The Portland daily press., 1869-12-18

This Venerable Society, for so we are Justi-
fed in calling it,shas just held its 9th Annual
Meeting, at which the following named per-
,ons we're chosen officers for the ensuing year:
Wm.-Willis, President; Nathan Cummings,
Vice President; Edward Gould, Treasurer;
Thomas r. Hayes, Secretary; and VIM. w.
Thomas, Eben Steele, N. F. Deering, Martin
Gore, Rensallear Cram, John T. Gilman and
Rev. VIM. Ell. Fem, Managers.
Although we call this Society Venerable, it
is by no means in its dotage, but it pursues its
annual round among its numerous beneficial
ries with perennial youth 1t has, during its
whole existence, never failed to make its yearly
distributions to class of deserving poor who
constantly seek and rely upon its donations.
1t has numbered among its managers during
Its TWO generations some of the most worthy
OF our citizens-the Rev. DR.. Deane was its
first President; Rev. Mr.. Kellogg Vice Presi-
dent; Robert Boyd, Treasurer; and the elo-
quent VIM. Symmes, Secretary. Among its
managers at successive periods have been
Matthew Cobb, SamuellF freeman, Joseph H.
lngraham, Isaac Isley, Samuel Weeks, Ste
phen Longfellow and at later period, Doc
tors Payson and Nichols, Dwight and Chick
ering, Horatio Southgate, VIM. Swan, Joseph
NJ. Gerrish and other equally prominent and
honorable men. And we may not omit to say
| that the class OF persons who have received its
aid have been generally those who have seen
better days, but who have been cast down by
misfortunes beyond their control; apd in this
connection it may be mentioned that even
| some OF the largest contributors to its funds,
lived to become, by the yicisstunes of life, the
| recipients of its bounty. 1t was blessed sug-
geston which prompted the wise and good
men OF that early day to establish an Institu-
ton, which year after year, through all time
| and chance should be administering substan-
| tial comfort to successive generations of the
poor as they crowd, in increasing numbers, on
the stage of life. Many of the early contribu-
tors to this charity, to my knowledge, died in
I poverty, but the small investments which they
made to this fund were safe from all peradven.
ture and will never die. Men die, but insttu-
tions live, and by continued infusion of new
| life perpetuate themselves
Let our fellow citizens of the present day
| now contribute to enlarge the funds of the So
| cety by donations or by becoming life men,
| bers on payment to the Treasurer of $40, that
| the means of its usefulness may be extended
| to meet the ever widening circle of worthy
benehciaries. The society is eminently con-
| sentative, and has been transmitted through its
two generations by faithful hands Mr.. Long
fellow, one of the first managers, held his Office
to the time of his death, 46 years, and the
President and Vice President have been in the
management over 40 years.
| The Annual Address will be delivered at the
meeting house of the First Parish on Sunday
evening, Dec. 10, by Rev. Mr. Buck; services
to commence at o'clock, Persons disposed to
aid the Society will then have an opportunity
to contribute to its means, and it is earnestly
hoped that large accession will be made.