Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-04

ATLANTA, GA. APR. "a, 1873.
EDITOR DAILY TINES Il know you will grant
brother quill driver a brief space in your paper
| that he may tell as an eye witness, how the good
| old State Of Maine was represented in the late
grand International Sunday School Convention
held in this city on the l7lh. 18th and 10Th of this
month. "As a native of Maine. and always proud
| to own her as my birthplace, | watched with
| interest when the roll of States was called
| expecting to hear response from my old class.
| mate, eN Governor Nelson Dingley, Jr. In his
| absence however, worthy representative ap.
pesred in the person of Capt. &. c. Goss. of your
city.
| As his manly form arose TO view, and his frank
| smiling face beamed out over the vast audience
| | could readily see that he was the fright man n
| the right place" His brief remarks made that
| point still clearer, to my mind ut least. "Mr
| President" said he,"Maine is great State, and
| regret that she has not better representative
here to-day, aud more of them. But, sir. she is
| a good state to emigrate fiom; and if all her
| sons in this convention, from other states would
only come home for few days, the seats here
| set apart for the Maine delegates would be full"
| This happy introduction was greeted with gen.
erai and prolonged applause, especially from
| some twenty "Sons OF Maine" who were in other
| parts of the house. Among them | noticed Hon.
VIM. Stckney, of Washington d. c., ex Mayor
| Jonathan Norcross, Hon. A. E. Buck, Col. w. c.
| Morrell, Major W. y. Smythe, of Atlanta Henry
Jones Esq, of Augusta, Ga. Hon. j. L. Bryant,
| and Major ). Herbert Lancy Of Savannah, and
| many others whose names did not learn. All
| were glad to hear Capt. Goss give favorable &C.
| count of the Sunday school work in the good old
| State where they fl It attended Sunday School,
Capt. Goss, as the sole official representative OF
| Maine had to do all the talking for his section
and although he is plain, honest sort of q man,
| his brief and practical remarks, always made with
| a smile on his ruddy face, were listened to with
| the deepest attention, and never failed to be
heartily and generally applauded. When the
| call was made for money to pay the expenses Of
| the Convention, Maine was asked for twenty Eve
dollars. Capt. Goss arose and said "Mr. Presi
| dent Maine, | again beg to say, is large state,
| and desire to suggest that the committee have
| not assessed her enough, and wish to make the
amount to fifty dollars, and hand you that sum"
In reporting this incident the Savannah Morn
ing News says "As the old Captains smiling
| face passed up TO the Treasurers desk, the
| applause was most hearty and prolonged from all
| parts of the Convention This noble action in
| spired Illinois, and Rev. ? q Gilleth, ID. d., said
| they wished to make their assessment two hun
| dred dollars instead of one hundred and twenty
five dollars; which generous action was also
| heartily applauded.
| When the Convention opened Capt. Goss found
| himself with two pews assigned to the Maine
delegation, and he the only one present TO occupy
| them. But after his first speech he did not lack
| for company, and at every session the MAINE
pews" were filled. | refer to this TO show that
your sole repre- sentative from the very first,
| a warm place in the hearts of the other delega-
| tions and rejected uue honof upon his lar OF
| Eastern State. Maine should have sent . full
delegation but as she failed in this, it should be
matter OF pride to all Ter Sunday Schools to
| know that n her one solitary delegate present
she had representative who, in every respect,
| met all the obligations and discharged all the
duties Of the occasion in a most creditsble and
| acceptable manner,
| The convention WAS grand and glorious sue
| cess in all its results. No gathering since the war
has so bound together the hearts of the people of
| the whole country in bonds of unity aud peace.
| The same is true Of the various denominations
| represented; for while all have remained true to
their distinctive features, they have wisely joined
hands in the Sunday School work. The dele
| gates of the Southern States met together in the
Capitol and unanimously accepted the work vi
| the Convention. and voted to organize State
Convention 10 every Southern State where one
does not now exist; thus, under God from Maine
TO California, the line is TO be made complete.
and the gloi ous work to be carried on witn in
ere ased power and renewed zeal. And hope the
press of Maine will give this communication q
wide circulation, that all her Sunday Schools
may know how well they were represented IN
Atlanta by Cap. &. c. Goss, and that the noble
enterprise of extending the work of the Conven-
ton has met with the most abundant success here
q, the south. SIDNEY HERsERT.