The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-07-27
Reunion Extraordinary.


Reunion Extraordinary.
On Monday July 20, 1868, there met in Port
land ten, out of the eleven surviving members
of society that had not assembled for more
than forty years. They convened not as
politicians or sectarians, not to plan or execute
schemes of wealth or aggrandizement; but
for social intercourse OF the most friendly
character-io rehearse former acts and re-
kindle the fires of friendship shat had warmed
and cheered them in long gone days.
To folly understand the object and interest
of the recent meeting, 1t is expedient to say
something Of the society in its active years.
More than forty-flve years ago, there exist
ed in Portland society Of young men, formed
for social and literary purposes. They adopted
the mystic name of the Paah- Deuwkye Society.
They numbered twenty-four. AT each month
ly meeting there was an original address or
poem, written by member. Original songs
and odes were produced and read. Forensic
disputation, moot trials and critical remarks
often enlivened the meeting, and ELECTED flash
es OF genius and sparks of wit. The meet
ings were temperate-not even cigars were al
lowed. The members made good improve
ment in English composition, speaking, debat-
ing and the use of good language. Their
meetings we're held in hired room in Hay
market Row, which they called sthe Recess
and which was open every evening. The reg
uar meetings were called by notices printed
in the old Portland Gazette, and signed by
"Alboul Hazzan, Grand Scribe
These meetings were private, their rites
and doings secret No person could be
member unless elected by unanimous ballot.
A meeting was held annually, when the
society had supper, usually prepared by
Mrs. Cutter, at Union Hall, in her best style,
and an address and poem were spoken. The
last of those meetings was held in the early
part Of 1921. Grenville Mellen gave the adj
dress, and Josiah Pierce, Jr., the poem. Soon
after most of the members left Portland to en-
ter on business for themselves: some died;
the monthly meetings ceased, and the society
took Rip Van Wrinkle sleep of forty-two
years Not exactly like Rips repose, for he
was inactive aud unconscious, while the scat
tered members OF Paah-Deuwkye we're indus
trious and performing the active duties of
life, all being respectable and many of them
holding offices and places OF high trust and
responsibility.
Early the past spring some of the old Paah
Deuwkyes living in Portland, suggested the
idea of getting meeting OF the living MEM
bers. The proposal commended itself to
all to whom 1t was preached. Nathaniel +.
Deering, who was formerly an active officer
of the society, was chiefly instrumental in
bringing about the late meeting, He wrote
to all the distant members-in Wisconsin,
New York, Massachusetts and Maine. fav-
orable response was given by each one, and
as before said, on Monday. July 20, ten men,
bers met in Portland. Together they re-
paired to Smiths galleries, and had group
photograph of them all taken in one picture.
They were invited to the residence of Mr..
Deering, where the members had been noti-
fed to assemble, and were kindly received and
Hospitality entertained.
The ten members present Of the eleven now
living were Edward Ilsley, OF Madison, Wis
consin, Andrew Scott, of Flushing, New York,
Spencer Tinkham, of Boston, and Richard
Stone, of Newburyport, Mass, Joseph Burton,
of Augusta, Maine, Josiah Pierce, of Gorham,
Maine, Charles Rogers, Joseph c.. Noyes,
Nath' +. Deering and John oxnard, of Port
land. 10
The meeting that evening was extraordinary
and unprecedented, as is believed. They met
after separation of nearly half a century, to
renew the pledges of kind regard-and offer
mutual good wishes. They came to renew
the pleasures of youth, to rekindle the sacred
fire of Friendship ON her ancient altar! They
succeeded, and if that fire burned with some
what less intensity than in earlier days there
was still fervent glow that cheered and
warmed and illumined!
The meeting was a decided success--it was
more, it was the gala day of Friendship. that
filed the heart with gladness, and caused the
torpid blood OF three score and more to course
through the system with youthful velocity.
An old trunk-containing the Records of
the Society was produced. IL lad been lock-
ed up more than forty years ago-the key was
lost. Joseph G. Noyes. a former President of
the Society, removed the lock, and exhibited
to view, all the records, written productions,
notices, and bills of long gone days. There in
perfect preservation were the polished address
es Of George Chase, the witty poetic illusions
Of Granville Mellen, the stirring odes and
songs of Rufus b. Washburn and Andrew
Scott, and the productions Of surviving men,
beers. ~ .eslsssssa @f
Then Josiah Pierce, at the request OF the
members recited from the original manuscript
poem delivered by him at one of the meet
ings OF the society more than lorty-two years
ago, and II was received with the plaudits of
more than forty years ago, renewed with in
creased enthusiasm.
Then as Rogers says tRogers himself was
therel, 1we turned our sail up the tide of time
Ito view the fairy haunts Of long lost hours
The old records were read from the begin
ming A thousand pleasant "reminiscences
crowded on the mind. Old treasures were
rescued from oblivion. Scott twho was there),
seemed gathering up the almost lost Border
minstrelsy.
After partaking of rich and bountiful sup
per with several of the members ladies, Old
Lang Syne was sung, and the society separa-
ted to meet again at the end of the next forty
| years, or sooner. p.