Person:Lemuel Bedle (1)

Married by Rev. W.W. Christine Have marriage record

God's gracious providence to the congregation of Old Tennent was manifested in the preservation of their historic sanctuary from a threatened devastation. The church was struck by lightning on Thursday, Aug. 1, 1878, at nine o'clock in the evening, and set on fire. Through the prompt energy of Lemuel Bedle and a few of the near neighbors, the building was preserved from distruction. The session in behalf of the congregation adopted resolutions of thanks and commendation to Lemuel Bedle, John Snyder, Luther D. Bugbee, John R. Sutphen and others "for their instant attention and zeal in arresting the burning." It seemed a providential provision that R. Perrine Craig, the sexton, had that very evening placed a barrel under one of the corner pipes of the church for the purpose of collecting water for the use of those desiring to water flowers in their grave plots. The water collected in this barrel from the same thunder shower that brought the lightning stroke contributed largely if not made it a possibility to the extinguishing