The Portland daily press., 1897-03-12
HISTORY OF THORNTON
ACADEMY,


Geo. A. Emery of Snco read a very in
teresting historical account of Thornton
academy, Saco. He stated the steps that
led to the establishment of the academy.
Prominent among those interested in
the institution were Col. Thomas Cults,
I. g. Thornton, Cyrus King, Richard
Quits, r. C. Shannon and other leading
citizens of the town. The academy was
opened with so scholars In 1918, with
Rev. Asa Lyman as principal. Mr. Ly-
man was graduate of Yale in 1897.
Mr.. Emery referred to the various pre-
oeptors of the academy and added inter
esting biographical notices of them.
The name was changed to Thornton
academy on account OF the gift of T, G..
Thornton. The new Thornton academy
which has taken the place of the old in
stitution is exceedingly prosperous.
Hon. e. p. Burnham of Saco comment
ed the on paper. Hon. George B. Emory
days In the academy, and oontrasted the
equipment of the academies of the pres
emit day with that of the academies of the
earlier time.
DIR. Dalton expressed the thought that
at the present time we have too many
facilities and the opinion that the boys
now do not show better results. Hon.
Geo. f. Talbot thought 1t desirable that
fuller account Of the present condition
OF Thornton academy should be given.
Hon. George F. Emery presented pa
per of length and in his interesting and
vigorous style on
THE MASSACHUSETTS COLONIAL
LAWS.
In treating this subject the first promi-
nent feature arresting attention is the
", q. magma charter known as the body
IF liberties, drafte by Rev. Nathaniel
Warl of Ipswich, a former minister in
England, and who had practiced law
rh, re-. Its principal. features W ere given
auder which life, liberty and property
Hers secured. The laws underwent
changes from time to time, until it was
ileem ell necessary to revise all in force
and which in October, 1853 vera reduced
como down to ua. The basis thereof was
the Bible. which was the supreme law
resulting in a theoeracy. The principal
features pointed cut were ecclesiastical
show ing that religion was the first and
chief object of concern, and to which
YER, penalties. Heresy was the chief
lin aimed at, which was defined to be
denying the immortality of the soul, or
resurrection of the body, denial that
Christ gave himself ransom for our
SINS ETC., etc.
The writer then gave the chief features
relating to education; the domestic rela-
ions; the regulation of apparel, and the
renal code. AS everything was regulated
Ivy law the criminal classes wers yer5
numerous, embracing the ancestry OF
large pt rtion of descendants who now
"a ass fer very respectable people
The system of chuoh and state and
ing to religions affairs naturally excited
opposition.
Ali this however, Unlimited, under
the leadership of williams, Backus, Man
ming, SMITH and other rational conductors
in achieving for themselves aud for all
mankind, ana for all time liberty of
conscience, as is abundantly attested,
esret tally by Bancroft, our national his
to- ian.
In the e7aning Mr.. Cummings present
ell paner communicated by George W..
Cham erlein, Asq of Weymouth, Mass,
rssrecting the familiar legend Of Cham
lerluin ard Pangus at Lovewells Light.
The pa e. WIS fresh study and gnve
me interesting particulars Of the life
of John Chamberlaiu. his belonging to
Lovsw; l's ban! and his presence in the
nghf, but nothing absolutely decisive as
tn the olliai set up for him in tradition
of Eaying been the SLAYER Of PaDgus,