The Portland daily press., 1891-12-22

invited guests of the club were noticed,
sides the orator Of the evening, the Rev.
DIR. Dalton Of this city, and others.
The supper was served in the large din
ing hall. every seat in which was filled.
The tables were set and decorated in ex-
cellent taste. wish ferns and fine bouquets
of cut flowers. At each plate was hand
full of grains of parched corn, recalling the
historic starvation ration served out in the
days Of stress and want in the Plymouth
colony. At the table the Divine blessing
was invoked by Rev. Mr.. Dunnells of Bath.
The supper was exceptionally excellent
from soup to desert and coffee.
At the business session President Will
son. in neat and happy speech. congratu-
lated the club on the large attendance of
the evening and its success the past year.
The club elected to membership Mr.. Ed
ward G. Jones and Mr.. Edward III. Elwell.
Several new members were proposed. The
committee on nominations, Mr.. William
Nj. Marks, chairman. reported for officers
during the coming year the following list:
President-Rev. e. P. " ilson.
Vice Presidents-Dr. l. I. Dana, Lyman M.
Cousens.
Secretary-H. H. Kicker.
YreaSurer-Jos. +. Chute.
Nominating Committee-George #. French,
George Libby, Rev. A. FL. Wright.
Auditor-JOhn w. ID. Carter
The club. by ballot, elected the entire list
of nominees as reported.
In acknowledging the honor accorded
him In reelection, Mr.. Wilson said that he
had frankly spoken with the committee
who had seen fit to report.auite differently
from the suggestion he had made. In ac-
cepting the Office, Mr.. Wilson pledged his
best efforts for the advancement and invig-
0ration of the club, while they must expect
him to continue to conduct matters as he
had directed them in the year past. Presi-
dent Wilson very happily reviewed the
varied addresses of the year, showing un-
common variety and fine range of live
subjects. He then introduced as the speaker
for this anniversary of Forefathers' Day
Rev. Addison P. Foster, d. D., pastor of
the Emmanuel church, Boston. DIR. Fos-
ter said he would present a tract of obscure
history: "The N0rseman and the Puritan
on the Banks Of the Charles"
We cannot undertake anything
like full report Of, this, scholarly.
elaborate aud finished address. In
short. DIR. Foster claimed that the
Norsemen from Iceland and Greenland
came to New England and founded on the
banks Of the Charles, at the locality now
known as Watertown. large city called
NorOmbega. The Norsemen established
fisheries, gathered furs and especially cut
precious timber which they exported to
Europe. They had system Of canals and
sluices for bringing down timbers TO their
wharves and ships at Watertown. The
country In the region of Watertown still
shows abundant evidence of this N0rom-
bega.
The speaker said that, in view of the
lcelandic sagas. or historic stories, the
same result is reached; namely, that a
fiourishing city founded by the Norsemen
existed for centuries on the banks of the
Charles.
The Norsemen disappeared by absorp-
ti0n into the Indian tribes. They stayed
for an extended period, but they had net
built upon The strong foundation of high
principle.
This foundation was to be laid by the
Puritans, who succeeded the Norsemen on
the banks of the Charles.
The Puritans lived cOnscientiously in the
| sight of God, and they went seriously
about the whole business of life. They
| came here not for trade or traffic, TOR pei
fries or pelf. but to materialiZe liberty, and
establish principle in social, and religious,
| and political forms.
This fear of God and attachment to high
principle constituted the adamantlne quail
ity which perpetuated the Puritan polity
on the ground where the experiment OF the
Norsemen had failed. DIR. Foster made a
mastery analysis of Puritan character
and eloquently eulogized the convictions,
beliefs and institutions of the torefathers.
He would have the descendants of the Pill
grims and Puritans study we'll the grand
was delightful in style and most attractive
In delivery, and was received in the warm
est appreciation by the assembly.
Following the address Of the evening, DR..
Dalton made charming little speech,
scintllatlng with wit, in which he pleas
antly suggested some little difficulties en-