The Portland daily press., 1870-05-20


The Alpha Delta Phi Convention closed lis
thirty eighth annual session yesterday. The
morning was occupied with a conclusion of tie
business matters coming up before the Society.
Chief Justice Bradley of the Brunonian Chap
ter was elected Orator, and Alfred B. Street
Poet for 1871 The following is a list of the
delegates present at the Convention.
Hamilton Chapter-F. B. Daniels, T. A. Abbott
Amherst Chapter-A. z. Lyon, q. G. Hail.
Brunonian Chapter-J. NJ English T. BIZ CESS, j.
L. Crane.
Yale Chap.er-C. Phelps, c. H. Board, F. S.
Smith.
Bowdoin Chap re. 3. Weston, c. L. Shepard,
F. fl. Gerrish.
Pepinsular Chapter-H. B. Hutehins, r. II.
Thayer.
Dartmouth Chapter-F Brown
Rochester Chap ler--H. Z. Emerson.
Manhattan Chapter-G. MeAdam.
MIDI etown Chapter-W. e. Whitchar.
Union Chapter-N. Dext r, j. b, Lockwood, w.
P. Rudd
Cornell CEapter-M NJ. ? ,ss.
The following are some of the distinguished
men our country has produced, who are mem
bers of the fraternity: Prof j. Russell Lowell,
Hon. Salmon p. Chase, Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, Hon. VIM. S. Groesbeck, Hon. Hor-
ace Maynard, Rev. Phillips Brooks, Geo. VIM.
Curtis, John Jay, Donald G. Mitchell, Rev.
Drs. Storrs, ii. e. Smith, Thompson and
Phelps, Profs. LOOMS and st. John. Seven
Presidents of colleges and hundred aud tbir-
ty professors are members
In the evening our magnificent City Hall
presented beautiful sight--filed with an au-
dence that had gathered to do honor 10 fra
tornity whose watchword is literature and
whose arms embrace continent. The green
and white ribbons, symbolical colors Of the So
ciety, fluttered on the breasts of not only those
who were as as yet untried in the hard strug-
giles of life, but were also proudly worn by
those whose heads were silvered with &ge and
whose names are known and respected, not
only in their own city, but abroad. The ladies
too, who are always interested in everything
that pertains to college affairs, were presentin
large numbers and testified to their enjoyment
by frequent applause.
After the Germania Band, of Boston, had
performed most exquisitely the overture TO
Oberon and the finale to Lohengrin the Rev.
w. II. Fem, pastor of the High st. Church, a
member of the Yale Chapter, delivered most
impressive prayer invoking the divine blessing
on all the institutions of learning whose chill
dren were gathered together on this occasion.
Then followed "Harp-sounds" by Jungmann,
played by the Cermanias SO perfectly that it
seemed as is one were listening to the music
of an Eolian Harp, with the FLASHING of waters
from a fountain at intervals striking upon the
ear. Gov Chamberlain, of the Bowdoin Chap
ter, then delivered the following address,:
Brothers oftbc Alpha Delta PHI
The duty which you lay upon me with the
honor of your chief Office blends in a spontane-
Gus and even more grateful service. You ask
me for an address-I beg you to accept in
stead greeting. This is indeed the better Of
fering. For with such provision as you have
made for our instruction and quickening on
this occasion it would be fault rather than q
favor in me to come before you with labored
processes of thought or to invoke the aid of
any muse to give form or spirit to my saluta-
ton. Neither might venture to explore the
hidden paths of light when master is to open
the fields of a rich experience, or traverse with
unskilful hand the chords soon to be struck
with a cunning from times of old revererced
as the special gift of God.
Be it then my part TO greet you brothers.
gathered here from the wide expanse of our
land, and even beyond seas, whose spirits are
still growing under the finer influences of
Alpha Delta Phi-brothers who still acknowl-
edge their oblig atoms of respect and fealty TO
the old fraternity. By the accident of af-
fairs am also permitted to bid you welcome
in the name of the State,not unhonored among
her sisters,n not unknown in the world OF letters
or of deeds. The State and the city which
have been at one time or another the nome OF
a Payson, a Nichols, u Willis, Longfellow, a
Hawthorn, a Prentiss, q Fessenden, Neal,
knows how to welcome hither a fraternity
which bears upon its rolls many of whom it is
enough to say they are the peers OF these.
Brothers, one of the striking suggestions of a
gathering like ours is that we are carried back
to youth; and this is a lesson of good. When
we we're young and Joined hands in this fell
lowship life was bright and hope high. We
now come again and set our feet on the morn
ing strand and ask how it has Jared with our
hopes and dreams. All! 1 see the shadow pass
over your faces as L speak these words. Wiser
and sadder, we say rs if the one must bring
the other-anxions, IA If present and not beck
oued-sO5er, as II chastened or condemned
But do we stand rebuked as having cherished
something false or done wrong? We may
smile at our follies and blush at our too ready
confidence and accept the stern corrections ex-
perience brings, but the impulse. the intent,
the ruling motive, do they stand guilty or
dumb? But even if our visions fade is there
anything OF aspiration SO high, of truth so
broad, of honor SO bright devotion SO gener-
Gus, or love SO great that tue soul in its mighty
sweep may not ut last attain?
No! it is only that these objects of our long-
ing are withdrawn from us for little lest
we be too easily content. We see not the
whole resut of our learning and striving, it
goes into the unseen. But / believe that every
worthy aspiration, if ace dre true to 1t, will at
last reach a substance and be fashioned with
glory such as should not dare to claim any
work of ours. Here We strengthen both pa
thence and earnestness, for it is one thing to
be patient, another to be insensble The one
sees the goal AMI willingly suffers for it, the
other is content to be q hull without germ,
self without soul.
1t is well that we who gather here from
amidst the hardening influences of life, should
give way to The thoughts of youth,"the long,
long thoughts" THAT we may take a fresh hope
in manhood, and grid anew our lives for the
race. We cannot cherish them too much the
high, eDnobling visions we may not hope here
to attain. Golden CLEANS from the invisible
life. are they not threads that will yet guide us
thither? Keep but one end fast and strong,
for the other end is anchored surely in haven
10 be desired.
But NAV not detain you any longer. A
blessing. then, on this fraternity, which at the
first cherished and nurtured the best things in
US, and ,quickened every generous purpose OF
doing good works for our fellow men, ano
which still with the fragrance OF each return
ing spring breathes upon us anew her 9enia
airs; A blessing on all who gather here. Joif
with us, strength OF manhood, in respect, sym
pathy and affection; join With us, high hear
OF woman, guide to our heaven, sister OF oul
souls iD the Invisible bonds that make us one
to night,
"For what binds US friend 10 friend.
But that soul with soul can bIendi
Pleasant were those days of wore:
Let us 1--we in soul once moren'
ID ~