The Portland daily press., 1863-11-12
rLANp MAINE
Thursday Morning. November II, 1868.
Mechanic Association.

In the summer Of 1915, John Phillips, Flea
ger Wyer and Samuel Baker, petitioned the
Legislature Of Massachusetts, that they and
all those who may hereafter associate with
them, be incorporated and made body poll
tic by the name of the MAINE CHARITABLE
MECHANIC ASSOCIATION. The object of this
Association, as expressed in the petition was
'to raise an annual income for the purpose of
relieving the distresses of the unfortunate
Mechanics and their families, to promote in
ventions and improvements in the Mechanic
Arts, and to assist young Mechanics with
loans Of money" This charter was granted
by the Legislature Of Massachusetts, for twen-
ty years aud was renewed by the Legislature
of Maine in 1855, for an additional twenty
years.
At the time of the incorporation of this AS
sociation Portland was town of about 5000
Inhabitants. Maine was not admitted into
the Union as a state until some six years
thereafter With the growth of the city and
the increase of mechanical business and the
creased 10 Importance, influence and useful
ness
A meeting had been called TO organize the
Association early in the year 1915 and COM
mittee appointed to draft Constitution and
Bylaws, Of which General Phinehas Varnum
was chairman. John Phillips, was elected
President; Phinehas Varnum, Vice President;
John Leavitt, Treasurer, and Benz. T. Chase,
Secretary. On the Sd of October of the same
year, the Association, having obtained its act
Of Incorporation was organized under it, max
ing choice of the same officers for the year
ensuing.
At the close of one year from its organiza-
ton there were one hundred and three men,
bers enrolled. In the year 1920 movement
was made to procure funds for the establish
nent of alibrary. A committee was appointed
for that purpose, and at an anniversary meet
ing held in the Second Parish Church, at
which an address was delivered by Charles
Davies, Esq, the sum Of S4S. IS was collected.
This was the origin of the Apprentices Ii
brary whichnow numbers nearly 5000 volumes
ofchoice and valuable works.
This Association early took ground upon
the subject of Temperance. They saw that
the use Of intoxicating liquors was one of the
great drawbacks to the success of the Me-
chanic and therefore in the year 1929, before
the subject had been very generally brought
before the people in its true light, the Associ-
alton appointed committee consisting of
Eleazer Wyer, II. H. Body, Henry Dyer,
Joseph Noble and Neal Dow, to recommend
some plan by which the custom Of furnishing
journeymen and apprentices with ardent
spirits might be done away. The plan was pre-
eented and accepted by the Association by
vote of ffty to one. Ardent spirits were BAN
ished from their festivals and standing COM
mittee appointed to advise and admonish any
member who might be inclined to the seduc-
tive path which leads SO directly TO the ruin
of themselves and families.
In 1854 very successful Fair and Exhibi-
tion was held in the old City Hall, and all its
unoccupied rooms were placed at the disposal
OF the Association by the city authorities. A
large building was erected in front of City
Hall 100 feet by 80, which was connected by a
bridge with Lancaster Hall. The Fair was
continued from the 10th OF September to the
10th of October, during which time it was es-
tinated that it was visited by $4,000 persons.
The net income of this Fair was about 81
800. This was one Of the best managed and
most successful exhibitions ever held in this
city.
In 1857 the Mechanics Building was COM
mcnced and completed early in the year 1859.
II was built under the direction of Mr.. Thorn
as J. Sparrow, and all the various departments
of labor were done entirely by members of
the Association, and is now an enduring mon
ument of their skill and industry as well as
Of the perseverance and public spirit of the
men who favored the enterprise and urged it
forward. The cost Of this noble edifce was
about $4,000.
In the winter of 1861, through the Efforts
mainly Of N. A. Foster Esq.,a former President
ofthe Association and at that timea member of
the legislature, resolution was passed graft
Ing q township Of land to the Association, the
proceeds to be applied TO the educational in
terests OF mechanics and their improvements
in the arts and sciences. The land was sold
for sll 900, which amount has been safely in
vested, to be used In conformity with said
resolution.
The Association has been increasing in
membership until it exceeds five hundred, and
new members are constantly joining. Lee
turss and debates have been kept up weekly
in the Library Room during the Fall and
Water months, which have been made very
interesting. The members who have more
recently Joined the Association can have no
idea of the labors and sacrifices ,of the early
members in sustaining such an organization,
or the great advantage to be derived from the
debates, lectures and library, II properly i'm
proved.
The meetings for business are held on the
first Thursday evening of each month, and
for lectures and debates on Friday evening of
each week. These lectures and debates are
open to the public, althoughit is not expected
that any will participate in the debates except
members OF the Association. 1t is the inten-
tion OF the members to make the debates and
lectures tho coming season as interesting and
profitable as possible, and it is expected that a
large number win participate. Those who
are not members will find the Friday eve
mag meetings well worth the time they occu-
py, as the debates are spirited and interesting.
The limits Of this article will not admit of an
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