The Portland daily press., 1874-04-03

The annual meeting of the Maine Charitaoe
Mechanic Association was held at Mechanics
Hall last evening for the choice OF oIicers,
presentation of annual reports, &c. Io"aru
the close of the regular business testlmoniai
| was offered to one of the Oldest members OF the
| Association.
| The presidents report represents the condi-
ton of the Association as fattering. He rec
ommepds some needful repairs to the building,
and further appropriation for the library. The
library has been newly catalogued and CLASH
fed. The free course of lectures during the
| past winter is favorably spoken of, and pop
ular course next season is suggested. The con-
stitution and bylaws are in the hands of a
committee for revision.
From the report of the Secretary, Mr. Geo.
A. Harmon, we learn that twelve stated meet
ings of the Association, aud ten stated and
three special meetings of the government have
been holden during the past year. Ten new
members have been elected. Two have been
dismissed for non payment of dues. Seven
members have been lost by death, viz: F. A.
Gerrjsh. James Mountford, VIM f.. Cushing,
Chas. Averil, j. w, Sweet, Granville Chase
and VIM, Parker The whole number of MEM
bers liable to assessment is 252, of which num-
Der Sc live out of the city. Five life members
have been admitted during the past year. Two
hundred and sixty-eght dollars have been COL
lected for assessments and $40 for initiation.
The whole amount collected was $30S. A sue
cessful course of lectures was conducted during
the winter. On January LIST the bonds of the
Association. $4,000, were delivered to the
care of the Association by the Trustees; having
all been paid, thus freeing the Association
from its entire indebtedness. Since then the
bonds have been burned. There has been con-
siderable sickness among its members which
has been attended to by the charity committee,
and by calls from members.
The Treasurer reported all bills paid and
$5.03 in the treasury.
The Librarian reported 26O new volumes ad-
ded to the library, making'about 1000 volumes
now in the library.
After the reading Of reports and election of
officers, the President of the Association, STEP
ped forward and presented to Charles Holden,
esq.,, an elegant silver tea-set as testimonial
of regard for the services he had rendered as
chairman of the committee which has so ad-
mirably conducted the liq udation of the Asso-
citation debt. The service is-of six pieces.
valued at 5000, and bears the following in
scription: presented to Brother Charles Hol
den by the Maine Charitable Mechanic Asso-
citation as testimonial for his successful eff
forts in freeing the Association from its DO nded
debt, April I'd, 1874" Each piece is marked
with the letter Fl. The set is from the jewelry
establishment of G. A. Harmon, and will be on
exhibition there for few days In presenting
If PreSi6ant pipproa do fha foil
pirate remarks:
Brother Charles Holden:
For eleven years you have as the financial
agent, In the capacity of chairman of the
Trustees of the school fund, occupied the most
responsible position in this Association. In
Gus vigilance, carefulness and honesty have
been thoroughly tested and: have secured the
fullest confidence of your brethren. Under
your chairma nship the bonded debt incurred in
the construction of Mechanics Hall has been
extinguished You have performed the labor
of placing and changing our investments in a
manner that has secured the largest amount of
income and interest You have done all this
without receiving or expecting pecuniary com
pensation or profit.
And now in token of the appreciation in
which your brethren regard your faithful SER
vice, in benalf of the Maine Charitable Mechan-
ic Association | present you with this service.
Long may you live to enjoy the confidence of
beverage that service may dispense, in that
peace of mind which a good conscience is sure
to secure to the faithful.
Mr.. Holden responded in a very appropriate
manner. He remarked that it was reward
enough to know that his purposes had been ac-
complishcd. He said that the occasion was
the brightest and happiest of his life, and re-
ferred to the early days of the Association
wben the bonds were first issued. He spoke
in high terms of several of mis- co-laborers in
the Association, and particularly mentioned
the great services rendered by the late n A,
Foster, while in the Legislature in securing a
lot of wild land which brought $1,000 to the
Association. The work in the Association has
been steady from the start The darkest time
was when the bonds matured. The holders of |
them wanted their money, and the Association |
did not have it, AT last the money was raised |
and the Association went on. He stated that |
DR.. johnson once defined a mechanic as a |
mean fellow, but now that definition is not ap-
plicable. He closed by congratulating the As
ISOLATION on owning such fine building worth
at least $4,000.
c. p. Kimball, esq.,, being called upon re-
piled in very complimentary manner. He
thought that this was great occasion for the
Association. The debt was all paid, and they
were prepared to take fresh start. He spoke
OF Charles Holden,as being worthy of any trust
that has ever been entrusted to him. To him
the Association was indebted for its prosperity.
1t was Mr.. Holden who induced the Maine
Savings Bank to take the first $1,000 of bonds.
Mr.. Foster also gave the Association great
help in very dark hour These gentlemen
will always be held In grateful remembrance by
the Association.
The following gentlemen were elected off,
GERS: L. f. Pingree, President; Geo. o. Little
field, Vice President; Daniel Carpenter, Treas
urer; Geo. A. Harmon, Recording Secretary;
Chas. Holden, Corresponding Secretary; s. H.
Colesworthy, G. L. Bailey, Lyman N. Klmball,
A. S. Mitchell, Loring Lombard, D. G. Drink
water, Trustees; A. Fl. Waite Ward 1, Geo. c.
Lttlefeld, Ward 2, Richard Cole, Ward 8, S.
A. Nasb Ward 4, A. d. Smith, Ward 5, Dan
iel Carpenter, Ward 8, and j. B. Thorndike,
Ward z, Charity Committee.
At the close of the meeting Mr. Holden in
vited the Association to 60 down 10 the oyster
saloon of Mr.. Hatch and "take something"
The meeting adjourned to the aforesaid saloon,
where the members were soon busy inspecting
the bivalves. At the close of the report Mr..
Holden arose and commenced the following
toasts, which were happily responded to:
The President-Brother Pingree. A good mechan-
ic, upon whom was attempted the wickedness of
a stop to that. He was too good to be spoiled
in that way. Let him stand upon his own legs and
give us his thoughts on this OCCASION
The Vice Pres;dent-Brother Littlefield He NAV
be little field but he is quite sufficient for his pae
All he needs fair sight, which he is sure to get in
this association and he won't have to engage any
legs of his pred cessor in order to walk into our a
fections as our next President
4 Good Mechanic-One of the best carpenters in
our ranks is named Dow. He carries his fore plane
in his mouth. Let it wag.
Harmony is an excellent thing among Brethren
We have among us pretty good Harmon without
tie Y.
Bro. Larrabee-Not able to be with us-but with
so fine an ear for everything touching the welfare of
the association, that at this moment he is listening
for the sound of good cheer from his Brethren. May
his health improve till we welcome his presence
among us again.
Bro. SeacdU c. ChGse-Let him tell us of his ex-
perience in getting up these Bonds which have SO
tried our patience for the past years. 1t is thought
that he had finger in that pie. :
The Barnes of this association superior to some
houses outside oft.
1t is hoped that shall not have to Wait long for
Bro Wait to add his testimony to the other evden-
ces of the evening.
We have among us our Brother Walker He is
still strong in the temperance faith Let him