The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-02-23
.. Treasurer-Eben Corey.
Secretary-Henry S. Burrage.
Registrar-JosiahH FL. Drummond.

L1Drarlanr-E. w. Bryant.
Historian-W B. Lapham of Augusta.
| Observation-Disclosures B. DEMO of Bangor.
| CouncelIors-Warren FL. Vinton OF
| GRAY. William A. Goodwin of Portland,
| Brown Thurston of Portland, u. X.
| Harmon of Portland E. Drake of Port
land.
On motion of Mr.. Drake amended by
Dr. Burrage committee was authorized
to investigate those revolutionary dates
which particularly interested Maine and
propose plan as to their commemora-
ton or determine as to the advisability
of having field day. The mem BEES of
this committee will be appointed later.
The following new members were
elected:
J.Ambrose Merrill of Portland.
Lee W Longfellow of Machias.
James Fl. Bailey of Machias.
DIR. W. B. Moulton of Portland.
Jerome Bonaparte Mcdonald OF Fort
land.
Il. K. Harmon presented the applica-
ton of Capt. Jerome B. Mcdonald for
membership, and introduced him to the
company and read from an original rec
ord history of the service of his ances-
tor, Peletiah Mcdonald, as taken down
from the old soldiers lips by the former
partner of Mr. Harmon.
Secretary's Report
Secretary Burrage's report was as fol-
lows:
In this report, first of all, mention
should be made of the great loss the So
ciety has sustained during the year in
the death of its President, Mr.. John E.
Dewitt. His manifest qualification for
the office led to his election as President;
and his interest in the Society and his
services in it's behalf, bore increasing
testimony to the wisdom of the choice.
On learning of his death the Board of
Managers met and adopted the following
minute:
By the sudden death of Mr.. John E. De
Witt on Thursday, August 81, 1898 the
Maine Society Of the Sons of the Ameri-
can Revolution is called to mourn the loss
of It's honored President. Mr.. Dewitt
had held this office from the organiza-
ton of the Society, and had taken very
deep interest in the objects it is designed
to promote. OF a distinguished Revolu-
tionary ancestry, being lineal descen-
dant of ten men who were active in Sc
curing the independence of the United
Colonies, he had inherited much of their
spirit, and their memory was to him a
sacred trust. In all his relations to this
Society, as well as in all the relations of
life, he was courteous, manly, generous;
and we desire to place on record our high
appreciation of his services as President
OF this Society, and also our high appre-
citation of his character as a citizen and
man of business.
The Secretary is directed to spread this
Minute upon the Records of the Soclet. ),
and also to send copy to the family OF
orr late President with the expression
of our deep sympathy in the great loss
they have sustained"
Added words are necessary, as in con-
nection with the literary exercises that
are to follow arrangements have been
made for an address by Hon. Josiah II.
Drummond in memory of Mr.. Dewitt.
The Board of Managers have held
seven meetings during the year, viz. !:
March II, 1898, April 9th. July Goth,
Sept.2, Jan 90, 1884, and Feb H. We be-
gan the year with 100 members. At the
annual meeting in 1898 four members
were elected. By the Board of Managers
AZ additional names have been added
to the roll. During the year four MEM
Der have died, viz, John Brooks Thorn
dixie, May 6, 1893; Edward Breck Robin
son, Aug. &c, 1898; John Evert Dewitt,
Aug. /. 1898; all of Portland, and Merrick
Sawyer. jana, 1894, of South Thomas
ton. The whole number of members
at the present time is 156.
The proceedings of the two annual
meetings of the Society-those of 1892
and 1s93-were published during the
summer of 1898 in tasteful pamphlet
of slxty-two pages, and copy was sent
to each memp Der of the Society. The ex-
pense of publication was generously
borne by our late President, Mr.. Dewitt.
The Roll of Mem bers, Constitution, etc.,
were also published in the summer of
1898, at the expense of the Society, in
pamphlet Of 81 pages. Great care was
taken to have the roll as free. from errors
as possible, and members of tie Society
are requested to report to the Secretary
at once any errors they may have discov-
cred IN order that such errors may be
corrected when another roll is published
line duuudl LCCbluG VI UuC NdUlOudl
Society, S. r., was held in Chicago,
ILL.,, June 49, 1898. By appointment of
the Board of Managers this Society was
represented at that meeting by. Mr.. H. M.
Mailing and Mr.. Nathan Goold
The library of the Society is kept in
the library room of the Maine Historical
Society. Baxter. Building. Valuable adj
ditions have been made to the library
during the past year, and gifts of books,
&c., pertaining to the Revolutionary
War are solicited from members of the
Society and all interested in It's patriotic
objects.
While the increase in tie mem bersh1p
of the Society during the past year has
been very gratifying, it could be greatly
enlarged with little effort on the part
of the mem bers. Such effort should be
made. The requisite blanks for appl1ca-
ton will be furnished by the Registrar,
Hon. Josiah H. Drummond, or the Secre-
tary.
have received from Feb. 10, $685. TO