The Portland daily press., 1869-09-01

a. A, Means. Freep0rt. Jan "a 1875
Joshua Thaxter. Portland. Oct H. 1901
Alex Barbour. Westbrook.. Oct. 81 1897
Henry Trickey. .... Westbrook. ..... May 49, 1901
Robt Dresser. 80. Scarborough ......Dec g. 1900
Nicholas sefton... Denmark. Europe. .Mch 90 1908
Ira Hilporn. ...'. Minot. Dec I79a
VIM Cammett. Portland. Aug. 49, 1885
1.-THE oldest man present born in Portland.)
Edward Tuttle. Salem, Mass Dec. a 1898
William Small. 80. .Lmngton. 49,. June &c, 1896
Ii. r. StIckney. .Newbury, Mass. June 8, 1909
Many of the members betook themselves to
the Union House, which Mr.. w. 7. Jones had
placed entirely at their disposal, and was I'M
ceasing in his efforts, together with his family,
to leave nothing undone that might conduce
to the comfort of his guests. He had even
caused fire to be built in the stting-room,
where several of the ''venerables" gathered, a
part to enjoy the grateful warmth and part
to indulge in a quiet game of checkers.
Precisely at half past IL the whole company
sat down to dinner, and grace was said by Rev.
Mr.. Ripley. Owing to the number of the COM
pany and the limited size of the apartments,
tables were laid in three rooms, some sixty din
ing in one, forty in another, and dozen in "a
third. A splendid chOwder was served and a
splendid collation. of cold meats, pastry, etc.,
with coffee and tea, to which ample justice
was done. The service was admirable, and
how the number of young lady attendants
could wait on so many and so satisfactorily
was problem to us. One in particular, a
young Hebe, with dancing eye with plump,
well moulded figure, was perfectly ubiquitous
and displayed an angelic temper when she bore
the inflction of hot chowder spilled upon her
hand without murmur. Such a. fair-aceather
disposition is rarely to be met with. We call
ed the attention of an aged brother to this fact
| and were met with the reply that for an old
boy of 65 he though we were little too partc-
ular in our notice of the girls.
At the conclusion of the dinner the whole
party adjourned outside, where informal re-
marks were made by John Neal, Henry God
dard, Capt. Eli Webb, Elisha Trowbridge and
Ira Berry, and Capt. George Loring sang a
song of "Other Days." The spirit of the re-
marks was to the effect that the retaining from
the use of spirits and tobacco in any shape had
I been the means of their all reaching to such
| an advanced age, the three score years and ten
of scripture. A vote of thanks was passed to
the landlord, Mr.. w. 7. Jones, for his excel
lent dinner; to the Committee of Arrange
ments for the successful manner in which they
| had carried out the affair, and to Capt Sands,
Of the steamer Gazelle, for the care and atten-
| tion he had bestowed upon them in the trans
portation to and from the island.
| At the conclusion of the remarks the party
| dispersed in different directions, some to the
house and others to different parts of the is
land. AT half past five all re-embarked on
board the steamer and landed at the wharf in
Portland about o'clock. On the passage up
your reporter was highly complmented on be-
ing the youngest looking man for his age Of
any Of the Society. One demurred to the
statement that Eye locap was member of the
Aged Brotherhood; he might be one of the
Brotherhood, but at least thirty winters must
frost his pow before he could lay claim to the
title of aged. 1t was pleasing to hear the mem
bers recall their recollections of the city as the
steamer made her way up the harbor. One
gentleman remembered distinctly when only
one house stood on Munjoy Hill, now covered
with dwellings; also when the Observatory
was built and sailor danced hornpipe OF
the scaffolding around the top to the conster
nation of the shuddering crowd below. Bu
we must pause, although we might fill the
whole paper with interesting "reminiscences.
Arrived in the city the Brotherhood formed
procession, marching in sections of tours
under command of Capt Arthur NJ Small, VI
Exchange street to City Hall, where all faced
to the front, and the President, Mr.. Gerrish
addressed them in few remarks. He sait
the period of childhood had been called tn,
happiest part of ones life, but that judging b,
his own experience he felt that with age cam,
happiness. For age brought with it intelli
gence and education, every day adding some
thing new to the fund of knowledge. He hop
ed that each returning anniversary would
prove as happy a one as the present had been
and stated that nothing was left but to dismis
them. At the conclusion of his remarks Capt
Small called for three cheers for the officers
which were given with a will. Mr.. Charlie
Baker humorously said toat somebody had TAX
en- his umbrella and left theirs, but he should
be perfectly happy to exchange.
Thus ended the first annual excursion of tn,
Aged Brotherhood, which will be remembered
and chefishAd by eacf, participant. until that ST
lent but unavoidable messenger cometh who's,
watch-word is Eternal Peace"
The following lines, written impromptu a
the island by the veteran printer, Ira Berry
Esq, and read by him, were received will
great applause:
At your mandate, 1 advance
| And greet each member q brother:
| IT don't improve the chance,
| IT'S doubtful if get another;
| And tits wise for every man,
Whate'er his aim-Or work or pleasure--
To achieve it while he cam
| Enjoy, or workout both in measure.
All of us have doubtless read
| This maxim of the wise mans teaching
Glory croaons the h0dry head,
| If Righteousness hare done the bledchin1.
| By every race in every cline,
Has age been honord and respected;
And in our enlightened time,
| We trust twill never be neglected
| All may recollcct, how good
| Old Jacob, when his years oppressed him.
Reverenced and honor'd stood
| Before great Egypts King. and bless'd him:
He, at six score years and ten,
| Pronounced his days but STEW and eyil':
So they might have reckon'd then
| But we'd think, that age Cheat the devil"
| Have the years, in passing by,
| OF strength or faculties berett us?
| Mourn them nOt-but let us try f