The Portland daily press., 1897-04-12
18TH. ANNIVERSARY
Of the Maine Historical Society Held
Saturday.
A FULL REPORT OF THE MEET.
ING AND BANQUET.

Origin and Growth of the Organization
Distinguished Men Present on the Oc-
casion-The Society Urged to Make as
Well as Write History-A Delightful
Reunion.
The Maine Historical Society celebrated
its 10Th anniversary Saturday. In tie
afternoon the mem hers Of the society
gathered in their rooms in tha Public
meeting at which papers were read
by we'll known gentlemen. In the
evening banquet took place at the Fal-
mouth hotel at which several addresses
were delivered on the birth, growth and
present usefulness Of the society.
Afternoon Meeting.
President Baxter presided at the after
noon session and the attendance WAS
large. MIR. H. W. Bryant the librarian
and curator submitted report In which
he gave list Of the valuable books and
pamphle received b the society.
The following il teresting papers were
then read:
A bstraots relating to the Revolution
airy war from the diaries OF the Rev.
Isaac Hasey, first settled minister of the
First Parish of Lebanon, Me. Tran
cIibed By George W. Cham berlain and
presented by Rev. r. G. Cummings.
A Harvard Graduate In the Maine
Wilderness Rev. Josiah Winship at
Nequasset, By Rev. Henry o. Thnyer.
Tine Baptist church &C Kittery. By
Rev. Fl. S. Burrage.
Memoir of the first president OF the
society, Gov. A. K. Paris, contributed
by his grandson, A. K. Paris of Wash
ington.
The Banquet.
The banquet which occurred in the
evening at the Falmonth hotel was an
event when will long be remembered by
those fortunate enough to be present as
one of the pleasantest in the history OF
the society. In the small dining room
a long table was spread, elaboratsly
decorated with potted plants, out flowers
and fruit and when the doors were
thrown opsn and the banquet hall was
disclosed to view the stene was very
attractive and beautiful one. At exact
ly eight O'Clock President James p. Bax-
ter headed the procession wbich filed into
the banquet hall and the members Of the
society remained standing while Prof
Chapman OF Bowdoin college invoked
the divine blessing
The following gentlemen were present.:
DR.. J "A. padding, NJ. +. King, Albro
X. Chase, p. z. Baxter, W. S, Dana, W.
II. Stevens DR.. j. j. NJ. Willis DIR. ID.
Rowell, l.. FL. Cobb Cha les Ii. BOYD,
Henry S. Burr8Re. Harry o. Ihayer,
Fritz II. jordan, George f. Emery, ESQ.,,
Gen. John Marshall brown, George +
Talbot. ESQ.,, Thomas e. Calvert, Hub
bard W. Bryant, Rev. r. q. Cummings.
Ira S. Locke, Esq, Oliver G. Hail. ku.
ward A. Butler, Nathan Goold. Henry
NJ Mailing, Stephen Berry, Henry s.
Chapman. Hon. j. P. Baxter, Angus
tus y. Mo lton, Esq, Joseph A. Locke,
ESQ.,, Dr.. Charles D. Smith. der bert
Harris, Esq., George Dane Rand, Esq,
Leonard B. Chapman, James NJ. LARA
bee.
The menu was an excellent one and in
design was very artistic Each card was
decorated with a water color sketch o
some fancy colonial design and within
appeared the society's native ''Antiqui-
tatis Monumental Colligere' together
with the society's seal. Tie service was
exception ally Ane and reflected great
credit upon the Falmouth hotel.
When the cigars were lighted President
James P. Baxter called tie mblage
to order and spoke as follows:
MR.. BAXTER'S REMARKS.
HWe have met to comm emorate tile
seventy fifth birthday Of the Maine His
torical society. To the historian, seventy
five years are but an insignlt1oant period
of time; but of the notable men who
presided at the birth of the society. not
one is here; their places IRE occupied by
otE ers; their names are unfamiliar, as
ours will tie when a like period shall
have elapsed.
Occasions like this naturally suggest
retrospection, but such retrospention ls
profitless unless we draw therefrom en-
couragement for future achievement.
When this society came into existarce,
the whistls of the locomotive had not
disturbed the silence of the great forests
which stretched across the state, nor the
paddle Of the steam boat vexed the broad
waters which washed it's shores, and
when the members convened in tie coun-
oil chalnb Der to adopt their constitution,
those who livea remote from Portland
had come out of the tribulation of jour
ney in a stage coach, which hnd occupied
an entire day in dragging it's slow way
from Augusta, or two days from Bangor.
1t required an earnest interest in the OBJ
jects of the society to make such a sacri-
flee of comfort, and furnishes to US an
inspiring example.
"Of the work of the society it is unne-
oessary for ME to particularly speak. The
many valuable volumes which it has
icba .