The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-22

counties.
The amount in value Of Bibles now on hand
at the depository is $1347. 49, Cash funds in
hands of Librarian, $3.50 Co. Total S., 1865.
The society has received during the year the
following sums
Cumberland Bible Society. .................$ 81 0s
Chestnut st. III. 4. Church. ................. 25 on
Collection at Annual Meeting. ............. 20 OF
annual dues OF membeIs... o. o.
Principal and interest OF railroad bond $50 OF
AT the April meeting, the Board finding
that they had cash funds to the amount OF
81 ,2O7. II, and being out of debt, voted to send
$1,000 TO the American Bible Society in New
York.
A thorough and complete circulation of the
Scriptures in our city is contemplated, and the
society is considering the best method of eff
fecting this desirable object.
The Maine Bible Society is about six years
older than the American Bible Society, and,
therefore does not look up to the latter as its
parent The Maine Society was formed in
1909, and incorporated in 1910. The American
Bible Society was formed 1916.
The officers elected at the late meeting in
April were as follows:
President, Rev. w. H. Smaller; Vice-Presi-
dent, Rev. b. h. Bailey; Treasurer, Oliver
Gerrish; Corresponding Secretary, Rev. Asa
| Dalton; Recording Secretary, VIM. II. Hobbs;
| Auditors, Edward Gould, Mark p. Emery !;
rrustees-Eben Steele, Rev. L. b. Ripley s.
w. Larrabee, II. H. Burgess, r. H. Hinkley,
Washington Ryan, James Noyes, w. w.
Brown, Rev. W. B. Hayden, n D. Curtis,
Chas. Davis. and S. H. Colesworthy.
After the report was read the choir sang a
Hymn, and Rev. s. Luce, of the Chestnut
Street M. E. church, followed in brief ad-
dress upon the value of the Bible. Rev. DIR.
Carruthers, who was to have spoken was de-
tanned by illness. An anthem was sung by
the choir and brief and effective addresses
were made by Rev. e. Y. Hincks of State
street church and Rev. Mr.. H. Williams of
Plymouth church. A contribution was then
taken up snd after the singing of another an
them the congregation was dismissed with a
benediction from Rev. B. II. Bailey of the st.
Paul church. g
Mr. MURRAY's READINGs.-The second en-
tertainment in the Fraternity course was Civ
en- on Saturday evening, consisting Of readings
by Henry John Murray, Esq., the British
Consul. The programme was we'll selected,
and allowed ample scope for the display OF the
singular versatility of talent which MIR. Muir.
ray possesses in SO eminent degree. The
opening selection was a little sketch by Tom
Hood, entitled ''The Furlough,' illustrative of
Irish peasant life. This selection was very
pleasantly rendered, and the plaintve, but
humorous appeal of the soldiers mother and
sweetheart, and the enthusiastic joy of the re-
cuit when he finds that his furlough has not
AYnirnd hut hat aunthar i've in,
which to enjoy the society Of his friends, was
expressed and acted 10 the life. Next on the
programme, was the poem which has attained
quite popularity entitled, "Betsy and are
out" by w. M. Carlton. Although at first
sight, it would seem to present no points for
the elocutionist to enlarge upon, yet in the
hands of Mr.. Murray it proved very inter
esting and attractive rendition.
"The Luck of Roaring Camp" by Bret
Harte, is too well-known to need any descrip-
ton, for it has become as familiar as house
hold word to all classes of readers. Its render
ing on Saturday evening brought out all of
its distinctive characteristics, and the incident
which it relates, common enough in civilized
communities, but an entire novelty in the
camp of rough and half civilized miners, with
the broad humOr and vulgar profanity of the
actors at the beginning, and their end, were
portrayed with vivid naturalness and unaffect-
ed acting. The character of each individual,
from the aristocratic Oakhurst, to the rough,
but tender-hearted "Stumpy," was clearly
drawn, and the interest in the story was sus-
tanned unbroken to the end. But decidedly
the gem of the evening was that popular story
by the lamented Dickens, Boots at the Holly
Tree Inn." 1t afforded a wider scope for act
ing than any of the preceding pieces, and we
think that it is in the rendering of tie crea-
tions of the great novelist that Mr.. Murray
excels. The laughable adventures of the jn-
venile couple bent on m atrimony, regardless OF
the consent of their natural guardians, and
the evident gusto with which the worthy
couple related their adventures, kept the au-
dience i'll the best of humor, and won for the
reader the heartiest applause.
We should have been glad to see much
| larger audience present, although the audience
comprised many Of our most refined and intel
ligent citizens, who evidently enjoyed the in
| tellectual treat to the fullest extent Itmay
not be generally understood that the enter
| tainments are held in Cushman's Hall, which
is large enough to contain all who MAY wish to
attend, SO that no one should hesitate to come
on account of accommodation. These enter
tainments will be continued from week to
week, and we trust that they will receive the
liberal patronage and support of our citizens.
ISLAND STRAMER.-The Steamer Express,
which has been purchased mostly by citizen 5
OF Peaks IslaAd, for the purpose of running
between this city and the island throughout
the year, made an excursion thither last Sat.
urday, having on board several members of the
city government, collector of the port, repre-.
sentatives of the press, and other invited
guests. The Express is a staunch screw pro
peller Of thirty-eight tons burthen, seventy
feet long, seventeen feet beam, and furnished
with an engine of fifty horse power She has
two saloons, one for ladies and the other fol
gentlemen, and her upper deck is protected by
an awning, SO as to make it comfortable fol
passengers in pleasant weather. She can &C.
commodate three hundred persons. She waf
built by A. s. Archibald of Philadelphia, and
is commanded by Capt. A. s. Oliver. David
w. Cook is engineer.
The steamer left Custom House wharf Al
halfpast II o'clock. went down around Hos
Island, and thence to the wharf on thu
north side of Peaks Island, being about 4!
minutes in making the trip, her machiner!
working smoothly and proving herself CAPT
tai craft for the purpose for which she wa
obtained. After landing at Peaks Island TIL
2any was invited to an excellent dinner O
the Union House, prepared by the worth!
landlord, Mr.. William T. Jones, to which am
die justice was done, the trip having givel
the guests an iuvigorating appetite. Ate
dinner the company strolled about the beauti
full island, enjoying the scenery, until halt
past o'clock, when they returned on tn
Express to the city, highly pleased with tn
trip. the dinner and the ramble on the island.
The need of a steamer to run to that islam
throughout the year has long been felt by tn
residents there, who require the same facilitie
for reaching the city in the winter as the
, possess in the summer. 1t was with this vie'
+ they had this steamer built, the larger porto
OF the stock being taken by residents, an
t they hope to make the boat self-sustalnln
during the winter by the profits that may az
}, c1ue during the summer. Profits or dividend
Q are not looked for at present, by the owners
j. but they do hope the years business will nc
It show deficit Our citizens should aid ther