The Portland daily press., 1870-12-22
The Portland Fraternity.


A meeting was held at Congress Square IN
iversalist Church last evening, to inaugurate
an Association with the above title, to include
all persons whether men or women, without
distinction of sect, who are willing to work to-
gsther in doing good and in getting good
The attendance was quite large.
Rev. B. 81. Bailey, of the LIST Parish Church
called the meeting to order, and made few
remarks favoring the formation of such an As
ISOLATION. Hon. Charles P. Kimball was elect
ed chairman, and the meeting was opened with
prayer by Rev. w. E. Gibbs, pastor of Con-
gress Square Church. The congregation then
sang the 689th bymn:-
Within these doors assembled now,
We want thy blessing, Lord!
Mr. Kimball, the chairman, then read pa
per setting forth the objects proposed, and the
IN ethods to be employed for the accomplish
ment of these objects, aud made some remarks
in favor of the formation of such an Associa-
ton az now proposed. He then called upon
the President of the Boston Young Mems
Christian Union to address the meeting.
Mr.. Baldwin, of Boston, responded to the
call and addressed the meeting in forcible and
eloquent manner. He congratulated them
upon so large an attendance at a preliminary
meeting held in the middle of the week. 1t
avgured we'll for glorious result. He spoke
of the importance of establishing such an asso-
citation here for the benefit of young men who
should come here from the country, and stated
the operations Of the Boston Union in that re-
spect. Such Union as was proposed must be
formed upon the principles OF Christianity, not
theology. Its platform must be broad and its
doors open to all-the graduate from the State
prison, il he wished to enter, as well as the
man OF good character. He urged the forma-
ton of the association upon these principles,
and related some incidents connected with the
Boston association. Money would be wanted,
and that could be as easily collected here as in
Boston, where he had never found any difficult
ty in that respect. He thought $4,000 could
be collected in Portland within two months
IF the merchants of Portland did not contribute
literally to this object they must not come to
Boston and Drag about Portland. He closed
with an earnest appeal to all, to give literally
and to every one present to Join the associa-
tiou-quoting from a sermon delivered by MT.
Murray of Park St. Church, Boston, in sup
port Of the views he entertained.
The audience then sang
The morning light is breaking.
.Ex. Gov. Washburn said the people were
always ready to take hold of and carry out
great enterprises, such as building railroads,
steamships, ETC., and laying ocean cables. But
there was something more important than
such projects to be carried out, and it was in
the formation and worship of such associations
as the one now proposed. He thought the
Orthodox were doing good work in their I'm
ion in their own way and it was not for Uni
versalists to complain that they were shut out
of the Union. They would never feel at home
there and they must carry out their work IN
their own way. In speaking of the necessity OF
this association he mentioned some methods he
should like to see adopted, and closed with
moving that a committee OF four be appointed
by the chairman to prepare code of bylaws
and make all the general arrangements for the
formation of the Portland Fraternity Associa-
ton; said committee to report at an adjourned
meeting.
The motion was adopted and the chairman
named Ex-Gov. Washburn, Rev. B. II. Bailey
Rev. q. w. Buck, e.. S. Shaw, Esq, and Mr..
A. M Burton az the committee.
1t was voted that the adjourned meeting be
beld next TUESDAY evening at 7 10 o'clock, at
the vestry OF the Congress Square Church.
The chairman then requested all who were
willing to Join the proposed association wheth-
or man, woman or child, should sign the circu-
lars which had been distributed in the pews.-
While the papers were being signed, T. c.
HeIsey Esq, having been called up by the
chairman, made few appropriate remarks up
on Tue uecessLy VI III iuipS ouSu OIL "oSoS'"'ioI
and spoke of the great benefits which would
result from it to the whole community. HI
pledged his efforts and aid to the project.
Nh. G. E. Jose being called out, said his frs
idea was that a society should be formed II
prevent Young men from the country from com
ing into the city; but be should willingly ioir
this association and aid it all in his power,
The audience then sang "Dismission." A
vote of thanks was then passed to Mr.. Bald
win for his elegant address Beredictlon wa
prononpced by Rev. Mr.. Gibbs, and the meet
ing adjourned to Tuesday evening next to hea
the report OF the committee.