The Portland daily press., 1886-08-19


and publish good and substantial one, and
this before much now contained in the MEM
ories of our elder people passes with them
forever away. L am glad to be among you,
and one of you. | enjoy the little reunions
held each year. where we meet familiar faces.
1t alway. leaves one more bright spot, to
look back up through the avenue Of time.
Our emblem, suggested by worthy member
year ago, is beautiful and appropriate one,
which as near as can learn, we were all
much pleased with, and ready to adopt, all OF
which / see manifested today in the appear
ance of the White Rose.
Mr.. Watson's remarks were received with
applause.
MIR. TowNsHEND's ADDRESS.
Mr.; President, Sons and Dasghtdrs Of
hardly expected to be called upon to
make a speech today, belonging or rather
preferring to belong to that class Of whom
Gray in his Elegy speaks when he says:
Full many gem Of purest ray serene -
The dark, unfathomed caves Of ocean bear;
Full many flower is born to blush unseen
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.
In view of the cheering fact that there are
so many of the sons and daughters OF old
York present today, gifted both with tongue
and pen, / could with exquisite pleasure,
linger in the dark unfathomed caves of mod
esty and, listening, permit the perfume OF
my delight in this grand reunion to exhale
from other lips, and remain mute, lnglorl-
Gus, but happy spectator and listener on TINS
enchanting occasion, But cannot forbear
to pay my tribute to old York, from. whose
hillsides Intelligence, talent, enterprise and
public spirit have come down to US. While
the present .detracts not from the ancient
glory of old York, it has much to lend charm
to its ever progressive conditlon-neVer
wanting in territory, being the noble sire, as
it were, Of all the counties in this State, for
many years comprising the whole territory OF
what is now the vast State OF Maine;
today it ranks among the very first of the
counties in wealth and industrial develop
ment. Nor has it ever been wanting in true
manhood from the time of Richard Vines,
who gave so much stability and character to
it and to the State, to this day, when we
have our honored president, who, by his
learning and grace, has endeared himself TO
the whole State in degree shared but by
few. His absence today we much lament.
Indeed, many of the sons of old York, by
their genius and conscientious industry, have
immortalized their names, and we rejoice
that the same energy of purpose and rugged
hess OF character have characterized their
descendants, and that we today are the re-
clplents Sf that great bounty which 1ntelll-
gence and unramitting effort lend; and sue
ceeding to their lame, may their merit weep
not unknown, for their lives were as broad
as humanity is broad, &nd as spotless and as
white as is the rose, euI chosen emblem.
And for the daughters OF ola FORK, who
ndfO SIdCCu bulo OCNdoAOh UAbA sH45lI CNcI
welcome presence. we would reserve, n one
corner of our heart, where nobody ean-see,
of course, one little spot in remembrance OF
this reunion ;lfor without them life Is, as Is
life without letters, weary waste, an empty
dream. L trust that this reunion and this
days recreation will give us courage and
spirit which are better than gold; and Will
inspire us with fresh constancy to the inter-
ests of this society. But as brevity OF
speech hath, like music. charms, bid you
all God-speed
At the conclusion the presiding officer
called upon the Rev. DR.. Small, saying that
in him the York Society had always found a
clergyman ready to give them an appropriate
address.
DR. SMALL
happily responded in few words, but de-
clined to speak at extended length, upon the
plea that as he had always spoken atprevious
meetings of the York Society he would in
this instance give way TO others. he said:
81 am always glad to attend these annual
meetings of the York Society. When l
on these occasions feel confident that the
old blood of old York is still with us in the
young descendants of that illustrious an
cestry."
Chairman Locke next introduced Mr..
George K. Townsend as young lawyer who
by industry is building up for himself good
name. Mr.. Townsend spoke as follows:
Brief remarks were made in response to
calls from the chair by Mr.. VIM. G. Davis,
and Mr.. E. N. Perry Mr., Perry said he had
not come to make speech, but to see and
talk with the boys and girls he was brought
up with. 1 am proud to see, he said,
the sons and daughters of the generation
knew in my youth.
Mr.. Ferguson Haines of Biddeford, and
ex-District Attorney Lunt were called upon
but, Mr.. Haines declined in few felicitious
remarks and Mr.. Lunt failed to put in an
appearance.
A committee of three consisting of Mr.. l.
S. Bean, Mark P. Emery and R. H. BoyntoR
were appointed to nominate officers for the
following year, and after their report was
received the meeting was declared adjourned
Following is the list of officers:
President-Hon. Bion Bradbury.
Vice Presdents-Hon Joseph Locke. III. N.
jose II. j. Libby, VIM G. Davis, W. FL. Clifford.
Secretary--D. B. Kicker.
Treasurer-E. S. Ridlon.
Executive Committee-A. A. Strout, J. G. Rob
erts J. S. Kicker, j. w. Deering, w. +. Lunt II.
o. Conant, Nathan Ridlon