The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-02-29
CAPTAIN cRAsE's REMARKS.
Delivered before the Portland Marine So
ciety, at Its Centen NAL.

-ANN$@S
Owing to press of matter and lateness
Of the hour the PRESS was unable
togive the text of the speech
made by the Hon. Charles II.
Chase at the centennial banquet of the
Portland Marine Society Thursday night
We now give it in its entirety:
Mr.. Presidents members of the Portland
Marine Society, and invited guests:
| congratulate you on our meeting I'M
der such favorable auspices. to comm en-
crate the one hundredth anniversary of
the organization of our society. The
necessity of such an organization must
have been apparent to those, who, moved
by desire to relieve tho needy by their
benefactions, procured a charter from the
Legislature Of Massachusetts, one hundred
years ago. Very gratifying results have
followed the action of the society since
it's organization. 30 long time having
elapsed and SO much good having been
accomplished, impels me to speak more
particularly of it's work and progress,
than l otherwise should. And the fur
Their consideration that go0dly number
are present at this time, who may not
find it convenient to be present at the
next centennial, l regard it as 10th duty
and a privilege to recount somewhat the
work of the society, and the history of
it's originator, who was the first Presi-
dent of the society.
Thirteen different Presidents have held
the office one or more terms, all but four
of whom have passed away, and are en-
joying the reward of the good and benev-
olent.
Capt. John Thorlo WAS the prime
mover, and may properly De recognized
as the founder of this benevolent insti-
tuition. he was elected to the office June
2lst, 1896, the organization having been
incorporated under grant of the Legis-
lature of Massachusetts. Capt. Thorlo
was born in the town of Newbury, Mass,
about the year 1881 He was descendant
of Richard Thorlo. who came from Nor
folkshire, England, in 1910, and settled
| in Rowley, Mass, and afterwards having
| bought half of the town of NeWbury,
| moved there. the town then being will
derness. John, who was of the fifth gen
Grafton, remained in Newbury until he
was of age, when he came to Portland,
where in 1851 ne married Rebecca, daugh-
ter of Capt John Waite.
| Capt. Thorlo commanded q vessel
which made reg ular voyages to the West
Indies. Early in 1875 he went to Kings
ton, Jamaica, for cargo of salt, of
which the people were in great need. On
iIA5 AOOd1hs WLCA dGOuu IVY QhyS BOIL
from Boston, he was fired upon by a
British cruiser. This was the first inti-
nation that he had that war had been
declared. Finding that the cruiser was
gaining upon him, and not wishing that
his valuable cargo should fall into the
| hands of the British he ran his vessel
ashore on Point Judith and sunk her.
Later he returned to Portland and found
that the town had been burned by order
of Mowatt. His family were out of town
where he joined them and remained UNI
til the close of the war, when he returned
to Portland and took command of a
packet running bewteen Boston and Port
land. He was the founder of the Port
land Lodge of Masons. He was a good
citizen, liberal and public spirited, and
sound churchman from inward conyic-
tons Some~of his descendants still re-
side in Portland. He died in 1905, and
his grave has recently been discovered in
| the Eastern Cemetery and it Is hoped
that suitable measures will be taken I'M
mediately to properly designate the place.
Capt. Thorlo was succeeded as President
| by Enoch Preble.
1t has been the object of the society to
safely keep the funds of the institution,
and appropriate the additions thereto by
way Of interest or otherwise, for the re-
| lief of such as were entitled to it's bene-
| fits. The fact that nearly forty five
Thousand dollars have been distributed
to worthy subjects, is most conclusive
evidence of the care and labor bestowed
by those in charge of it's offices from
time to time, during which time not one
dollar has been lost, nor has the invested
fund in any diminished.
In 1855 l was elected a member, at
which time there were about forty mem
bers in all. This number had fallen off
to about twenty when I was elected
President to succeed Capt Jacob Nc
Lellan, December IS, 1888. After con-
sultation with the members as to the de-
STABILITY of an increase OF interest and
mem bership, it was suggested that a
banquet be held as an experiment., with
a view to uniting such persons as might
be interested, and eligible as members
The first banquet was held January 2nd,
1889, when the membership had BEEN
reduced by natural causes to about
| twenty members. The result more than
Justified the experiment., and banquet
has been held yearly since that time, re-
sulting in a net increase of abouts forty
mem bers, and an addition of about two
thousand dollars to the perma nent fund
| Ell trust you will pardon me for trespass-
| ing SO much on your time, and thanking
you sincerely for your attention, now
suggest that we rise and silently drink to
| the memory of Capt. Thorlo.