The Portland daily press., 1877-10-24
M. @. MI. A.
The Triennini Festival East Evening.

| The company was called to order by the Presi'
dent, George A. Harmon, Esq, who welcomed
the guests in the following appropriate Ian.
| guage:
| Members of the Maine Charitable Mechanics
| Association, Ladies and Gentlemen:
We meet tonight in social intercourse ia
| strengthen the bonds of fraternity and to bring
ourselves into harmony of sentiment and unity
| of action. Something of the din which indi-
Gates the worlds activity ceases when the indi-
| viduals who compose this association rest from
| their special avocations. Yet when meeting as
one in aim and effort to promote the objects
sought by the founders of this organization,
| they will not retard but enhance the spirit OF
progress an hundred fold For fifty yearsstbose
| who have carried forward this Association on
| its missions of education and charity have
! passed by the way to erect golden milestones to
mark its triennial periods of progress We,
| following the time-holored custom, meet to Gel.
citrate our achievements in the arts of Industry
| and in the good works of our hands and heads
| and hearts. As mechanics, we share in the
! triumphs won in the various departments of
| skilled industry at the worlds grand exhibit
| tons, whether by our neighbors or brother
| craftsmen from beyond the seas. From the re-
| suits seen at such expositions, and from our
| own successes also, we know it is worthy of our
bst endeavor and most enthusiastic study to
attain to excellence in our chosen field of labor.
! And we may profitably revive tonight what has
/
| ization-what acquisitions we have secured in
| skill and knowledge, what contributions we
| have made to the public prosperity, and what
| benefits have resulted to us and to our fellows
| in the gracious interchange of good, through
| the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association.
| Our constitution provides that we shall hold a
| celebration triennially, on which occasion an
address shall be delivered by member. To
| this festival, brothers in the mechanic arts,
| cherished representatives of those whose chairs
death has naAa vacant friends whOan aid q nd
counsel have lightened our burdens and per-
fected onr work, and you who have ever been
in every good and noble enterprise, bid you
all a most cordial welcome.
L now have the pleasu of Introducing the
orator of the occasion, NJ A. Blanchard, Esq,
who will now address you.
Mr.. Blanchard said:
Institutionalism is one of the marked fea-
lures of civilized life. Usefulness measures the
rghsof any institution to be. More than three
score years since by an act of the Legislature,
signed by Gov. Caleb Strong, June IA, 1876
John Phillips, Ebenezer Wyer and Samuel
Baker aud their associates were incorporated
and made body polite under the name of the
''Maine Charitable Association"
By the act the Association was granted leave
OF life for twenty years, and the right to hold
real and personal property to the extent of $10,-
600 each. The annual income was directed to
be employed for the relief of unfortunate me-
chanics and their families; to promote invention
and improvement in the mechanic arts and to
assist young me chanics with loans of money.
subsequently by supplemental acts of the
Legislature the duties and privileges of the as
ISOLATION were largely enhanced; its term of
life several times extended-twenty years each
time-uDtil by an act approved March "a, 1856,
by Gov. Lot M. Morrill,, the limit of twenty
years was repealed and the association made
body polite and corporate with perpetual
succession nnder the general laws of the state,
with the right to hold real estate to the amount
of $4,000. Thus from time to time has been
indicated the confidence reposed in this asso-
citation by the authorities of the state Of it's
career OF usefulness in this community little
need be said. IT'S good deeds are known of all
men, and today we take pride in stating that it
is in better circumstances than ever before, to
pursue with undated energy its cherished pur
poses for the promotion OF the mechanic arts,
the diffusion of useful knowledge and the ex-
tension of charity to its unfortunate members
BY great self helpfulness, aided By liberal con-
trbutions from generous and benevolent citi-
zens supplemented by a grant of half township
of land from the state. the association has been
enabled to erect aud pay for this building with
the exception of small floating debt due en-
tirely to its members. Here the association
after many wanderings finds a permanent
home where in acts of benefcence its income
is largely expended for the advancement of the
general community.
1t has placed upon its shelves well selected
library of more than 1000 volumes for the use
of it members and their families, to which is
constantly being added the current literature of
the day.
1t has also opened and maintained during the
winter months Of each year school of drawing
and design free to mechanics from all parts of
the state and annually offers to the public
free course of lectures second to none given un-
der any other auspices The association is now
year by year slowly accommodating funds with
which it hopes in the not far distant future to
enlarge its scope of usefulness, repaying to its
members and to the public, in added education
al facilities, more than full equivalent for the
aid hitherto extended.
OF 81 members only two survive-Charles
Farley, aged about 86. and Henry S. Pearson
aged So. The ASSOCIATION now numbers 400
members. In accordance with the custom now
more than fifty years old, and in conformity
with provision of our constitution we are
called once more after lapse of three years to
take brotherly counsel together for step on
ward in the march of life.
After referring to the affairs of the Associa- |
ton the speaker spoke of some of the questions
said that reciprocity is the settled law of So
ciety, and the important problem for all to set
tie is thelproper adjustment of circumstances
around them. Despots formerly ruled the land |
but it was only for season, for now there is no
such thing as one class ruling over one other in
this country. There is loom enough for all if |
the right places can be found. Bow to live |
and in living how to make the most of life is |
one Eproblema flor thessoution of the masses. In |
fact the question of the ways and means of this !
life should be carefully considered. All should |
learn to do something and that something we'll. |
There have been too many distractions placed |
in the way of men wishing to transact bust
ness, to the great loss of the country at large. |
The channels of business have been too FREE |
quently clogged and for no perceptib,e reason. |
The speaker next referred to the fallaey of the |
soft money doctrine, and referring to the action
of the government in issuing greenbacks said |
that there were many difficult circumstances in |
which the government was placed by the war |
to be considered in considering this matter.
There is no TRADE against capital by labor as |
many would have us believe, and the class |
called middle men are as important for the |
transaction OF business as the producer or the |
capitalist. Both hands and brains are of the
utmost Importance in these days of enterprise.
Now men pursue specalties instead of gener-
alltes as formerly, much to the advantage of
all concerned.
The striker who isjures his peighbor or his
neighbor's property, was denounced as GRIM
inal and the treatment for that class was recon-
mended for him.
At the close Of the address quartette, COM
posed of Messrs. Coyle and Noyes. and Mrs.
Cloudy and Miss Milliken sang song with fine
effect. The company was then invited to the
hall above to partake of an excellent supper
which had been prepared.
tables were spread lengthwise Of the hall
heavily loaded with tempting viands furnished
by Mr., G. W. Lucy. There was good supply
and the quality was Of the first order. The
hall was decorated with banners used by the
Association in their celebration IN 1871. The
first banner owned by the Association occupied
prominent position at the head of the hall.
When all had taken seats at the table Dr.
Hill was called upon to ask divine blessing. AT
the close of thorough discussion of the sup
per the President called upon the quartatte for
song which was promptly given.
The President announced E. H. Elwell, ESQ.
as toast-master of the evening. Upon taking
his seat Mr.. Elwell at once proceeded with the
toasts. which were as follows:
Our TrienajdI FestirGl-Insttuted by the fathers
for purposes of mental improvement ana social en-
Joyment, and observed by the Association for more
imam nifty years. hail its return as the occasion of
bringing together the ADLER as well as the more ac-
tive members, and of promoting that social inter-
course which lightens the burden of life.
Responded to by Oliver Gerrish
The Mech1nic-He wins respect as he respects
himself and his calling. Good work brings good
opinion.
Responded to by Capt j. B. Coyle.
Our CHy-Though noted for her total abstinence