The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-27

have long labored for its best interests, also
in behalf of my townsmen promise the State that
there will be the same continued sympathy and de-
termined effort for the advancement and SUCCESS of
the new enterprise, that has been pleasure and
duty to bestow upon the old. cannot better con-
elude my remarks than by repeating extract from
address delivered by the Rev. Rueben Mason sev
elty-two years ago, the occasion Of the dediea.
ten of Gorham Academy.
He was q man of wisdom aud righteousness and
during distinguished service Of twentyeight years
among this people Principal and Instructor Of the
Academy was honored OF all men, and the following
words which he then uttered, taken from the only
printed copy probably in existence, will be interest,"
log to our older citizens who were once his pupils:
Inhabitants Of this town and vicinity: To bshold
semmodous and elegant mansions rising where late
y drsary wilderness; to behold the securities,
the comforts and delights Of civilized life enjoyed,
where beasts, and men less fierce than they, for
asrly roamed; to behold the refined and liberal arts
supplanting tho barbarity and ignorance of savage
life; and the divine religion OF the Prince Of Peace
taking the place of horrid superstition; must afford
exalted pleasure to every good and generous mind.
Permit the speaker to congratulate you upon the
fourishing state Of things among AMI around you;
and especially to offer you his congratulations
hopes to virtue and usefulness
Much praise is due to our civil fathers for their
readiness to incorporate and endow this nursery of
learning. But to your liberal and spirited sxertions
We indebted for its present respectable appear
ance Without your fostering care 1t must have Ian
gushed and many years have elapsed before it could
possess its present vgor and stability. May you be
rswsrded by the gratitude, theimprovement and
islnsss of its children. A richer reward generous
minds will not require Encouraged by your exam
pie may now benefactors arise, WAC shall supply by
their liberality what is yet wanting. Finally, may
the Author Of every good gift, and Governor Of the
world, take the institution under his holy protection
Nay he preside over it and bless it. May he furnish
Its Instructors and overseers with wisdom and discrs-
tisn, and feed its pupils with knowledge and under
standing. May infdelity and impiety, vice and IT,
norancs, with all their baneful train, be banished far
fren its wallis May it foster who reverence and
AoI INC ooo ot 'ei fsthars and the Redeemsr of
men. May the plants nurtursd here bring forth
those fruits which shall make glad the cities of our
God. May Gorham Academy [may supply State
Normal School, established in Gorhsm, Dec. 25th,
1871 be distinguished for learning, virtue and good
order, till time shall be no longer"
Governor Connor, 1 now deliver to your Excellsncy
the deeds and property heretofore described and the
kSyb Oh eue UuuulDS, auu Inlay ouT uOolo otaIo Tue
State of Maine which has been honored by your care
fal and distinguished guidance for series Of PROS
porous years. ever find true and just defenders of
all its material interests.
Although it is not so stated in the address,
it may be proper to say here that the cause of
education in Gorham received its greatest impe-
tus at the hands of the late Hon. Toppan Robbie
father Of Colonel Robe, strong friend of the
old Gorham Seminary.
Gov. Connor received the keys and spoke as
follows:
GOV. coNNoR's ADDRESS.
Mr. Chairman:
The State in establishing another Normal school by
the act to which we have referred, required, as a
condition precedent to its location in the town of
Gorham that there should be conveyed to the State
land and buildings of sufficient capacity and in such
condition as to fully meet the demands fthe school,
The determination of the proper fulflment of the
requirements Of the State was entrusted to the
judgment of the board of trustees of normal schools
In behalf of that board it is my agreeable duty to
announce to you and the authorities you represent
that all the conditions imposed by the act have in
the judgment of the trustees, been fully complied
with, it being the understanding that the unfinished
work shall be speedily completed, and that with the
muniments of title from your hand the Normal
School at Gorham is duly established as State in
stitution.
am confident that 1 stand in small danger of
using words of undue warmth and earnestness in
expressing the sentiments with whiLh my colleagues
and myself regard this manifcent gift which you
now make to the State To say that we are so well
satisfied of the suficiency of the property you
donate, to feel warranted in accepting it, is an
entirely inadequate statement of the estimation in
which it is held by us. 1t is in the highest degree
gratifying to receive in the of the State these
spacious grounds, these stately and commodious
buildings, dedicated to the noblest uses, the free
offering of generous and public spirited citizens.
The reasons for qualification are manifold and
obvious. To these who have had an opportunity to
see examine and note the character and extent the
worth and beauty Of the donation and its surprising
fitness tor the purpose to which it is devoted, no
argument is needed to set forth by how much the
State is gamer in the intrinsic value of the pro-
perty and in the facilities it presents for effective
service to the State in of its prime
education of IFS nitioon-. IL Is most pleasing
reflection to the trustees it must be to all friends
Of popular education, that such an accession to the
means of training teachers sensibly increases the
promise and strengthens the hope of ma teraly adj
vancng the interests of the common school.
not more enriched by its possession than honored
by the examp lie it displays of distinguished public
benefaction and by the instance it affords of the
Of our communities and people, of their
appreciation of what is best aud highest aud of
zeal ready to sacrifice selfish interests for the COM
mon good.
In the name of the state of Maine and with full
confidence that the people will ratify my words when
they come to know the obligations of gratitude you
have placed them under, thank you-the people of
the town of Gorham the authorities of the seminary
aud all individuals who have contributed to it, for
your noble and admirable gift. and for the exhibition
it affords of generous spirit, bringing honor to
and rejecting honor upon the people of
the whole state. Among all the advdntage that at
tend the infant Institution and endow it with the
fair prospect of brilliant and successful future the
nature of its origin is strong encouragement of
hopeful auguries. 1t owes its being to the intell-
gence, liberaity and benevoence of the citizens
this town, and cannot but believe that these viz
tues will mpart to their offspring a character in
keeping with the fine strain from which it proceeds
and that this school will be distinguished for the
faithful observance of all the duties and responsible
ties that lie before it,
In the detailed history you have given of the course
of events leading to the consum nation of today-a
history permit me TO say, OF great present interest
and of permanent value-you have referred to the
action of the board of trustees in the kindly manner
our association with the authorities on the part Of
the town, would lead us to expect The agents otlthe
state and the agents Of the town have been animated
by the common purpose to make the most liberal
provision possible for the prospective needs of the
school, and both parties have been equally solicious
that nothing should be lett undone that could add to
its capacity for usefulness. The requirements of the
trustees have been promptly accede1 to- and their
suggestions have been cautiously entertained.
There has been no driving of close bargains no un-
just exactions the side attempt on the 9TH
er to evade proper demands. LII the important mat
ter of the selection of site for the main building,
the town authorities gracefully yelled their prefer
to the choice made by the trustees and later on
as you have assured us, becam, convinced of the
wisdom of the choice. think there need be no fear
that the sutableness of the location will be chal
legged
While the trustees signfed their wishes in respect
the number size aud arrangement of the rooms Of
the proposed structure they made stipulaions in
relation to the architectural features and adorn-
ments of its exterior The edfce owes its beautiful
design symmetry, artistic grace and embellishments
to the genius of the architect and the taste and
liberality OF the local authorities.
Tho nepv normal school enters unon its avistapna