The Portland daily press., 1880-10-14
M. c. M. A.
The Triennial Festival Last Evening.

Mechanic Hall was well filled at an early
hour last evening on the occasion of the Trien-
nial festival, the attendance manifesting the
deep interest felt in the association by all
classes of our citizens.
Ambrose Gliding, ESQ.,, president of the
association, presided, and the exercises COM
menced by singing by the State St. Church
choir led by Mr.. J. B. Coyle, Jr. Mr. Gidd-
ing then delivered an interesting address, He
believed that the wisdom of the fathers who
established the association had been clearly
demonstrated. The association is one that
commands the respect of all. Associations
like that of the M. c. M. A. are worthy of all
encouragement. The time will come he be
lieved when the City Library and that of the
M. C. NJ. A. will be united, and the entire
Mechanic building be given up to the interest
OF education. The time has come to educate
the mechanic in the higher branches of art.
The demand to-day in Portland is for better
work. He sketched the past history of the
association, and closed with an appeal to the
mechanics to stand by and help each other.
Mr.. F. H, Fassett was then introduced as
orator of the evening, and proceeded te speak
OF some Of the architectural wonders of the
world The first question that is naturally
asked in reference to the monuments of an
cient art is the object for which they were
built, and the answer is for the purpose of
religious worship. 1t is we'll to study the
architectural monuments of Syria, Egypt and
Northern Europe. The speaker here named
the various noted buildings that have come
down from the past, the Cathedral churches
Of Europe built on the plan Of the ancient
temple. He sketched the building of St.
Peters church at Rome from the first Begin
ming to the time when Michael Angelo was ap-
pointed to take charge of the work, and giving
the details of the great work from that time
till it was finished very fully. He described
his own visit to St. Peter on Good Friday and
e ster day and the scene when the Pope cele-
brated high mass and give his blessing to the
people, with the illumination in the evening
On his visit he saw the last illumination of
St. Peter. He sketched the great cathedral at
Milan, giving vivid and striking description
of the cathedral and its decoration.
He then referred to the old St. Paul's cathe-
dral, and sketched the career of Sir Christie
pben Wren. The ancient plan was to draw to-
gether the best workmen. These workmen
were proud of their work, and had associations
among themselves. Our shops turn out the
best OF work, but there is too much work 60
ing out of the city. The modern system puts
the skilled on the level with the unskilled.
He believed the whole system wrong, and that
there mnst be a return to the old plan of an
honest days work for honest pay. He sug-
gested that it might be possible to set apart
oho ioon VI Gmo MechanlcS buliulnS Ior an
S Sr. museum ms Is no mere depating cIup,
every member shonld aim ro do is to bain otbars
to do the best possible iob of skilled labor The
young man OF the future must be educated in
the art Schools as tne apprenticeship system is
pork man has hacone q ,ooro .roo. hro,, n.as'oi
The sneaker is Frequently anniied to hv no.
rents who ask if he can tell them who desires
an apprentice, ana ne always replies NO,
iaarm no,r 10 ~ so,, trada h,,t ;s o S.t.o'I W
him instructed in the ms and outs of noiitics
we have mechanics tn t can do it even if they
oannol earn living. Inc 1llne mas come ior
hat, and put on the CAP and oyeralIs and pitch
in. The way to reach high positions is to earn
them. The name OF Collins will live Wen
the halls of agaistre NJ snuse WIZ naSe Sa' III
The sneaker was ioudlv annlanded on tal;ng
his seat.
Musical selections were then rendered in
pat; S;n uy .he oholr, altSr whcn tne
freshments.
After the sunnar tho fo,,owi,o +o.sts ,roro
tn.
ssThe founders of our Association,