The Portland daily press., 1878-10-11
per,Iaud Fra,erni,y-AnnunI rlee,ipg.

Portland Fra ra'ernity-AnnuaI Meeting.
The annual meeting of the Portland Frater-
nifty occurred at their rooms last evening and
was well attended. The president, Mr.. T. G.
Hersey, presided. The annual report of the
board of directors. embracing the reports of the
several officers and committees, was read by
the secretary, Mr. E. G. Jordan, and accepted.
The following is the gist of it:
The results of the work of the past year,
which is the eighth of the organization, are
| greater than any of its predecessors. Sixteen
meetings of the board of government has been
| held. The institution is growing. The wis
| dom of the change from the Congress street
rooms is more evident than ever The present
rooms, which we're for room considered more
than ample, have already become almost in
sufficient for the purposes of the institution,
caused by the increase of benefciaries The
number of visitors to the rooms during the
year have been 16. 479, against 1867 last year.
The largest number Of any one year at the
Congress street rooms was 9,44S. The good
order and interest manifested on the part of
visitors and scholars is noticeable. Owing to
the liberality of the members, the institution
has not been cramped for means wherewith to
carry on its work, but for fear that it might
Lead to it, on account of the severity of the
times, many new departments which present
good opportunities have not been entered upon.
At the commencement of last year the institu-
tion was about $500 in debt, and this year
n1o M.
entire receipts this year have been $1,671.41,
and after paying all bills and placing
5000 to the account of the permanent
fund, there is balance in the hands
of the treasurer of $22379. Many who
contributed literally last year have not been
called upon at all this year, or only for a mod
crate sum. The work of the institution is now
SO well appreciated by the public thatsthere is
no fears for its financial success. The total
expenditures for current expenses have been
$1,411.66.
AS the finance com mittee is the great fnan-
cial element, so the class committee is the
great operative element of the institution.
Owing to the large increase of scholars and the
wide range of studies pursued, it has been
found difficult to provide teachers for the
many classes, requiring as it does corps of 81.
Persons who are willing to volunteer their
services in this direction one evening in the
week are urged to hand in his or her name so
that they can be called on as occasion occurs.
The school began work in October and con-
tinued until JUICE, though some of the classes
suspended operations some weeks earlier. The
number of pupils was larger than ever before,
there being 80 names (164 boys and 26 girls)
on the list, whose ages ranged from Is to 38.
This is an inc ease over last year of 43. The
attendance of the teachers has been better
than in any previous year, and the success of
their efforts correspondingly greater. The
total number of scholars in all branches the
past year was 47S-9S more than the previous
year.
Many of the scholars, being obliged to work
all day for livelihood, are somewhat irregular
in their attendance and lack in their study at
home, which is drawback to a rapid advance,
but under the circumstances they deserve great
credit for giving as much time from their re-
creation as they do. The primary object of
the fraternity is to draw these young people
away from unwholesoms surroundings into an
atmosphere of parity and refinement: and
tucus IL buoy Wtou W NO tdukub oUmtGuluS,
they are afforded the opportunity to learn, but
their entrance into and continuance in the
classes is entirely voluntary. On the whole,
the general result for the year of the school
has been quite satisfactory. course of ten
familiar Saturday evening lectures by citizsns
of this city, whose services were gratuitousy
given. on Instructive themes, was successfully
given during the winter, and will be continued
the comipgswlnter.
Near the end of the school year an enjoyable
exhibition, in which scholars took part, was
held.
The usual thanksgiving dinner to the benef-
caries did not occur until Christmas week
when it was most bountifully spread before
larger nutaDer than ever before sat at our board.
The speeches and music upon the occasion
added greatly to the pleasure of the feast.
There has been little change in the library dur
ing the year, there having been but few addi-
tons. There are 1888 volumes upon the shelves
for use at the present time The rooms have
baap ant in a very and -nee5-a4-1;A;>-,
and everything in and about them is in excel
lent order. An additional classroom has nec-
essarily been hired, on favorable terms. One
room is now let to the city for the "Oumb
School,
There has been received for rent of the hall
and rooms $249.
1t has not been deemed expsdient to furnish
the rooms for the Gymnasium on account of
the economy necessary to be used in sustaining
the institution. The department of the young
persons and the attendance of. the s'evening
committee" has been better than ever before
The efficient services of the janitor Uos G.
WoodilD ara fttingly acknowledged. The
committee on members which has been quite
active the past year report having held fourteen
meetiogs, at which collections were reported to
the amount OF $554 IA, and $3G3 so has been re-
ceived by other members, making the total COL
lected on account of members the past year
$3.50. GA, which came from 247 Individuals, 207
of whose names have been entered upon the
books. The collection of money for benevolent
and charitable purposes has been exceptionally
difficult A sewing school was established in
January and prosperously continued weekly
till May. The course of six dances given by
the Fraternity during the winter at the City
Hall, proved to be highly successful both So
cially and financially, being the most success
ful ever given in this city An annual course
is now an established fact.
The net receipts of the course were $27O
The especial thanks of the committee is re-
urned to the city daily papers for the vsry
valuable aid extended by tham-whch contrib
uted to the success of the course.
The following were elected officers for the en-
suing year:
President-T. G. Hersey.
Vice President-S. j. Anderson.
Treasurer-H. G Baxter
Drectors-W. W. Thomas, J. P. Baxter, NJ.
M. Butler, f. q. Gerrish, W. l. Thom. Mrs
G. s. Fobes, Mrs. B. Bradbury, Mrs. J. E. Fer
nald, Miss M. T. Hersey.
Portland Provident Association Annual
Meeting.
The annual meeting of the Portland Provi-
dent Association was held last evening at the