The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-12-25
TUE PRESS.
HISTORICALSOCIETY
ROBERT H. GARDINER.

ROBERT H. GARDINER.
am grievously disappointed at not being
able to attend the meetings of our society to-
day. think there will be no one present who
can claim an acquaintance with him so long
as myself. In the winter of 1851 think it was,
was pupil of DR.. Packard at the academy
at Wiscasset, and the regard and respect had
for him then, / have ever since retained in.
creasing with the lapse of years,
HENRY NJ KING.
If it were not that Historical Societies are
known to be always accurate in the matter of
dates the figures of your invitation would GER
tainly create a suspicion of inaccuracy in the
minds of those who remember the erect form
and vivacity of your honored guest.
The influence of Professor Packard's person
al character abides with me still. May God
he shall see fit 10 call his faithful servant
home may it be prematurely at one hundred
years of age.
j. B. sEwALL.
1 venerated Professor Packard as my in
structor in college, but only learned to know
his true worth-the genuine simplicity of his
spirit, the generosity of his feelings and judg-
ments his geniality in social converse and his
readiness to sacrifice himself and bear burdens
for Others when afterwards I became his sue
cessor and colleague in office.
D. HUMPHREYS sroRER.
Although prevented from attending your
meeting, cannot refrain from expressing my
qualification at the contemplated action of
your society
In 1878, Professor Packard commenced his
duties as an officer of Bowdoin College. The
freshman class, of which / was member was
the first to receive his instruction. l shall
never forget his patience, his sympathy, his
kindness. He was always faithful and Just.
During my entire college life he possessed
aud and AZ hn x1ps
ration of sixty years since my graduation he is
never recalled without awakening my graft
tude and affection.
Please offer him my heartfelt prayers for his
continued health and happiness
REAR ADMIRAL GEORGE HENRY PREBLE
Another aud previous engagement for the
Christmas holidays will prevent my being
present, but shall join you however, heart and
soul in your affectonate remembrance of our
venerable friend, and | wish to add my per-
sonal congratulations to yours in his having
arrived at such serene and sweet old age.
JAMES R. osGooD.
regret exceedingly that my engagements
are SO pressing as not to allow me to be pres
ent on Dec. 23d to participate in the tribute to
Professor Pa kard.
ISAAC MCCLELLAN.
have always held a great affection for
Professor Packard. Indeed I have maintain
with my old college friend, Professor Long ell
low, ever since / left Alma Mater. 1 have very
pleasant recollectiens OF Portland where al
ways stop for few days in passing from Bos-
ton to Brunswick, besides it is my birthplace,
L enclose some verses suggested by the occas-
ion of your celebration:
Lines on receiving an invitation from the Maine
Historical ciety to attend the S4th anniversary
of the birth of Rev. A. S. Packard, Professor al
Bowdoin College, and members of the Society.
Friend of my College daysl
Dear Teacher in old Bowdoin's college hall,
Bright o'ec the past the light of memory plays.
AS those years recall
Sweet recollectons rise
And brigh en- with white blooms the scenes of old
The vanished past is present to our eyes,
AS Times long scrolls unrolld
How few, alas, remain
OF those who with us for flames chaplet stroye,
Parted forever, meier to meet again.
In the scholastic grove.
So, year succeeded year,
When hopes were, all elate, and life was new
While each young heart was fresh, each eye wa'
Each friendship firm and true
Then dear by woodlands wide
To roaw, where pine groves wave there sylvan
screen,
Or muse BY Androscoggiu's flowing tide,
So lovely, so serene!
All, there oft we met
II the 0S IL na oesn a s1 @aT kind sst SHARE
Words soft as voice of prayer.
On thy beloved head
Time hath ong set his shining silver crown,
Wqite blossoms on thy locks hath softly shed,
Locks that SO pure flow down.
And when life fades away
And thou art passing to eternal rest
May thy last hours be bright parting day,
Slow sinking in the vast.
We greet thee, tender friend.
Kind benedictions on thy head bestow,
And may all blessings thy pure way attend
That life hath here below!
AMOS PERRY.
regret that my engagements here will pre-
vent my participating in the pleasure of the
occasion. 1t gives me pleasure to know thai
the nestor of American professors is duly re
membered and honored.
JOHN H. B. LATRoBE.
am directed in behalf of our society to re-
ply to yonr note of invitation and express the
regret of the Maryland Historical Society al
its inability to be present on the 23d inst. and
unite intendering to Professor Packard its con
CALCULATIONS with those of his friends.
RIA. BROCK.
Nothing could afford me more delight than
the privilege of Witnessing the greeting, and
congratulations of this occasion but duty q
plea which my venerable brother whose faith.
fulness you essay to honor must admit, claims
me here at my post | beg to offer him how
ever my reverential salutation and sincere con.
gratulations upon the rich privilege which
Providence has vouchsafed him of the ability
of so much usefulness and pleasure to his fell
lowmen. All hail monarch of benevolence and
apostle of light.
s. F. Dixie.
1t would give me the greatest pleasure to be
with you and unite with the brethren AND
friends in testifying our mutual esteem and
high regards for our associate brother.
The ancestors of DR.. Packard and my OWL
once lived neighbors IN the same rural town
Of the Old Colony land for the last forty years
and more we have lived not FAR away neigh.
bors. May the friendship hitherto subsisting
be continued, and the life OF our beloved aSso.
ciate among us be heightened out as long as
the Heavenly Father shall see fit
JAMES N. ARNOLD.
like the spirit of your celebration and it ap.
pears to me to be just thing to do. The ex-
ample is worth repeating in other historical
societies. Convey my best wishes to all OF
you members and to Professor Packard in
particular, and say to all that there is no one
in Rhode Island who sympathizes more deeply
in all such gatherings than L.
DAVID G. HAsKINs, JR.
Convey my respects and cordial greetings to
my Grandfather's old friend, the venerable and
distinguished DIR. Packard. trust that he
may long be spared in health and happiness to
the Institutions and the Community that he
has served with such faithfulness and honor.
LEWIS R.. PACKARD.
As one of his Cousins l am proud of his long,
useful and honorable life, and of all the affec-
ton and respect which it has inspired as have
heard from many sources
Such life is surely the best service man
can render to his generation. L beg to be al
lowed to add my sincere prayers for the long
continuance of nis happy and honored old age.
JOHN WARD DEAN.
have high appreciation of the services DIR,
Packard has rendered to your society as an Off
Ger of long standing, and / also honor him for
all he has done for the cause of liberal educa-
tion in my native State. Though he and
were not born in the same town, yet he spent
his youth in Wiscasset where was born and
where bis father, the Rev. DIR. Hezekiah Pack
ard, was the minister at the time of my birth.
ERNEST
Few men preserve at such advanced age SO
much vigor of mind and body as does the dis
ginguished Doctor, and it is a happy thought
of your society to tender him this reception.
RORERT r. WINTHROP