the assembly was again call
ed to order for prayer and social SER
vice, which continued until midnight,
closing with wishes for Happy New
Year.
THE HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
About 1879 Brother Stephen Belden,
ST., came to this Sheepscott Great Pond
Settlement, NOW Palermo), making his
horseback journey with his Bible under
his arm, and with his wife and two small
children, Aaron and Priscilla, made the
first settlement at Palermo.
AS the settlers increased about them he
held neighborhood prayer meetings and
| advocated the Baptist creed. A Baptist
church being formed at Fairfax, (now AL
bion(, they with many others of this vi
cinity united with that body. In 1904 a
reformation swept over this town and a
branch church was established at North
Palermo, holding their meetings at Josiah
Perkins dwelling house, and in building
which was used as private school room,
probably Joseph Richardson shop, there
being no school house or meeting house
in those days In times of larger gather
ings meetings were held in my grand :
father S barn and in his brothers, Ste
phen Marden's barn on Marden's Hill.
There you may now see the pins in the
posts where they used to climb the scat
told which served as gallery.
January, 1905, they voted to maintain
a separate and independent church and
chose delegates to present their request
to the Fairfax church to be set off, which
was granted them. July 20, 1905, they met
at Josiah Perkins house and were en-
bodied into a separate church and chose
John Robinson of Beaver Hill first deacon,
John Sinclair of Knox first clerk and Ma.
thaniel Robinson of Beaver Hill first
pastor. Members were received from
Knox, Montvlle and Freedom. Nathan
lel Robinson was a son Of Gideon and
Hannah NJ. Robinson and was born in
Meredith, y. H., May ), 171S. He and his
father and family settled at Beaver Hill
settlement (now Freedom) and We're
among the early settlers Of that town He
was ordained June 26, 1905, at John Mar
den barn, it having been built in April,
1892. 1.-The following churches sent del
egates: The church at Ballstown (nov
Jetfelson) sent Elder Bailey, John Wood
man, Abraham Choate and Elder Ring
the church at Harlem (now Chna) sent
Ichabod Chadwick and Sylvanus Hatch
the church at Vassalborough sent Elder
j. Marten, Elder Gould and brother
Marble; the church at Warren sent Elder
Fuller. They met at my grandfather
barn and formed a council, and the pro
ceedings were as follows: LIST, chose Eldel
Bailey moderator; I'd, chose Elder Fulle
clerk; Sd, Elder Fuller preached orlina
ton sermon: 4th, Elder Ring made conse
Grafton prayer; 18th, Elder Bailey gave the
charge; 9th, Elder Marten gave the RICH
hand of fellowship; It'll, Elder Robinson
gave an account of his call to the minis
try; sth, closed by prayer.
After being ordained Elder Robinson
took the pastoral care of the church ant
moved to Palermo, living in John Mar
denis log house that year. The churcl
was TO pay him salary Of fifty dollars 70
one half Of the time, to be paid in grail
OF money-corn at As. pence, rye at IS
6 pence and wheat at rs. 6 pence pc
bushel. This fifty dollars was to be
| raised by a tax. AS the whole churcl
| lb1a tn inv ,
society of members who pledged them
selves for the support of the pastor. Th
society was taxed according to the value
of their property, as was their town tax
and to be determined by three assessors
The second year he was to have a salar,
of fifty dollars and the church was t,
turn out and give him help in building
his house, where Eli Carr now lives II,
continued with the church for six wear:
and resigned in 1910.
In 1871 he went to Steuben Settlement
(now Cherrytield) preaching twelve years
He was the only settled pastor in all tina
section of country of any denomination
and went far and near to attend wedding.
and funerals.
In 1922 he went to Dover, preaching
there more than twenty years, going ovel
large territory to preach, travelling or
horseback with his saddle bags behinc
him containing his books and change OF
clothes for baptizmal services. During
his ministry he baptized many hundreds,
having led great many to the Saviour.
In 1861 he went to Illinois and Wiscon-
sin to visit his children, returning to Ban
gor, where he spent the last four years OF
his life with his daughter, Mrs. A. K. p.
Leighton. He retained his faculties to the
very last, attending church but two days
before his departure to the spirit land.
His eyes were closed in that dying hour
To open next in bliss
| His welcome was sounded in that heavenly
world
Ere his farewell was hushed in this.
He had travelled on life's journey ninety
years, five months and three days.
In 1909 members in the southern part
of the town wished to form a separate
church and Elder Nathaniel Robinson was
chosen to form counsel on the first We'd
nesday in February to organize this second
church, assisted by Thaddeus Bailey,
Jr., Dea. John Robinson and Joseph Ar
mold, ST. Elder Robinson was to dismiss
such members as wished to form this
church which was, | think, organized at
Jacob Greeley's dwelling house, where
Charles Phillips now lives.
tl,,, Il 4 l.