Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-10


/ which revealed its latent virtues, and
! drew them forth to display the summit of
| human knowledge, duty to God and man.
] With this new light and increased in
1 telligence came the desire for companion
\ ship and the fraternal organization was
/ born. The world is the better for its ex-
! istence. Indeed the Book of Books itself
1 tells us that lit is not good for man to be
| alone" And the accumulated wisdom of
| the human race has determined that
\ without that greatest of all societies, the
| home, the sum of happiness, Is incom-
4 plete. 1t is the home which demands of
| us allegiance most true and sincere: il is
| upon the institution of the home that the
| stability of government itself depends;
| finds its only firm foundation, its never
| failing support
| That the fraternity of the home has tics
| which time cannot sever nor distance
| weaken. the presence here tonight Of
| many of Augustus wandering sons and
| daughters evinces Dwcllers in every
| land and every cline, at her call they
| have returned to join with us in ceiebrat-
| ing her natal day. and receive d welcome
| most cordial
! Founded for noble and glorious pur-
poses. maintained with unfaltering devo-
ton, these fratcrnal organizations have
| continued their great work for the good
| of mankind through years nnnumbeTed.
| intoxicating great truths, dispensing I'M
/ stinted charity and uniting mankind in
] the bonds of fraternity.
BY whatever name they may be known.
! all organizations which find a permanent
| place in the hearts of men today teach
the same great cardinal virtues, truth.
brotherly love and charity. and demand
| Of their initiates a declaration of belief in
| the existence of the one Supreme Being.
The fraternal organizations of today
open to their members a broader field of
| usefulness and a truer nobler manhood.
| None can become members without being,
| In greater or less degree. impressed with
the high moral teachings received. and,
| unconsciously. ii may be, made citizens
more loyal husbands more loving, and
| men more honest and true.
II Is the fraternal organization which
alone breaks down the barriers raised by
different religious, political or business
associations, and makes friends of neigh
bors who might remain strangers were u
not for the common ground on which
they all can meet and learn how much of
good there is in one another.
1t is the fraternal organization which
feels the distress, lifts IL up and pours in
the wine and the oil. not passing by on
the other side 1t is fellowship in n noble
and magnanimous order, with its daily
acts of charity and deeds Of pure beneh-
cence of the kind word timely spoken
and the helping hand extended. together
with a belief In the enjoyment of those
things which brighten this world of ours,
that makes life worth the living.
In such organizations Augusta is many
timed blessed. If there be one leading
society in existence in this country today,
which has not found comfortable home
among us. its name is to me unknown.
, They have become an important factor in
our social life. and all. like everything
else which receives Augusta welcome,
appear to be in "A most fiourshlng cond-
ton. Indeed. one-fourth of the voting
population of the city are members of
one society alone. and several others are
not far behind.
Pledged as they are to charity and
good works. these organizations, one and
all, are acting well their part contribut-
ing in no small degree to the eity's wei,
| fare and progress They form an integral
part of her very existence. Her future is
! their future, her happiness and prosperity
| their own; they are one and inseparable
| the one dependent on the other. Growing
strong in her strength, advanced by her
| advancement we have in them faithful
mirror in whichis reflected the fair image
| of Augusta, herself, May there be given
| to both a strength which knows no weak
| cnins, youth perpetual!
The Future of Augusta" was Mr.
| {. S. Hichborn's subject.
May 1t never lose the impress Of its
| founders but continue to be a center of
| business prosperity and a city of happy
| homes.
That was the sentiment to which the
| speaker responded.
| If speak OF my present. | shall tell of
| what seemed the quite far distant future,
when these exercises began, ana yet. 50
| delightfully."- have you been entertained
| that YOU have scarce noted the fight of
| time 1t is ever so. In the great piano.
rama of life, the darkness of prophecy Is
| forever changing into the light OF nus
| tory In real life there is no tomorrow
| il is always today and yesterday. And
| yet we poor mortals continually specu-
| late about the future. And YOU ask me.
| now to peep through the loophoie OF
| the night and tell you of the coming
| day.
The story Of the past has been most
| cIarmincly told to YOU. this day and
| aud into that L. too. must
| so, to draw inspiration and hope for the
! future Hope deals with the future;
now and the past are but her servants;
that wait upon her with impulse and
1 suggestive circumstance.
| Bearing in mind all YOU have heard
| today We're YOU strangers within our
| gates. you would have discovered ere
| lnis that the city of Augusta hats been
| chiefly engaged. not in vast commercial
extension not in the building of stately
| mansions, not in the amassing of colossal
| fortunes but. in the far greater and
nobler work of building and finishing
\ men. Material developments and mate
rial possessions do not constitute the true
greatness of city or state; the true test
| of greatness lies in the quality of IT'S
| manhood. Judged by this test, the city
| of Augusta stands in the sisterhood OF
| the cities of this land with scarce a
| rival never n peer.
Wen then what of the future?
Patrick Henry once said, Il know no
| way to Judge the future, except by the
! past. / have no lamp to light my feet,
| except the lamp of experience. NO
| more do |. nor have |; and through no
| other lens and by no other light DO l
| view the future of our beloved city.
| Her past is secure, no ruthless hand
can tear her laurels from her. The noble
| heart. the llnblemished character. the
splendid intellect of her men OF TO-DAY,
i give positive evidence that exalted as
| has been her standard of excellence IN
days agone. her centennial birthday
finds ii equally high maintained.
Because. therefore, because of my pro-
/ found reverence for her past, and my
| supreme. but iustfiable. pride In he,
4 present. ] face her future with serenest
! confidence: unfaltering in my faith, UNI
| hesitating in my conviction. that glorious
| as has been her past, brilliant as Is hei
present. not less respondent shall be hei
4 future.
| The smoke of her chimneys the whir,
of her wheels. the hum of her spindles
the expanding commerce of her deepeneo
Il river the increasing traffic of her steel
i highways. shall tell OF the prosperity and
happiness of her people. She VIII main
tain with undiminished viEor. her won
| der-working efforts for the up-buildins
I Of manly character and the ennobline
of human life She win continue to be
a potent factor in the affairs of men
And as the voice of Time shall call out
to the nations, the roll of honor. conspfc-
uous among those entitled to most honor
able mention shall always be found the
representative of Augusta.
+, After the applause had died away
Ar Cnrnicb in 1apaf fashion caIiaf