The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-01-13

This excellent organization celebrated their
first anniversary at their room on Congress
street (above Oak last evening, and the whole
proceedings were of great interest not only to
those connected with it but others who were in
duced to be present (if any there were) through
motives of curiosity There was a good au-
dience in attendance. Hon. Israel Washburn
Jr., presided, and the exercises We're interspers-
ed with some fine songs by Mrs. Wetherbee
Miss Dyer accompanying on the piano. Of the
report of the Secretary, Henry F. Coolidge, we
make the following abstract: The inception of
| the enterprise dates Nov. q, 1870, when notices
were read from the pulpits of the Unitarian,
Universalist and Swedenborgian churches,
! proposing the institution of free evening
school. The next evening about forty persons
assembled at the Preble Chapel. A committee
was appointed to inaugurate the scheme, and
| at the same time more comprehensive associa-
| ton was suggested; and committee was APP
pointed to confer with the ministers of the five
societies interested, and with them to take such
measures as should seem expedient for the in
auguration of a union of Christian work. and at
public meeting at the Congress Square church
general plan of action was adopted, and a
committee appointed to report articles of Or
ganization at a subsequent meeting dec. 20
constitution and bylaws were adopted, officers
and committees were provided later, and the
enterprise fully put in operation. An evening
school was established in the vestry of Preble
Chapel under the SUPPLEMENTARY of Mr.
Larrabee, assisted by corps of teachers, when,
in addition to the common branches, book
keeping, Latin, French and drawing were
taught. The attendance was frequently as
great as $50. This school was continued through
the winter months at an expense of about $780,
By the soliciting of memberships and donations
a sufficient sum was obtained to warrant the
renting of rooms and the mourning of other nee
essary expenses. Finally the rooms now oc-
cupied by the Fraternity were secured, and
were dedicated to the purposes of the association
April 10, 1871. Donations of books, newspa-
pers, pictures, ETC., came so quickly and liber-
ally that in short time there was well-fur-
nished reading room, classroom, and amuse-
ment room The reading room is now in re-
ceipt of three daily and twelve weekly newspa-
pers, nine monthly and four quarterly maya
zines and has library of 322 volumes of mis-
cellaneous works. The library is made up en-
tnCly VI uOudtiOuS, VIC dASCoe Oohoilpuuoi pC-
ing the Mercantile Library Association, which
gave 81 volumes. The evening school was re-
sumed in May The attendance was good and
fair degree of success attended the efforts of
the teachers. During the summer months some
of the classes were continued without Interrupt
ton, and the entire school was reorganized in
autumn. There are now 80 pupils in the read
ing classes 20 in the arithmetic, and Is in the
grammar class. The other classes are not so
large The amusement room is furnished with
games, and has been very attractive feature.
Its limits have often proved too small for the
accommodation of its visitors. At first the free
dom of the room was abused by a class of young
men whose object was not improvement but
disturbance, and the managers, to obyiate this
difficulty, deemed it expedient to fix a small
admittance fee, which had the effect of inspir-
ing feeling of personal responsibility among
the ticket-holders, and the fee has been fire.
quently RENTED, when in the Judgment of the
managers the circumstances of the applicant
made it expedient. With but few exceptions
none under IA years of age have been admitted.
The rooms are now open daily from 8 a. m, to
Top. M
We appendix the report of the Treasurer,
Frank Moves: -=.-..-.s -.....