Palmer, Elihu, an American Eationalist, who flour- ished near the close of the last century, was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1787. He was the head of the Columbian llluminati, a deistical company at New York, established about 1801, consisting of ninety-five mem- bers. Its professed aim was to promote " moral science," against religious and political imposture. The Temple of Reason was a weekly paper, of which the principal editor was one Driscoll, an Irishman, who had been a Romish priest, and who removed with his paper to Phil- adelphia, Mr, Palmer delivered lectures on deism, or preached against Christianity. But, according to Mr. Cheetham, he was, "in the small circle of his Church, more priestly, more fulminating," than Land and Gar- diner of England ; " professing to adore reason, he was in a rage if anybody reasoned with him," He was blind from his youth. He died at Philadelphia in INIarch, 1806, He published an Oration, July 4, 1797 : — The Principles of Xature (1802), Comp, Yiancis, Old Xew York (1858), p. 134-137 ; see Allen, Biog. Diet. s. v.
Palmer, Henderson D., a minister of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South, was born Jan, 12, 1812, and united with the Church Nov, 29, 1829, He was soon appointed class - leader, but feeling called to the more responsible work of the ministry, he studied for some time at La (Jrange College, He next emigrated to Texas, then an infant republic. After teaching a
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few montlis in the town of Nacogdoches, where Roman Catholicism was the only form of religion organized, the love of Christ constrained him to appoint meetings for exhortation and prayer, nntll the 7th of . Tidy, 1858, when he was licensed to preach at Box's Fort, Nacogdoches County. In 1839 he was admitted to the Mississippi Conference, and kept in the district in which he had been laboring. In 1841 he travelled the Jasper Circuit, where his labors were crowned with a gracious revival of religion. In 18-12 he travelled the Montgomery Cir- cuit ; in 1843, the Egypt Circuit ; in 1844, the Cherokee Circuit. In 1845 his appointment is unknown to us. In 1846-47 he was a superannuate. In the year 1848 he travelled the Palestine Circuit. In the years 1849- 1853 he was local. In the j-ear 1854 he was readmitted and appointed to the San Augustine Circuit. In 1855 his appointment is unknown to us ; in 1850 he travelled the Shelbj'ville Circuit; in 1857-58, the Coffeeville Cir- cuit; in 1859, the Shelby ville Circuit; in 1809, Danger- field Circuit; in 1861 he was supernumerary; in 1862, on the Linden Circuit; in 1803, the Coffeeville Circuit; in 1864-65, unknown to us; in 1806-08, he was again superannuated. He died Feb. 17, 1869, at his home in Upsher Count)-, Texas. For more than thirty years he was a faithful, zealous, and useful preacher.
Palmer, Herbert, B.D., a learned English divine, was born at Wingham, Kent, in 1601 ; and was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, but afterwards chosen fellow of Queen's. After taking holy orders, he be- came preacher at St. Alphage's Church, Canterbury, in 1626. Three years afterwards he was silenced for nonconformity. In 1632 he was made vicar of Ash- well, Herts, and was chosen one of the Assembly of Di- vines in 1643, on the triumph of dissent over Anglican- ism. He preached also at various places in London until the earl of Manchester appointed him master of Queen's College, Cambridge, in 1644. He died in 1647. Palmer had a considerable share in the Subbatum Redi- vivum with Cawdre}-. His own principal work is enti- tled Memorials of Godliness and Christianity (13th ed. Loud. 1708, 12mo). See Darling, Cyclop. Bibliog. s. v. ; AUibone, Diet, of British and A nerican A uthors, vol. ii, s. V.
Palmer, John, a noted English Presbyterian di- vine, who forsook the Calvinistic doctrines and em- braced Socinianism, was born in London in 1729. After the completion of his education, he became assistant- pastor of a Presbyterian congregation in New Broad Street, London, in 1755. In 1759 he became their sole pastor. He died in 1790. He published, King David's Death, and Solomon's Succession to the Throne, considered and improved ; a Sermon on 1 Chron. xxix, 27, 28 [Funer. of George II] (Lond. 1760, 8vo) : — Free Thoughts on the Inconsistency of Conforming to any Religious Test, as a Condition of Tolercttion, icith the true Principle of Pi-otestant Dissent (ibid. 1779, 8vo): — Sermon, 2 Cor. i, 12, on the Death of the Rev. Caleb Fleming, D.D.; with the Oration delivered at the Interment by Joseph Towers (ibid. 1779, 8vo) : — An Appendix to the Obser- vations in Defence of the Liberty of Man as a Moral Agent ; in Anstver to Dr. Priestly's Illustrations of Philo- sophical Necessity ; occasioned by the Dr.'s Letter to the A uthor (ibid. 1780, 8vo). See Darling, Cyclop. Bibliog. s. v.
Palmer, Julius, a martyr to the Protestant cause in England, flourished under (bloody) queen Mar^^ In 1555 he was a fellow of Magdalen College. lie was especially noted at that time as an offensive assertor of Romish principles. The brave manner in which the Protestants presented their cause, and fought ami died for its support, struck him, notwithstanding his un- j'ielding prejudice, and he was led to inquire carefully into their doctrines, which resulted in his conversion after the torture of Latimer and Ridley, whom he had learned to esteem as good Christian men. He lost his i fellowship, and taught awhile. In 1550 he was impris- j