The Portland daily press., 1884-10-27
PORTLAND FRATERNITY.
The Meeting at Congress Square Church
Inst Night-Abstracf of Secretary JOr-
dams Report The Speeches.

The Meeting at Congress Square Church
Inst Night-Abstraci of Secretary JOr-
dams Report The Speeches.
AS preliminary to the annual meeting of
the Portland Fraternity, general meeting of
all intereste in the work of the institution was
held at Congress Square Church. last evening.
The auditorium was well filed at an early
hour.
Rsvs. Henry Blanchard and Asa Dalton Of
fered prayer, and then followed a service of
song. Mr.. E. @. Jordan, the secretary of the
Portland Fraternity, then read his report for
the past yeai:
SECRETARY JoRDAN's REPORT,
For IL years our institution has by its existence
met q want genuine in its nature and lasting in
character. 1t has offered pleasant, cheerful rooms
stnoies, recreation, exercise, the privilege of good
library and the opportunity for improving time out
of working hours, to young men and women either
necessarily or by their tendencies depriyei of
these advantages. This the Portland Fraternity
does in a manner unsectarian and without restric.
ton, save as good conduct makes the standard The
teaching is in the direct on of raity; the endeay-
or is {" inculcate lessons in good m nners gentle
ness, honesty. and correct habits Let US not be
| derstood as separating our efforts from religious
| work. 1t is religious work, but without spect to
the outward forms stated creed of any si gle de-
| nomination. When we realize the dangers of life,
| in even small city. to young people thrown upon
the street or into cheap places of entertainment for
|
| Thought of happy evening home for them. We are
equally glad that Others, industrious and earnest to
make lite worth living but cut off from air chances
| os nard circumstances. can by our aid do a great
| deal towards getting educational start and some
thing of mental di cipliue and achievement. The
report then after referring TO the business streets
| on winter evening bright with electric lights and
ned with the boisterous laughter and rude talk of
the loungers corners ana the crowds on the
| thor~ughfares, besides the throngs at the cheap
sh ws. suggesting the greater evils of grug shops
ana sRloOns. LII we tui n from these scenes to the
1 wit tha
boys and girls at their studies and health ul games
| we shall experience feeling If satisfacti A. Sc
not weary in wei doing. The dates seem TO crowd
closely, of the snnua meetings, but every year
shows ignorance vice and superstition must
battle yaliantly and without discouragerent Let
| us feel that we ave Portland back of ns Give us
teachers, money give of your time but above all
giya u enthusiasm fervor and God speed. Our in 4
stitu ion is years old and considered worthy,
charitable fixture am not prepared to say such
Sono,,i1n s .aVoTaDle 10 progress SUCH status
| mas It's dangers. The we'll organized departments
| have run with so little fricGion that the many
former willing helpers have thought they no
Longer neeted. The push of the loyal few has main
| tained the momentum the many gave Their
strengi b is In turn, weakened by vacancies. They
ask assistance and cooperation which is sorey
needed: Many OF you have branched off as helpers
in charities which had their inception ia organ
| ization. None of them furnish broader fed of
usefulness than the Fraternity and it behooves you
TO turn to and help the work for whose prosperity
have beena little unmindful If its welfare. Hold
| last to what you have. Do not by dividing your
energy, iDjure the work of your own creation Re-
1
membet ship, and in placing us financially on
hrm basis. Our little permanent fund we guard
ditional donations, may obtain sufficient to give
us building adapted to our needs.
| When the management arranged for the
mesting of last evening it was proposed that
the congregation should be addressed by Mr..
Baldwin, of the Young Mems Christian Union
OF Boston, but being unable to attend that gen.
| teman expressed his interest in the institu-
| ton in the following letter, read by Gen.
| Samuel j. Anderson, the vice-president of the
Freternity:
| MIR. BALDwIN's LETTER.
Mr. Baldwin regretted his inability to be present
| and address the Fraternity instead of writing
letter. He approved heartily of the objects of the
society and thought The report of the secretary
| Mr.. BALDWIN stated briefly what seemed to him
should be among the society's special objects:
lst To develop the moral, religious, intellectual
an social in those of all ages who within its
| Influence. There great numbers Of young peo-
ple called from ali SECTIONS of the country 10 the
iite and exposed to temptation. To them the soci-
ely owes duty. Unsectarian as it is in character,
the society's doors should be open to all and the
ganizatios willingly supported by all followers of
Christ. Aim to nstil in tho young the fact that
istence Is blessing and induce the young to lead
lives they can look back upon with Satisfaction.
