The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-06-14
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
BY Alfred Mitchell. M. q.


DR.. Mitchell delivered the address of well
come as follows: l~
Felloac To,cnsaen, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The custom of anniversary celebration has
long been regarded as one of peculiar and
delightful interest, not only does it serve to
awaken the best feelings and emotions of
those who live in the place of such COM
memoration but it also stirs the most sacred
and tender sentiments of affection in the
hearts of those who have been long and far
absent from the scenes and associations of
youth and childhood.
Evidently the degree Of interest, the depth
of feeling will be commensurate with the
attractions and characteristics of the home
OF such an anniversary.
1t is not my province as the presiding Of
ficer of this assembly to even attempt to bring
before you in any clearer light than you now
behold and know them, the natural beauties,
the precious historical "reminiscences, the
unsurpassed intellectual and social features
which adorn and distinguish our favored
heritage.
The loneliness Of our outlying islands and
headlands, the CLEAN of our sunlit bay, the
charm of our winding and falling river with
its forest crowned hills and grassy intervales,
our broad avenues with their leafy yerdure
will all appear before you clothed in new
vestures of living light under the touch and
speech of those who are about to address
you.
The loyal deeds of former and recent wars.
the struggles with various obstacles which
have prevailed until the mere settlement has
increased hundred fold, the development
of trade and manufacture, the building up of
the institutions of religion and education
will be so set before us as to renew and re-
vive our pride and admiration; and our col
lege will be recognized as one which has rep
resented itself and our dear old town in all
the countries under the sun, and has in
fiuenced our social life, our educational
system. our churches and our municipal
affairs in numberless ways for our good and
advancement.
We ought to count ourselves fortunate that
we live in a time when many lines of rapid
conveyance have brought to us our loyal
townsmen and friends from far and near,
fortunate also Qn this rare day in June, in
this hallowed and historic place of meeting
whose walls and arches seem even now to
echo the magnificent tone of Everett's trib-
ute to our immortal Washington, the melo-
dious cadences of "Morituri Salutamus" and
70 thunder with the applause which greeted
or most seem to see and feel the venerated
presence Of those who so long sat here in their
accustomed places, whose worship of God,
service to man and love of this beautiful
town ought to serve as a perpetual example
to us all for have we not all felt the last living
touch and influence OF the generations who
ARE all gone into the land Of shadows"
through him OF whom it can no longer be
said that living we adore"
Especially do we congratulate ourselves In
4hno hATA - I.
The one, the son Of former venerable and
much-honored citizen, graduate of our col
lege and afterwards associated In its instruc-
ton new Harvard holds him in high repute
and everywhere he Is known In the world of
letters and among Christian scholars as a
leader in the best fields Of thought and Gull
ture. The other have surely only to speak
your own thoughts when allude to him as
one whose warmth Of affection for our town
and interest in its welfare Is not less than
that OF the noblest ito the manner born !" Of
his long and loyal service to the college we
are all swift and ready witnesses, his faciie
pen and graceful speech adorn all that they
handle or utter.
1t remains for me. before your eager ex-
pectancy shall be satisfied by their words to
express our grateful appreciation Of the COM
pliment afforded us in the distinguished
presence OF the Governor of our State and
our representatives In the national Congress,
and to assure them that our love and fealty
to State and country is not less strong and
answering than that which we bear to our
town; also to eytend TO those who have come
from abroad a. most cordial welcome and
greeting not only to our public festivities
but to our hearts and homes" and to
make known to them our earnest de-
sire that the renewal Of old associations and
the revisiting of former scenes may afford
them unalloyed pleasure.
Meanwhile let those OF US who have long
dwell in this fortunate town and who Will
here continue to dwell, coming from farm
and study, from trade and manufacture enter
with glad and tender spirit into the true
expression of this long to be remembered
and happy anniversary; and while we rejoice
In the present let us seek for all the inspira-
tion to future high and noble endeavor for
ourselves and our homes which shall spring
from the recital of the deeds and lives OF the
generations that have gone before us.