Looking Back—The 1928 Pilgrimage
Sanford Tribune-Advocate North Waterboro Column, August 1928
Sunday, August 5th marked the third annual Pilgrimage service at the historical old Meeting House on the hill, known as the Elder Grey Meeting House.
One hundred years ago, so tradition tells us (as no records have been found), the old building was situated below the hill, the exact spot not being known. The plan was conceived and carried out to move it up the hill nearer the home of Elder James Gray.
In our imagination we can picture the scene, many yokes of oxen each with its driver goading the faithful animals along to the rattling of the chains and creaking of yokes with the usual accompaniment of small boys, as at that time the number of boys was much greater than now. Tradition also says the jug of rum was taken along, those days being long before the time of Neal Dow and Prohibition.
The procession moved slowly up Chadbourne's hill and at night the summit was reached, the men and teams tired and the jug empty. Then Joseph Bradeen spoke, telling them that they might leave it on a corner of his farm and another Mr. Bradeen said he would give a piece from his farm across the road for a cemetery, and so the house was at last settled on a little knoll, where it has withstood the cold bleak winds of winter and basked in the sunshine of summer for a century. The view is magnificent, showing the White Mountains of N.H. and many other nearer hills and mountains.
The Word of God has been faithfully preached from the pulpit by men of talent: James Gray, James Nason, Jesse Warren, James Stevens, Wescott Bullock, Mr. Perkins, S. Poindexter and many others, coming down to later times, John W. Butler, who became a Missionary to China.
No regular services had been held for nearly thirty years and the old house was rapidly falling into [clipping torn]. "What shall we do about it?" A few descendants of these heroic men and women of old decided to repair the old house, which has been done, and for three years the first Sunday in August has been set aside for the Pilgrimage.
A large company is always present on that day and this year was no exception. In spite of the rain the house was filled, many from distant towns and other states coming because of the "Faith of Our Fathers" and love for the old place. Rev. Horace O. Hough of the First Radio Parish preached a fine sermon from the text, "Remove not the Landmarks," which was closely listened to and enjoyed by the large audience.