Impress The fact that life is measured by good |
wo DIS and deeds, not years. The Christian Union
rooms in Boston are kept open every day from a.
~. to 10 p. m. Sunday is the most important |
day Of the seven. In most cities numb srs of young
people are confined to a single room of boarding
| house, and cannot afford a fire. AT the Union |
rooms Sunday, there is ALWAYS a large, orderly |
propriate lectures ,hould be delivered in public
hail. or in the several churches, Sunday even
ings, by the various denominational clergymen, or
laymen, with half-hour devoted to hymn singing.
There should also be lectures. practical talks, |
practical ethics, talks on history banking physical
rious branches of study, sociabes, musical and lit
erary entertainments, the gymnasium and excur- |
sinns for the young pc pie.
To arouse new interest among the citizens in the
Fraternity and 10 get new workers, the people of |
plans and help Garry them out. Cromwell ordered |
the twelve silver status of the Apos les be melt
ed inso metal and coined and sent out to help |
the Masters work No apprehension need be felt |
az regards the financial status of the society if |
good, solid. practical results be snown Pre- |
sent the book of donors to the people not in the
spirit of begging but presenting pleasant way |
Of helping oa glorious institution. Never be s
couraged about your work. Every interest in the |
city demands all should untedly work Tor the Fra
ternitys success. The citys religious intellectual
aud business life will be shaped by the society as it
helps educate and elevate the young. How shall |
we reach the masses2 is often asked. Who the |
masses? All of us. And all can be reached by ac-
tivity, not by ap sthy The greatest danger to |
church and state today is apathy. Every man and
woman should take decided stand in the matter of
religious and moral education; in all that tends
elevate the old or young During the last years
citing political campaign in Boston, a prominent
Boston mercaant. devoted to business. aud who |
spared time for anything else, lived far from
one of the party headquarters. His little son, aged
Sp06cn66
and one evening said his father .'father are you
Republican or Democrat?' WELL" replied the |
1 father. II don't IT. believe am much Of anything"
I'D be something" Frisndsi we must be some
thing. We must 10 something
The letter was full of encouraging anecdotes from
John Bright. Rev. Washington GLADDEN. and Others
which we regret We have not space to reproduce
here.
At the conc lusion OF the letter, General An
derson spoke briefly upon the Importance of
the fraternity as an institution.
GENERAL ANDERsoN's REMARKS.
Those who have not been prominent in the
advancement OF moral and religious work are
the ones who should assist in building up and
sustaining these benevolent institutions espec-
tally one which brings under good influence the
boys who are growing up among evil. He did
not ask to have the boys led TO a religious life
nor to professional education, but he wanted
their minds turned to what is better than their
present surroundings. Tue city should appro-
pirate sum FOL the establishment of a read
ing where the low-lived boys of the
streets can be gathered and taught. When we
perform q noble act we prefer that its memory
should live after us.
Every man who cares for his town and him
self should aid in bringing those boys who fre-
quent low places to the proper influence that
will make them good citizens. The habits and
morals of the children with which the Fra
terBity comes in contact should be reformed.
Singing by lhs choir and scongre alton sue
ceedsd General Anderson's remarks.
In the abs noe of Hon. W. W. Thomas, Rev.
Asa Dalton was called upon to speak in his
stead.
REV MR. DALToN's REMARKS.
Mr.. Dalt regretted the abseuce of Mr..
Thomas because his presence alone would be
more effective than any remarks he could
make aud because his liberallty is equal to his
means. The spirit of the times is money
making spirit and the antidote of that 10 be-
nevolence. 1t is seen are the most money
loving people in the world; yet our rich men
are among the most liberal. Pericles' admin
istratlon stands today the glory of Grsece and
mankind. The city of Boston is distinguish
ed for its benevolent institutions. Ali other |
schools in the country are Carried on upon the |
same plan as Harvard and other Massachusetts, |
schools. Christian socialism will be the law
of the future. Low people will not always
come to our churches Their scanty food
aud clothing wounds their self respect; so we
must commence at the beginning and provide |