The Portland daily press., 1881-06-30

| of the first building made $4,000. In the
meantime there had been purchased house
on the main street known as the Brumbleeom
| house for three thousand dollars which was
used as young ladies' boarding house. 1t is
unnecessary for me to dwell upon that success
full administration of DIR. Weston. After DR.
| Weston the school was under the charge of
Charles S. Fobes, S. B. Rawson and G. B.
Ames. After that it went down, down until
we didn't know what was to become of it; it is
said that there were eyes from outside cast
| upon it, such eyes as Gabriel looked upon the
| devil in Paradise, and what was to be done
nobody knew. The history of tho Seminary
has been trial and trouble from the beginning;
| it has been hard work, there has always been
some dog in the manger but it so happened
| that that good man. that merchant prince of
Boston Thomas A. Goddard came to our relief
and gave sum of money up in the thousands
If an equal amount was raised by the friends
| OF the Seminary which was raised DR.. Nc
| Collister was engaged as principal of the insti-
tuition and there was revival at once. The
| students numbered from lbs to 175 at term
| and we found our limits were too narrow to
| accommodate the boarders and SO Hersey hall
was built. We got a grant from the State of
ten thousand dollars and were feeling strong
and hopeful, 1t was just after the war when
money was plenty and we felt that we could
do anything and so the building was started
| and the church was also erected the result
was that both buildings cost great deal more
| than was anticipated. 1t took two dollars
ciioH W 10 Lie WORK Oh one OOllar; iaoor ana
materials were high. The building cost $780,
| OOO, and $25, 600 was set as the maximum. The
! Seminary also contributed $500 to
| bnlld the church and also gave the ground
| They did we'll because it needed church and
| it needed the influence and atmosphere of the
| church, and they better have given twice that
than not have had it, Then there were large
number of subscriptions that were never paid;
| we had notes which were never paid; hard
times came on, money became scarce, men
| rynrn -. h,rrs, Id
loss upon the institution of from $4,000 to
| $4,000
Then Rev. Mr.. Snow came here as Principal
and was here three years. He was an ad-
mirable instructor; you all know him and his
character for wisdom, strength and stability;
as the old man said of his son, he was "chuck
full OF days works.; and we then had great
| school, but am jealous thai it was the shadow
| OF the Seminary debt that aided the attraction
| for him at Auburn.
After Mr.. Snow came Mr.. Post, then Mr.
Dodge and finally Rev. DR.. Weston, who is
now at the head of the institution.
The Governor then mentioned the beneiic-
iaries of the Seminary, among whom were
| Levi Morrill,, who at one time gave $1,000 and
| at other times gave very literally; Gen. Her
| sey OF Bangor gave us, l think, about $4,000. A
great deal of it is invested in these buildings.
He was wholesouled man and great bene-
factor OF this institution. He amassed a for
| tune of nearly two million dollars, but as l am
informed, he did not leave us by his will as
much as he originally intended, and then his
legacies are tied up SO that they are not avaia
BILE until the year 1900.
There is however, prospect that the heirs
may consent TO pay the legacies very soon
and if so we shall receive in the neighborhood
of thirty thousand dollars. Oliver Moses of
Bath was another liberal benefactor. The
financial prospects of the institution now bid
fair to be placed upon firm basis thanks to
the energetic efforts of the Rev. Mr.. Phil
brock
Governor Washburn then closed With an
eloquent and powerful appeal to the friends of
the Seminary not only to contribute what they
felt they were able to in money but to send
Universalist colleges when as is acknowledged
on all sides they are on par with those of
other denominations
Afterwards Mr.. David Torrey was chosen
chairman of meeting Of the old students.
Rev. w. A. Start, of Boston, spoke pleasantly
of his relation to the school twenty-five years
ago. Prof Rawson also spoke briefly, when
the meeting adjourned,
At 6 o'clock the annual business meeting of
the alumni was held.
The evening was devoted to reunions in
Hersey Hall.
In the evening LIE wis Hall was also beauti-
fully decorated and the alumni of the Semi
nary had delightful dance unders the charge
of Mr.. I'll. S. Deering, Mrs. Frhnk Chenery
and Miss A. j. Bucknam.
This has been the most successful commence
ment for number of years. The friends of
the institution are confident that the institu-
tion is on the road which is to lead out of its
financial and other difficulties to prosperity.
The addition of the Hons. J. r. Bodwell of
Hal1owe1I and Sullivan e. AndroUs IF tI,is
city as trustees materially strengthens the
ri