The Portland daily press., 1871-12-30

DINNER OF THE iBowDoN ALUMNI IN Bos-
ToN.-The alumni of Bowdoin College residing
in Boston and vicinity held their annual reun-
ion and dinner at the Parker House Thursday
evening. The preliminary business meeting
was held at o'clock. The old board of officers
was reelected as follows: President Hon. John
c. Dodge; Vice President, Charles NJ. Cumston,
LII D.; Secretary, ID. c. Linscott, esq. The
Executive Committee was also reelected. An
invitation was received from the New York As
ISOLATION, asking that a delegate be chosen to
attend the annual dinner in New York, in Jan
uary, and Prof. John Johnston of Wesleyan
University, Middletown, Conn, was chosen to
attend. The company then adjourned to the
dining hall, where an elegant dinner had been
provided. The Divine blessing was invoked by
the Rev. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, of Constantinople,
after which ample justice was done 10 the good
things prepared.
After the cloth was removed, the President
of the Association "deaconed Off the com
mencement hymn, 7'' 'Hi -'- Az
'Let children hear their mighty Deeds"
and then spoke briefly but eloquently in praise
of Bowdoin. He said that here in Boston we
see and hear much of Harvard and Harvard
men, and the sons of Bowdoin hardly have q
chance to make their voices heard. J, But we all
ought to insist upon it that we have as good a
mother as anybody else, and let people know
that we believe it, He also referred to the 1new
departure" at Bowdoin, under the lead of Pres
ident Chamberlain, and adduced the changes
and Improvements as ample evidence that what
ever may be true of European universities, our
American, and especially New England col
leges, are not chargeable with undue conserva-
tism In conclusion, he paid graceful COM
pliment to the venerable Professor Packard,
and called upon him to respond for the college,
DIR. Packard said that gray hairs have not yet
come upon the head of the college. He had en-
tered the institution almost sixty years ago, and
had been in position to watch over it ever
since, and he maintained that it was Younger
to-day than when he first knew it. He spoke
of the slight conditions of admission when he
entered and the low course of study, contrast
ing them with those of to-day. In regard TO
the new departure, he said that Bowdoin has
not got out of the ruts, and he trusted she new
erwould. But an addition has been made to
the courses, in accordance with plans earnestly
discussed and persistently urged in the faculty
for many years. The college needs money very
badly to enable it to take the position it de-
serves, and until that comes she will always be
crippled. The venerated Professor was receiv-
ed with applause, which neverfailed during the
evening to respond to every complimentary ref
erence to him. '3
The Rev; DR.. Cyrus Hamlin, President of
Robert College, Constantinople, made the next
Speech which was largely devoted to descrip-
ton of the college and its methods 1t was, he
said, but another Bowdon on the banks of the
DosphoIus' Ine unlfylng power III the college,
which draws students from so many rationale
ties and religions, is the English language and
the only religious teaching is the system of
morality in the Holy Scriptures The Doctors
description of the college was highly interest
ing. s.f..l =. No. p, So. 80
After him was a long line of speakers, who
added not a little to the social enjoyment of the
occasion by anecdotes, and to the practical re-
suits which the association is designated to ac-
compsh by earnest suggestions. We can but
give the names of the speakers, who addressed
the alumni in the following order: b. A. G.
Fuller, Esq, Samuel L. Floyd, Esq, c. c. Nut
tSe Hoa Ree 81 q Wsm
ID. Northend, Esq, Of Salem, Dr. David Hum
phreys Storer, the Rev. John p. cleveland,
Lory odell, ESQ.,, of Portsmouth, j. w. Perry,
Esq, of Salem, Prof Egbert c. Smythe of An
dover, Prof, j. b. Sewalof Brunswick, Me-, the
Rev. George Gannett, Mr.. N. lG.. White Presi-
dent of the Boston and Maine Railroad, and
Daniel c. Linscott, Esq.