The Portland daily press., 1894-01-26
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Interesting Business Transacted by the
Association.

HlStor1GalSocIety was held IN Baxter hall,
Public Library building, yesterday after
noon and evening. Pesident Baxter pre-.
siding. Besides members of the society,
there was considerable attendance of
spectators.
The first business of the afternoon
session was the reading of paper by
the Rev. E. G. Cummings, on the Capu-
chin and Jesuit Fathers at Pentagoet.
1t was an interesting, though minor
chapter in the history of New France
that Mr.. Cummings presented, and
though nothing absolutely novel was
presented, sssome new light was thrown ON
obscure points and some fresh views
afforded. The story of the relation be-
tween the two famous orders when they
came in contact in Canada, was prefaced
by brief sketch of the orion of the
Capucihns, which, as is we'll known,
are Franciscan offshoots The story of the
weaker order was brief at Pentagoet, and
little substantial memorial did they
leave behind them. But the Jesuits
were of sterner stuff, and larger interests
at stake, and their story only terminated
with the French rule in eastern Maine
At any rate the Jesuits forsook Castine
and it's neighborhood soon after the sur
render of Acadia. Incidentally Mr..
Cummings called attention to an error of
omission in Bancroft's account of Col.
Westbrook's attack ON the Oldtown set
Element by which the reader is left to
infer that thesvillage was inhabited at
the time of it's destruction; whereas, in
reality, it had been deserted some hours
before
President Baxter called attention to
the many misstatements made by Catho-
lie historians in their account of the
contest between French and English on
this continent. Catholic histories, he
1t seemed to him that Providence worked
on exactly the right lines in permitting
the destruction of the Jesuit missions
and the overthrow of the French power.
DR.. Dalton spoke of the issue of tine
Franco-English contest as the triumph
of industrialism over militarism. He
accused the Jesuits of being more ami
mated by lust of conquest than love of
religion, of being more French even than
Catholic.
Hon. George F Talbot said that while
he rejoiced in the issue of the Franco
English contest because it resulted
eventually in the establishment of free
government, he did not wish to disguise
the fact that there was the stain of
many sin and crime on the garments
of the conquerors. National and religious
intolerance led us to the commission of
more than one enormity. Things pardon
able to the poor savage in his ignorance,
their better lights. Mr.. Talbot paid a
glowing tribute to the learning and
humanity and purity of the Jesuit
Fathers.
| DR.. Dalton returned to the attack and
| justified the English and the New Eng
| landers. Even the massacre of the
Pequods was justifable; for it was a
measure of self-preservation.
The president brought the discussion
| to a close by calling for the second
| paper on the programme, "An account of
some old papers recently found in the
stone tower of the First Parish meeting
house." submitted by the Rev. John
Carroll Perkins. Mr.. Perkins prefaced
his reading of these old documents by
| thanking the Maine Historical Society
| for it's gift of the portraits of former
| pastors. The first paper he read was the
Rev. Samuel Deans letter of acceptance,
dated September 2, 1854. The original
parish record book was also submitted.
These papers were found in a common
pine wood chest in the tower. The exist
| ence of this chest was known, but it's
contents were supposed to be old re-
| ceipts chiefly, and it was kept under
| lock and key until within few weeks
| Then it was opened, and found about
half full of books and papers. The
books were the parish records, above
mentioned, treasurers' ledgers, books of
receipts etc., containing great many
autographs. Among the loose papers are
| the tax lists, ministers rates, town and
| county rates of Falmouth, Portland,
Casco and Stroudwater parishes. From
|
Mr.. Perkins read copiously. 1t appears
that each payer of poll tax lin which
women were included) was at one time
entitled to psalm book authorship
and ediction not stated. There is also,
singularly enough, list Of vessels owned
in Falmouth in 1774. Among the papers
are memoranda of Quakers exempt from
church taxation, and of the mem ers
who had withdrawn to form the parish
of St. Paurs (now st. Stephen's).
The original calls and warrants for
parish meetings, posted on the church
door, from 1873 to 1913 are, with very
few exceptions in this capacious chest.
There also are petitions to the great and
general court of Massachusetts,. be-
seeching the abatement of certain taxes,
petitions protesting against the new
meeting house of 1s40, and papers re-
lating insvarious ways to parish matters,
setting off of new parishes, etc.
A sketch of the life of General David
| Cohh of Con ldSbnro Inv H., Ta,o,h