The Portland daily press., 1896-03-19
THE LOYAL LEGION.
Meeting Of State Of Maine Command
cry at the Falmouth.
NEW MEMBERS ELECTED-MEMO-
RIAL TRIBUTES PAID.

NEW MEMBERS ELECTED-MEMO- o.
RIAL TRIBUTES PAID.
Interesting Paper BY Prof. Sewan of Ban
gor on Perry's Expedition to Japan
Report on Military Post at Bangor
| Interesting Relics.
| The Commandery of the State of Maino
Loyal Legion of the United States held
its quarterly meeting at the Falmouth
hotel last evening. There was a good at
tendance of companions of the order
| throughout the state.
| The business meeting was held in par
lor number two, at the hotel. General
Isaac S. Bangs Of Waterville, presided.
The following gentlemen were elected
members of the first GLASS: VIM. Henry
Spencer, Waterville; Atwell William
SWEET, Bangor.
Memorial tributes were read with refer
ence to the following deceased members
Of the commandery:
Lieutenant William E. Dennison, o. s.
1896.
Bvt. Brig. Gen. Benjamin B. Harris,
| .. S. ", died at Augusta, December 80,
1895.
Captain James q. Rundlett, U. S. ",
died in South Portland, December 81,
| 1895.
Major David R. Hastings, U. s. ",
died in Fryeburg. January 13, 1896.
| Lieut.. Col. Jasper Hutchings, U. S.
| ", died in Brewer, March 5, 1896.
Captain Horace G. Little, U. S. ",
died in Lewiston, March IA, 1896.
| Maj. Gen. John Gibbon, U. S. A.,
commander in-chief, of the Loyal Legion,
diel in Baltimore. Me-, February 6, 1896.
After disposing of further business of a
nature private to the order, the company
adjourned to the private dining room.
where a most delicious Informal supper
was served.
After cigars were lighted, Commander
Bangs called the company once more to
order and introduced Companion George
3. French, who rendered a soldiers song
to the delight OF all.
General Connoc was called upon to read
the report Of the special committee on
the establishment of a government post
one, says in effect:
A committee consisting of Selden Con-
nor, Sidney W. Thaxter, Robert M.
Rogers, George Varney and H. N. Fair
banks, appointed at a meeting of the
commandery of the State of Maine on
December 4, 1895, to consider the advisa-
bility of the establishment of military
post at Bangor by the general govern
ment made large and exhaustive re-
port setting forth the reasons for es-
tablishing post at Bangor, and oonolud-
ing as follows: "Your committee believe
that the considerations herein indicated
are sufficiently numerous and forcefui to
show the advisability of the establish
ment Of military post in the vicinity Of
Bangor, and that the present time Is fav-
orable for pressing the matter upon the
considerations of the general govern
ment."
PROF. SEWALL'S PAPER.
Comma nder Bangs next introduced
Chaplain John S. Sewall (Prof. in the
Bangor Theological Seminary to read
olO FeAPOA VI ShO oSOAAhSs OIs 0oWdll .
subject was "The Japan Expedition
Under Commodore Perry" and his paper
was one of the most delightful ever read
before the oommandery. 1t is impossible
in a brief abstract to convey anything
like adequate idea of the paper flied as
1t was with beautiful descriptive, inter-
esting and amusing anecdote and ex-
quisite diction.
The object OF the expedition, Prof.
Sewall briefly described in opening,
which was to secure two things from
Japan; friendship and trade. The pro-
| lection of American subjects or seamen
who by shipwreck or accident might be
cast upon Japanese shore; this at all
hazards, and afterwards the establishment
of amicable trade relations that would
mean so much to both countries
The fleet commanded by Perry con-
sisted the man-of-war Mississippi, Sus-
quehana, Saratoga and Plymouth-61
guns in all and 977 men. The reader of
the:paper was the:captain's clerk on board
the Saratoga. The expedition first
reached Japan, on the Sth of July. 1858,
and it's arrival created CONSERVATION in
the Japanese realm. The policy of foreign
exclusion was then in full sway. Com
modore Perry was threatened, but to no
avail He was told to get out, but he
stayed. He was asked to move to various
places, but budged lot. He was there to
execute mission for his country, and
| proposed to do it. In a gold case on
board the flagship was document to be
delivered to the court at Japan. Tt
was a treaty; treaty first prepared by
Daniel Webster, redrafted by Edward
Everett and the appropriate delivery of
this communication to the proper au-
thorities was Perry's mission. 1t was this
treaty that was to open the gates into
Japan through which the flood of eduoa-
tion and enlightenment was to flow in,
and once entered caught up and dissent
mated throughout the realm, eagerly by
the naturally intelligent nation. The
Japs didn't want to receive it, They